Eruvin 15b

עירובין ט״ו ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 15b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 15b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether a גט may be written on a living creature, how each side reads the פסוקים about גט, and the dispute over a partition whose gaps equal its built parts (פרוץ כעומד).

Overview

This amud has two topics. First it finishes the משנה about using a living creature for halachic purposes. רבי מאיר says a living גולל is טהור, and רבי יוסי הגלילי says a גט written on a living thing is פסול. A ברייתא shows that רבי יוסי הגלילי learns from the word 'ספר' that a גט must be written on something that is not alive and not food. The רבנן read 'ספר' as 'ספירות דברים', the content of the גט, so for them any material works. The גמרא then traces which words each side uses for two shared rules: a divorce happens only by writing and not by money, and a גט must fully cut the bond between husband and wife. Next, a new משנה teaches that a caravan may fence itself in with animal gear and carry inside, as long as the gaps are not more than the built parts and no single gap is wider than ten אמות. רב פפא and רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע argue about a fence whose gaps exactly equal its built parts (פרוץ כעומד). The wording of the משנה poses a קשיא for רב הונא, a proof from a סוכה roofed with skewers is pushed aside, and a new proof from a ברייתא about a caravan begins and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. Statementרבי מאיר rules a living גולל is pure
2. StatementWriting a גט on a living creature
3. Statementברייתא: רבי מאיר's list of things a living creature cannot be
4. QuestionWhat is רבי יוסי הגלילי's source?
5. Responseברייתא: a גט must be like a scroll, not alive and not food
6. QuestionHow do the רבנן read the פסוק?
7. ResponseThe רבנן: 'ספר' means the content, not the material
8. QuestionWhat do the רבנן learn from 'וכתב לה'?
9. ResponseDivorce happens only through writing, not through money
10. QuestionWhere does רבי יוסי הגלילי learn that money cannot divorce?
11. ResponseA written document cuts the marriage, and nothing else does
12. ResponseThe רבנן need 'ספר כריתות' for full separation
13. StatementA ברייתא shows which conditions block a full break
14. Responseרבי יוסי הגלילי learns full separation from the longer word
15. ResponseThe רבנן do not learn from the longer word
16. StatementA caravan may fence itself in with animal equipment
17. StatementA gap of up to ten cubits counts as an entrance
18. StatementDispute: a fence whose gaps exactly equal its built parts
19. Statementרב פפא permits carrying: just do not break open most of the fence
20. Statementרב הונא בריה דרב יהושע forbids carrying: most of it must be fenced
21. ChallengeThe משנה's wording seems to permit equal gaps
22. ResolutionReread the משנה: it is permitted only when the built part is more
23. RejectionIf equal were forbidden, the משנה should have said so
24. ConclusionThe challenge to רב הונא stands
25. ProofA proof from skewers used as סוכה roofing
26. RejectionThe gaps are a bit wider so the skewers can slide in and out
27. ChallengeBut exact measuring is possible
28. Resolutionרבי אמי: extra valid roofing was added
29. Resolutionרבא: lay the valid roofing in the opposite direction from the skewers
30. ProofA new proof begins: a caravan surrounded by camels and saddles