Talmud - Eruvin 91b עירובין צ״א ב׳

Come and hear proof from a baraita: With regard to the residents of houses that open directly into a courtyard and the residents of upper stories that open onto a balcony from which stairs lead down to that courtyard, who forgot and did not establish an eiruv between them, anything ten handbreadths high in the courtyard, e.g., a mound or a pillar, is attributed to the balcony in terms of its use on Shabbat. The residents of the balcony may move objects between the mound or pillar and their apartments. Anything lower than that is attributed to the courtyard. In what case is this statement, that it is prohibited for the residents of the courtyard to carry to the balcony and vice versa, stated? It is in a case where the residents of the courtyard were many, and the residents of the balcony were many, and these established an eiruv for themselves, and those established an eiruv for themselves; or if the courtyard and the balcony were occupied by individuals who need not establish an eiruv for themselves.

However, if the residents of the courtyard and the balcony were many, and they forgot and did not establish an eiruv for their courtyard or balcony, in that case roof, and courtyard, and portico, and balcony are all one domain, and it is permitted to carry from one to another any vessels that were located in any one of them when Shabbat began.

The Gemara infers: The reason that carrying between them is permitted is that they did not each establish their own eiruv; however, if they each established their own eiruv, no, it is prohibited to carry between them. This inference supports Rav and poses a difficulty for Shmuel. The Gemara answers: Whose opinion is represented by this baraita? It is that of the Rabbis, who maintain that roofs and courtyards form a single domain, contrary to the opinion of Rabbi Shimon. The Rabbis indeed issued a decree that carrying is prohibited if each group established a separate eiruv.

The Gemara comments: The language of the baraita is also precise, as it is not teaching the cases of an enclosure and an alleyway, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, but only the cases of a roof and a courtyard, in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis. The Gemara concludes: Indeed, learn from here that this is the correct understanding.

Come and hear from another baraita: With regard to five courtyards that are open to each other and are also open to an alleyway, and the residents of all the courtyards forgot and did not establish an eiruv, it is prohibited to carry in or carry out, from a courtyard to the alleyway or from the alleyway to a courtyard. And with regard to vessels that were in the courtyard when Shabbat began, it is permitted to carry them in the courtyard, but in the alleyway it is prohibited to carry them.

And Rabbi Shimon permits doing so, as Rabbi Shimon would say: Whenever the courtyards are in the possession of many people, and they forgot and did not establish an eiruv, the roof, and courtyard, and portico, and balcony, and enclosure, and alleyway are all one domain. These areas are all classified as private domains, and therefore, it is permitted to carry from one to the other.

The Gemara infers: The reason that carrying between them is permitted is that they did not each establish their own eiruv; however, if they each established their own eiruv, no, it is prohibited to carry between them. This inference supports Rav and poses a difficulty for Shmuel. The Gemara answers: What is the meaning of the phrase: They did not establish an eiruv? It means that the residents of the courtyards did not establish an eiruv with each other; however, the residents of each courtyard established an eiruv with the residents of the houses inside it, and it is nevertheless permitted to carry between them, in accordance with the opinion of Shmuel.

The Gemara raises a difficulty. But doesn’t the baraita state: They did not establish an eiruv, indicating that they did not establish any eiruv at all, either with the residents of the other courtyard or within each courtyard? The Gemara rejects this argument. What is the meaning of: They did not establish an eiruv? It means that they did not merge the courtyards facing the alleyway.

And if you wish, say instead: Rabbi Shimon is speaking to the Rabbis in accordance with their own opinion, not enumerating the leniencies inherent in his own ruling. His statement should therefore be understood as follows: According to my own opinion, there is no difference if they established an eiruv and there is no difference if they did not establish an eiruv. However, according to your opinion, agree with me at least that in a case where they did not establish an eiruv it is all considered one domain.

And the Rabbis said to him: No, although we agree with you in the cases of a roof, courtyard, portico, and balcony, in the cases of an enclosure and an alleyway we disagree, as they are two domains and therefore it is prohibited to carry from one to the other.

The Master said above in the baraita: Vessels that were in a courtyard at the start of Shabbat may be carried within the courtyard, but in the alleyway it is prohibited. The Gemara asks: Let us say that this supports that which Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said, as Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said: In an alleyway in which they did not merge the courtyards facing it, one may carry only within four cubits. The Gemara rejects this suggestion. Say that the baraita means: But to an alleyway it is prohibited, i.e., it is prohibited to carry from the courtyard to the alleyway; however, within the alleyway itself it is permitted to carry.

The Gemara raises a difficulty. If so, that is identical to the first clause of the baraita. The tanna would not have taught the very same thing twice. The Gemara answers: The apparently superfluous teaching was necessary, lest you say: When the Rabbis disagree with Rabbi Shimon, it is only in a case where they established an eiruv, but in a case where they did not establish an eiruv, the Rabbis concede to Rabbi Meir that it is all considered one domain and carrying is permitted. The baraita therefore teaches us that the Rabbis disagree with Rabbi Shimon in both cases, as they prohibit carrying in the alleyway even if the residents did not establish an eiruv.

Ravina said to Rav Ashi:

Traduction : The William Davidson digital edition of the Koren Noé Talmud, with commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz.

Eruvin 91b examines eiruv rules for shared courtyards and balconies, weighing height thresholds and separate eiruvin against the Rabbis' unified-domain ruling.