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Eruvin 74a

עירובין ע״ד ע״א

Learn Eruvin 74a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

What a מבוי needs to be permitted by a לחי or קורה: the views of רב, שמואל and רבי יוחנן, the גזירה link to רבי שמעון's משנה, and the challenge to שמואל

Overview

This amud begins by finishing רב's rule that a מבוי needs several houses and courtyards opening into it before a לחי or קורה can permit carrying. שמואל says one house and one courtyard are enough, and רבי יוחנן says even a חורבה (ruin) counts. רב יוסף explains to אביי that a ruin counts because it is fit to live in, but a vineyard path is not. רב הונא בר חיננא then shows that רבי יוחנן is consistent. He brings רבי שמעון's משנה that roofs, enclosures, and courtyards are one domain. רב rules like רבי שמעון only when no עירוב was made, because of a גזירה. שמואל and רבי יוחנן rule like רבי שמעון in every case. The גמרא infers that רבי יוחנן does not make such a גזירה, and that is why he permits the alleyway with a ruin. In a story, רבי אלעזר challenges שמואל with שמואל's own rule to follow the משנה's wording, and שמואל stays silent. The גמרא asks whether שמואל retracted, and it begins a proof from איבות בר איהי's alleyway that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ בָּתִּים וַחֲצֵירוֹת פְּתוּחִין לְתוֹכוֹ.

unless there are houses and courtyards opening into it.

וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר:

And Shmuel said:

אֲפִילּוּ בַּיִת אֶחָד וְחָצֵר אַחַת.

Even one house and one courtyard.

וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ חוּרְבָּה.

And Rabbi Yochanan said: Even a ruin.

The steps (15)

  1. Statementרב's requirement: houses and courtyards must open into the alleyway
  2. Statementשמואל: one house and one courtyard are enough
  3. Statementרבי יוחנן: even a ruin counts
  4. Questionאביי asks whether a vineyard path also counts
  5. Responseרב יוסף: only a ruin, because it can be lived in
  6. Proofרבי יוחנן follows his usual reasoning, based on רבי שמעון's משנה
  7. Statementרב rules like רבי שמעון
  8. StatementOnly when they did not make an עירוב, because of a rabbinic decree
  9. Statementשמואל and רבי יוחנן rule like רבי שמעון in every case
  10. Proofרבי יוחנן makes no decree, so the ruin is permitted too
  11. Questionרבי אלעזר doubts a ruling reported in שמואל's name
  12. Responseשמואל confirms he said it
  13. ChallengeChallenge from שמואל's own rule to follow the משנה's wording
  14. QuestionDid שמואל accept the challenge?
  15. ProofA proof from איבות בר איהי's alleyway begins