Eruvin 22b

עירובין כ״ב ע״ב

Learn Eruvin 22b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 22b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether public traffic cancels partitions on hard-to-use ground: רבי יוחנן on the slopes of ארץ ישראל, רחבה's challenges to רבא, and the start of the משנה on פסין for wells and cisterns.

Overview

The amud opens by testing רבי יוחנן's rule, reported by רב דימי, that ארץ ישראל has no רשות הרבים. The idea that natural walls surround the land is rejected, since בבל and even the whole world are surrounded too. The real reason is the land's hills and slopes (מעלות ומורדות), which are not like the flat desert camp (דגלי מדבר). רחבה then asks רבא about a steep mound that many people walk across. According to רבנן it obviously stays private, but according to רבי יהודה it is a real question. רבא rules that one is liable, even on a slope climbed by rope. רחבה challenges him three times, with a courtyard, alleyways that open into cisterns, and the paths of בית גילגול. The first two are answered by saying their new point is about טומאה, and the third by saying יהושע gave hard paths to individuals. Finally a new משנה begins: רבי עקיבא and רבי יהודה בן בבא disagree about which wells and cisterns may use פסין.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ChallengeRejecting the natural-walls explanation
2. QuestionSuggesting the real reason: hills and slopes
3. Responseרב דימי praises and confirms
4. ProofSupport from another report of רבי יוחנן
5. Questionרחבה's question about a steep mound
6. ResponseAccording to רבנן there is no question
7. QuestionThe real question is according to רבי יהודה
8. Responseרבא rules that one is liable
9. QuestionEven a slope climbed by rope
10. QuestionEven the steep ascents of בית מרון
11. ChallengeObjection from a courtyard the public walks through
12. ChallengeThe ברייתא cannot be following רבנן
13. ProofSo the ברייתא must follow רבי יהודה
14. ResolutionIt can still be רבנן; the new point is about טומאה
15. ChallengeA new proof about alleyways that open into pits and caves
16. ChallengeFixing the wording: 'into cisterns,' not 'in cisterns'
17. ChallengeIf רבנן wrote it, the ruling would be obvious
18. ProofSo the source must be רבי יהודה
19. ResolutionIt is really רבנן, and the new point is טומאה
20. ChallengeA new source: the paths of בית גילגול
21. QuestionWhat are the paths of בית גילגול?
22. ResponseA path too steep for a slave to run with a load
23. Challengeרבנן would make this ruling obvious
24. ProofSo it must be רבי יהודה, against רבא
25. Rejectionיהושע gave hard paths to individuals
26. StatementNew משנה: פסין around public and private wells
27. StatementA private cistern needs a real ten-handbreadth wall
28. Statementרבי יהודה בן בבא limits פסין to a public well only