Eruvin 88a

עירובין פ״ח ע״א

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Topic

The leniencies for טבריא, pouring water from balconies and into small courtyards on שבת, and the rule that theft gives no rights in שבת domains

Overview

This amud finishes the leniencies רבי חנניה בן עקביא gave the people of טבריא. A ברייתא explains drying with a towel on שבת: the worry is wringing it out, and רבי שמעון even lets a person carry the towel home. Next, רבה בר רב הונא discusses pouring water through the balcony hole, and the גמרא brings two versions of his ruling. In both versions, רב שיזבי compares the case to an עוקה (a waste-water pit). רב then rules that two balconies far apart do not restrict each other, because a person does not restrict another 'by way of the air.' רבי חייא and רבי אושעיא teach that the law of theft applies to שבת domains, so a ruin stays with its owner. This leads to a discussion of partners who built a partition together. Finally, a new משנה teaches that a courtyard smaller than four by four אמות needs a two-סאה pit before one may pour water into it on שבת. רבה begins explaining the reason, and his explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ResolutionThe people of טבריא are treated like workers saving time
2. QuestionWhat is the towel-drying leniency?
3. ResponseA ברייתא: dry with a towel, but don't hand it to the attendants
4. Statementרבי שמעון: he may even carry the towel home
5. Statementרבה בר רב הונא: the balcony leniency is only for drawing water
6. Challengeרב שיזבי: how is this different from a waste-water pit?
7. ResolutionWater in a courtyard soaks in, water from a balcony does not
8. StatementA second version: pouring is also permitted
9. Challengeרב שיזבי: this is obvious, it is just like the pit
10. ResolutionIt needed to be said, because one might have split the cases
11. StatementTwo balconies: the upper one is permitted if they are far apart
12. Proofרב is consistent: no restriction through the air
13. StatementTheft applies on שבת, and a ruin goes back to its owner
14. ChallengeThe two halves of the ruling seem to contradict each other
15. ResolutionThe second half explains the first: the user does not gain the ruin
16. Challengeרבה challenges this teaching from the two balconies
17. ResolutionThe partition was built jointly
18. ChallengeThen the partnership should still apply when the lower balcony has its own partition
19. ResolutionBuilding a separate partition ends the partnership
20. StatementPouring water into a small courtyard on שבת
21. StatementThe pit may be inside or outside the courtyard
22. Statementרבי אליעזר בן יעקב: one may pour into a covered drain
23. StatementThe חכמים: never pour directly into the drain's mouth
24. StatementA courtyard and a portico add up to four אמות
25. StatementTwo upper stories: only those who built a pit may pour
26. QuestionThe גמרא asks for the reason behind the four-אמות rule
27. Responseרבה: people use two סאה a day and like to sprinkle it