## Eruvin Daf 78a

###### Eruvin 78a:1
[Eruvin 78a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:1)

זִיז הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַכּוֹתֶל אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה, וְהִנִּיחַ עָלָיו סוּלָּם כׇּל שֶׁהוּא — מִיעֲטוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **a projection four by four** handbreadths in area **extends from a wall, and one placed a ladder of any** width **against it,** if the rungs of the ladder are less than three handbreadths apart, **he has diminished** the height of the wall by means of this ladder and projection.


###### Eruvin 78a:2
[Eruvin 78a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:2)

וְלָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּאוֹתְבֵיהּ עֲלֵיהּ, אֲבָל אוֹתְבֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ אַרְווֹחֵי אַרְוְחֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara qualifies this statement: **And we said** this **only** in a case **where one placed** the ladder directly **against** the projection, so that the ladder serves as a passage to it. **However, if he placed it adjacent to** the projection, **he has** merely **widened** the projection, while the ladder remains separate from it. Consequently, the projection does not have any connection to the ground, and a projection that is not within three handbreadths of the ground does not diminish the height of a wall.


###### Eruvin 78a:3
[Eruvin 78a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:3)

וְאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: כּוֹתֶל תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂר — צָרִיךְ זִיז אֶחָד לְהַתִּירוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said:** If **a wall** between two courtyards is **nineteen** handbreadths high, **it requires one projection to** render the use of the wall **permitted.** If there is a single projection in the middle of the wall, with a ladder of any width resting against it, it is considered a passageway between the courtyards, as the projection is within ten handbreadths of the top of the wall.


###### Eruvin 78a:4
[Eruvin 78a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:4)

כּוֹתֶל עֶשְׂרִים — צָרִיךְ שְׁנֵי זִיזִים לְהַתִּירוֹ. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: וְהוּא שֶׁהֶעֱמִידָן זֶה שֶׁלֹּא כְּנֶגֶד זֶה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
However, if **the wall** is **twenty** handbreadths high, it **requires two projections to** render the use of the wall **permitted,** one within ten handbreadths of the ground, and the other within ten handbreadths of the top of the wall. **Rav Ḥisda said: And this** applies only **where he positioned** the projections **not** directly **one above the other,** so that it is possible to use a ladder to climb from one projection to the other.


###### Eruvin 78a:5
[Eruvin 78a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:5)

אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: עַמּוּד בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, גָּבוֹהַּ עֲשָׂרָה וְרָחָב אַרְבָּעָה, וְנָעַץ בּוֹ יָתֵד כׇּל שֶׁהוּא — מִיעֲטוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Huna said:** If **a pillar in the public domain** is **ten** handbreadths **high and four** handbreadths **wide,** so that it is considered a private domain, **and one drove a stake of any** size **into** the top of **it, he has diminished its** area. The usable area is now less than four handbreadths, and therefore the pillar is no longer considered a private domain.


###### Eruvin 78a:6
[Eruvin 78a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:6)

אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: וּבְגָבוֹהַּ שְׁלֹשָׁה. אַבָּיֵי וְרָבָא דְּאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין גָּבוֹהַּ שְׁלֹשָׁה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Adda bar Ahava said:** This applies only if the stake is at least **three** handbreadths **high.** If it is less than three handbreadths high, it is considered part of the top of the pillar, based on the principle of *lavud*. This is in contrast to **Abaye and Rava, who both say: Even if** the stake is **not three** handbreadths **high,** the pillar is no longer considered a private domain.


###### Eruvin 78a:7
[Eruvin 78a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:7)

מַאי טַעְמָא: לָא מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**What is the reason** for the opinion of Abaye and Rava? It is that the pillar **is no longer** fit to be **used,** as a surface of four by four handbreadths is suitable for use only when it is level. If it has even a small projection, it is no longer usable.


###### Eruvin 78a:8
[Eruvin 78a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:8)

רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שֶׁגָּבוֹהַּ שְׁלֹשָׁה, מַאי טַעְמָא: אֶפְשָׁר דְּתָלֵי בֵּיהּ מִידֵּי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Ashi said: Even a stake three** handbreadths **high** does not diminish the area of the pillar. **What is the reason** for this? It is that **it is possible to hang an item on it. Although** it is no longer possible to rest objects on top of the pillar, it is still useful in some way.


