Eruvin 9

ומ"ד ארבעה קסבר אסור להשתמש תחת הקורה

while he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye.');">¹</span> who said 'four handbreadths', is of the opinion that it is forbidden to make use [of the floor space] under the beam?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The inner edge of the beam forming the boundary line of the alley, while all the space under the beam itself is regarded as outside the alley. Since no one would consequently use that space no one would notice the beam which, from the level of the general floor of the alley, would be higher than twenty cubits. The raised ground must, therefore, be extended into the alley to form a substantial area; and the minimum of such an area is four handbreadths.');">²</span> - No; all may agree<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'for all the world hold the opinion'.');">³</span> that it is permissible to make use [of floor space] under the cross-beam,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Supra n. 7 first clause.');">⁴</span> but here they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye and R. Joseph.');">⁵</span>

לא דכולי עלמא קסברי מותר להשתמש תחת הקורה ובהא קא מיפלגי מר סבר קורה משום היכר ומר סבר קורה משום מחיצה

differ on the following principles: One Master holds the opinion that a cross-beam [is required] on account [of the necessity for] a distinguishing mark;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That people might distinguish between the alley and the public domain into which it opens out, and would thus remember that what is permitted in the former is not permitted in the latter. A level of the width of one handbreadth which the residents must pass on their way from and into the alley is, therefore, quite sufficient for the purpose.');">⁶</span> while the other Master<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye.');">¹</span> holds that a cross-beam [is required] on account [of the necessity for] a partition.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between the alley and the public domain. No partition is valid unless it is made for a floor space of no less than four handbreadths (v. infra 86b and cf. supra n. 9 final clause) .');">⁷</span> If you prefer I might reply that all agree<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'for all the world hold the opinion'.');">³</span> that a cross-beam [is required] on account [of the necessity for] a distinguishing mark; but here they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye and R. Joseph.');">⁵</span>

ואיבעית אימא דכולי עלמא קורה משום היכר והכא בהיכר של מטה ובהיכר של מעלה קא מיפלגי דמר סבר אמרינן היכר של מטה כהיכר של מעלה ומר סבר לא אמרינן היכר של מטה כהיכר של מעלה

differ on [the question whether] the distinguishing mark below [must be of the same dimensions as] the one above. One Master is of the opinion that we say that a distinguishing mark below<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the raised ground under the cross-beam.');">⁸</span> [is provided by the same width] as the one above,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that a raised level of only one handbreadth in width suffices.');">⁹</span> and the other Master<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye.');">¹⁰</span> holds that we do not say that a distinguishing mark below [is provided by the same dimensions] as the one above.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Below a mark of wider width is required, viz., of four handbreadths.');">¹¹</span>

ואיבעית אימא דכולי עלמא אמרינן היכר של מטה כהיכר של מעלה והכא בגזירה שמא יפחות קמיפלגי:

And if you prefer I might reply that all agree that a distinguishing mark below [is provided by the same width] as the one above,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only one handbreadth.');">¹²</span> but their<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abaye's and R. Joseph's.');">¹³</span> point of difference here is [the question whether a wider space was ordered] as a preventive measure against the possibility of its being trodden down.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'he or it will diminish', sc. the raised ground, if it were to be allowed to consist of the minimum width of one handbreadth only, might in the course of time be worn down to less than a handbreadth. R. Joseph holds that this possibility was not provided against while Abaye holds that it was. Hence, according to Abaye, the necessity for a width of more than a handbreadth. And since a width above the minimum was required, it was fixed at four handbreadths. (cf. supra p. 23, n. 9 final clause) .');">¹⁴</span> [If an entrance to an alley] was less than ten handbreadths [in height] and it was desired to dig up the ground<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and he engraved in it'.');">¹⁵</span> so as to bring up the altitude<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'to complete it'.');">¹⁶</span>

היה פחות מעשרה טפחים וחקק בו להשלימו לעשרה כמה חוקק כמה חוקק כמה דצריך ליה אלא משכו בכמה רב יוסף אמר בד' אביי אמר בארבע אמות

to ten [handbreadths] how much must one excavate? - [You ask] , 'How much must one excavate'? As much [of course] as one requires!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To raise the altitude to ten handbreadths.');">¹⁷</span> - Rather [this is the question:] To what extent in width<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'its drawing (from the entrance into the interior) by how much'.');">¹⁸</span> [must one excavate]? - R'Joseph replied: To<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in', 'by'.');">¹⁹</span> four [handbreadths].

