Eruvin 2a

עירובין ב׳ ע״א

Learn Eruvin 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Eruvin 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The height and width limits of a מבוי, and the Temple-doorway sources behind the מחלוקת about its height

Overview

The first משנה of מסכת עירובין says that if a מבוי's entrance is higher than twenty אמות, it must be lowered, but רבי יהודה says this is not needed. An entrance wider than ten אמות must be narrowed, unless it has a צורת הפתח. The גמרא asks why this משנה teaches a fix (תקנתא), while the similar משנה in סוכה just says 'פסולה'. It gives two answers. The first is that סוכה is דאורייתא and מבוי is דרבנן. The second is that סוכה has too many rules to list every fix. רב then explains that the חכמים learned the twenty-אמה limit from the היכל doorway, and רבי יהודה learned his view from the taller אולם doorway. The גמרא ties this to how each side reads the פסוק 'פתח אהל מועד'. It then asks how a פסוק about the משכן can teach about the בית המקדש, and answers that each is called by the other's name. Finally it starts looking for a פסוק where the משכן is called 'מקדש', a search that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementA tall alleyway entrance must be lowered
2. StatementA wide alleyway entrance must be narrowed unless it has a doorway frame
3. StatementThe גמרא quotes the parallel משנה about a tall סוכה
4. QuestionWhy does one משנה say invalid and the other give a fix?
5. ResponseTorah law gives the result, rabbinic law teaches the fix
6. ResponseA second answer: סוכה has too many rules to list fixes
7. StatementWhere each side learned the twenty-אמה rule
8. ProofA משנה giving the size of both doorways
9. StatementBoth read the same פסוק: the רבנן's reasoning
10. Statementרבי יהודה holds the Sanctuary and Entrance Hall share one holiness
11. StatementA second explanation of רבי יהודה's source
12. ResolutionThe רבנן reread the verse as the House that opens into the Entrance Hall
13. ChallengeBut that verse was said about the משכן
14. ResolutionThe Tabernacle and the Temple share each other's names
15. ProofProof from the law of peace-offerings slaughtered before the doors are opened
16. ConclusionConclusion: the Temple and the Tabernacle are interchangeable
17. QuestionWhere is the Tabernacle called 'Temple'?
18. ResponseA suggested source: the קהתים carry the 'Temple'