Eruvin 16b

עירובין ט״ז ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 16b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 16b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Breached fences and פרוץ כעומד, the משנה of rope and reed partitions, and how much space an individual or a caravan may enclose

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the question of who wrote a ברייתא about breached fences. אביי says all of it follows the רבנן, and רבא says all of it follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל. The גמרא then brings a ברייתא that seems to refute רב פפא's view that a breach equal to the standing part (פרוץ כעומד) is permitted. Even so, the הלכה follows רב פפא, because a precise reading of the משנה supports him. A new משנה follows. It teaches that a camp may be fenced with stacked ropes or upright reeds, as long as the gaps are under three טפחים. It also brings disputes over whether this works only for a שיירא and whether a fence needs both שתי וערב. In the גמרא, רב המנונא asks whether 'more standing than open' works for a sideways fence. אביי's attempted proof is rejected, and the question is reframed. Finally, the גמרא sorts out how much space an individual and a caravan may enclose. רב נחמן publicly retracts a ruling and concludes that three people, as a שיירא, get all the space they need.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. ChallengeThe latter clause seems to follow רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
2. Resolutionאביי: the whole ברייתא follows the רבנן
3. Resolutionרבא: the whole ברייתא follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
4. ProofA new ברייתא about walls made mostly of doors and windows
5. ChallengeThe ברייתא's word 'most' cannot be right
6. ResolutionCorrecting the ברייתא's wording
7. ChallengeThe corrected ברייתא seems to refute רב פפא
8. Conclusionרב פפא is refuted, yet the הלכה follows him
9. ChallengeHow can he be both refuted and the הלכה?
10. ResolutionThe משנה's precise wording supports רב פפא
11. StatementNew משנה: a partition made of three ropes
12. StatementThe ropes must be thick enough to reach ten handbreadths
13. StatementA fence of upright reeds
14. StatementOnly for a caravan, or for everyone?
15. StatementMust a fence have both upright and sideways parts?
16. StatementFor upright reeds, more standing than open counts as a wall
17. QuestionWhat about a fence of sideways ropes?
18. Proofאביי's proof from the rope thickness rule
19. ProofThe cheaper fence that would work if the rule applied
20. RejectionWhere would the four-handbreadth gap go?
21. RejectionPlacing the big gap at the top also fails
22. RejectionPlacing the big gap in the middle raises a different, unresolved question
23. ResolutionReframing רב המנונא's question as a mat with a hole
24. Resolutionרב אשי: the question was about a hanging partition
25. Questionרבי טבלא asks רב about a hanging partition
26. Responseרב answers: a hanging partition works only over water
27. StatementQuoting the משנה and drawing an inference
28. ChallengeA ברייתא shows רבי יהודה allows it for one person
29. ResolutionThe caravan rule only means unlimited space
30. QuestionWhere was רב נחמן's line first said?
31. ResponseIt was said on רבי יוסי son of רבי יהודה's rule
32. ChallengeA ברייתא has him allowing rope partitions
33. ChallengeThe חכמים' view completes the challenging ברייתא
34. Resolutionשתי וערב is needed only for unlimited space
35. StatementHow much space individuals and caravans receive
36. ChallengeWhy follow the minority over the רבנן?
37. Resolutionרב נחמן publicly admits his mistake
38. ConclusionThe corrected rule: a caravan of three gets all its needs