לימא בדרבי אמי ורבי אסי קמיפלגי דאיתמר מבוי שנפרץ מצידו כלפי ראשו איתמר משמיה דר' אמי ור' אסי אם יש שם פס ד' מתיר בפירצה עד עשר

Abaye replied: To four cubits. Might it be suggested that they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Joseph and Abaye.');">²⁰</span> differ on the principle laid down by R'Ammi and R'Assi? For it was stated: If a breach was made in a side-wall of<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'from its side'.');">²¹</span> an alley close to its entrance,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'toward its head or top'.');">²²</span>

ואם לאו פחות משלשה מתיר שלשה אינו מתיר לרב יוסף אית ליה דרבי אמי לאביי לית ליה דר' אמי

it was ruled in the name of R'Ammi and R'Assi, if a strip<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of wood, especially put up for the purpose, or a remnant of the original wall.');">²³</span> of [the width of] four [handbreadths] was there<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' At the original termination of the wall, adjoining the cross-beam.');">²⁴</span> it is permissible<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'it (sc. the strip) permits'.');">²⁵</span> [to regard the alley as ritually fit],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In respect of the movement of objects on the Sabbath. The breach is treated as an additional entrance to the alley and does not, therefore, affect its ritual fitness, while the validity of the main entrance is retained owing to the strip of wood or building structure which, complying with the prescribed size, serves the purpose of the original wall and, together with the wall opposite and the cross-beam above them, constitutes a valid alley to which the main entrance serves as doorway.');">²⁶</span> provided the breach is not wider than<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in the breach until'.');">²⁷</span>

אמר לך אביי התם סוף מבוי הכא תחלת מבוי אי איכא ארבע אמות אין אי לא לא

ten [cubits].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A gap wider than ten cubits cannot be regarded as a doorway and destroys, therefore, the Sabbatic ritual validity of the alley.');">²⁸</span> If, however, [there was] no [such strip<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. if it was either wanting altogether or of less than four handbreadths in width.');">²⁹</span> there] it is permissible [to regard the alley as ritually fit, if the br was] less than three [handbreadths wide],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Such a narrow breach may be regarded as non-existent (v. Glos. s.v. labud) and the wall is deemed to be virtually intact.');">³⁰</span> [but if it was] three [handbreadths wide]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And people are consequently likely to use the gap as a short cut thus neglecting the use of the main entrance.');">³¹</span> this is not permissible.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'it does not permit', since (v. previous note) the ritual validity of the main entrance has thereby been destroyed.');">³²</span>

אמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דתניא אין מבוי ניתר בלחי וקורה עד שיהו בתים וחצרות פתוחין לתוכו

[Might it then be suggested that] R'Joseph<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who ruled supra, in the case of an excavation at the foot of an entrance, that a width of four handbreadths is sufficient.');">³³</span> adopts the principle of R'Ammi<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who regards a strip of four handbreadths in width to be sufficient to constitute a wall as a support for a cross-beam. MS.M. adds: 'and R. Assi'.');">³⁴</span> and that Abaye<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who required for the excavation a width of four cubits.');">³⁵</span> does not hold the principle of R'Ammi?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' MS.M. adds: 'and of R. Assi'. This is also the reading of Rashi.');">³⁶</span> Abaye can answer you: There<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The case dealt with by R. Ammi and R. Assi.');">³⁷</span>

ואי בד' היכי משכחת ליה

[it is a question of] destroying the ritual fitness<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'end'. Before the breach occurred the alley was in a condition that was ritually fit.');">³⁸</span> of an alley,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence it is sufficient for a width of four handbreadths to retain its ritual fitness.');">³⁹</span> but here<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the matter of the excavation.');">⁴⁰</span> [it is a case of] creating one.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., , 'the beginning of an alley'. Owing to the low altitude of the entrance, the alley was never before ritually fit.');">⁴¹</span> [Consequently] if the excavation extends<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit.,'there is'.');">⁴²</span>

וכי תימא דפתח לה בדופן האמצעי והאמר רב נחמן נקיטינן איזהו מבוי שניתר בלחי וקורה כל שארכו יתר על רחבו ובתים וחצרות פתוחין לתוכו

[to a width of] four cubits [the entrance becomes] ritually fit,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'yes'.');">⁴³</span> but if not, it is not [fi Said Abaye: Whence do I derive my ruling?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'I say it'.');">⁴⁴</span> From what was taught:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shab. 130b, infra 73b.');">⁴⁵</span> '[The movement of objects in] an alley cannot be permitted [on the Sabbath] by means of a sidepost<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' ', lit., 'cheek', 'jaw'.');">⁴⁶</span> and a crossbeam<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Mishnah infra 11b.');">⁴⁷</span>

ורב יוסף דפתח ליה בקרן זוית

unless houses and courtyards open out into it'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the houses open out into the courtyards and the latter into the alley (Rashi) .');">⁴⁸</span> Now if [a strip of the width] of four [handbreadths were to constitute a proper alley wall) how could this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That 'courtyards' should open out into it'?');">⁴⁹</span> be possible?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The prescribed minimum width of a door being four handbreadths, the doorway of one courtyard alone would cover the full width of the alley wall.');">⁵⁰</span> And should you reply that the doors might open<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that he opens it'.');">⁵¹</span> in the middle wall,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The back wall of the alley which is enclosed by the two side walls. While the latter might be as narrow as four handbreadths the former might be long enough to admit of more than one courtyard door.');">⁵²</span>

אמר אביי מנא אמינא לה דאמר רמי בר חמא אמר רב הונא לחי הבולט מדופנו של מבוי פחות מארבע אמות נידון משום לחי ואינו צריך לחי אחר להתירו ד' אמות נידון משום מבוי וצריך לחי אחר להתירו

the fact is [it could be retorted] that R'Nahman stated: We have a tradition that if [the movement of objects in] an alley is to be<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'which is an alley that is'.');">⁵³</span> permitted [on the Sabbath] by means of a side-post and a crossbeam, its length<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the length of the side walls.');">⁵⁴</span> must be<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'all of which its length is'.');">⁵⁵</span> more than its width<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The length of the middle, or back wall.');">⁵⁶</span> and houses and courtyards must open out into it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra 12b (cf. Shab. 131a) . If courtyards (i.e., a minimum of two) were to open out from the middle wall, its width would be (cf. supra note 8) no less than eight handbreadths exclusive of the doorposts; and it would thus be twice as big as either of the side walls.');">⁵⁷</span>

ורב יוסף לאפוקי מתורת לחי עד דאיכא ארבע אמות למיהוי מבוי אפי' בארבעה טפחים נמי הוי מבוי:

And R'Joseph?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How, in view of Abaye's quotation and inference, could he maintain that four handbreadths are sufficient for the width of an alley wall?');">⁵⁸</span> - Each door might open<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that he opens it'.');">⁵⁹</span> in a corner.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the back wall is less than four handbreadths in length it is possible, where the side walls are four handbreadths in length, to open a door that is four handbreadths wide in each corner where the two side walls respectively meet the back wall. rntu');">⁶⁰</span> Abaye further<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So MS.M. reading .');">⁶¹</span> stated: Whence do I derive my ruling?

גופא אמר רמי בר חמא אמר רב הונא לחי הבולט מדפנו של מבוי

From what Rami B'Hama<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec., Abba (Asheri) .');">⁶²</span> said in the name of R'Huna: If a projection from [the end of a side] wall of an alley<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Into the alley.');">⁶³</span> is less than four cubits [in width] it may be regarded as a side-post and no other post is required to effect the ritual fitness of the alley,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'to permit it'.');">⁶⁴</span> [but if it is] four cubits [wide] it is deemed to be [a part of the struc of the] alley, and another post is required to effect its ritual fitness.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'to permit it'.');">⁶⁴</span> And R'Joseph?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra p. 26, n. 16.');">⁶⁵</span> - To deprive [a projection] of its status as a post there must be<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'until there is'.');">⁶⁶</span> [a width of] four cubits but as regards constituting [a wall in] an alley, even [a width] of four handbreadths is also [enough] to constitute an alley. [Reverting to] the above text, 'Rami B'Hama said in the name of R'Huna: If a projection from [the end of a side] wall of an alley