###### Eruvin 78a:9
[Eruvin 78a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:9)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: מִלְּאוֹ כּוּלּוֹ בִּיתֵדוֹת מַהוּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi:** According to your opinion, if **he filled it entirely with stakes,** i.e., if he drove so many stakes into the top of the post that it was completely filled, **what is** the *halakha*?


###### Eruvin 78a:10
[Eruvin 78a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:10)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא שְׁמִיעַ לָךְ הָא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בּוֹר וְחוּלְיָיתָהּ מִצְטָרֵף לַעֲשָׂרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Ashi **said to him: Did you not hear that** which **Rabbi Yoḥanan said?** He said that **a pit and its embankment** of stone around the edge **join** together to complete the measure of **ten** handbreadths. Similarly, the width of the embankment joins with the diameter of the pit to complete the measure of four by four handbreadths necessary to define the pit as a private domain.


###### Eruvin 78a:11
[Eruvin 78a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:11)

וְאַמַּאי, הָא לָא מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לֵיהּ? אֶלָּא מַאי אִית לָךְ לְמֵימַר — דְּמַנַּח מִידֵּי וּמִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ, הָכָא נָמֵי דְּמַנַּח מִידֵּי וּמִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There, too, one can raise the question: **But why? He cannot use** the embankment, as most of the area is the empty space of the pit. **Rather, what have you to say,** i.e., how can you solve this problem? The solution is **that he places an item,** e.g., a board, over the mouth of the pit, **and** then he can make **use** of it. **Here, too, he places an item** over the stakes **and** can make **use** of the pillar.


###### Eruvin 78a:12
[Eruvin 78a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:12)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: כּוֹתֶל עֲשָׂרָה — צָרִיךְ סוּלָּם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר לְהַתִּירוֹ. רַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר וּמַשֶּׁהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yehuda said** that **Shmuel said:** If **a wall** is **ten** handbreadths high, **it requires a ladder fourteen** handbreadths high, so that one can place the ladder at a diagonal against the wall. The ladder then functions as a passageway and thereby renders the use of the wall **permitted. Rav Yosef said: Even** a ladder with a height of **thirteen** handbreadths **and a bit** is enough, as it is sufficient if the ladder reaches within one handbreadth of the top of the wall.


###### Eruvin 78a:13
[Eruvin 78a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:13)

אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ אַחַד עָשָׂר וּמַשֶּׁהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said: Even** a ladder that is only **eleven** handbreadths **and a bit** suffices, as the ladder will still reach a height of over seven handbreadths, i.e., within three handbreadths of the top of the wall.


###### Eruvin 78a:14
[Eruvin 78a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:14)

רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שִׁבְעָה וּמַשֶּׁהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, said: Even** if the ladder is only **seven** handbreadths **and a bit** it is sufficient, as he can stand the ladder upright against the wall. Since it will reach within three handbreadths of the top of the wall, the principle of *lavud* applies. Therefore, even a ladder placed in this manner is considered a valid passageway between the two courtyards.


###### Eruvin 78a:15
[Eruvin 78a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:15)

אָמַר רַב: סוּלָּם זָקוּף — מְמַעֵט. גְּמָרָא, וְלָא יָדַעְנָא מַאי טַעְמָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Similarly, **Rav said: An upright ladder** effectively **diminishes** the height of a wall, as it creates a passageway. I received this teaching as **a tradition, but I do not know what the reason is,** as people do not generally climb ladders positioned in this manner.


###### Eruvin 78a:16
[Eruvin 78a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:16)

אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: וְלָא יָדַע אַבָּא טַעְמָא דְּהָא מִלְּתָא?! מִידֵּי דְּהָוֵה אַאִיצְטְבָא עַל גַּבֵּי אִיצְטְבָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Shmuel said: Does Abba,** i.e., Rav, actually **not know the reason for this matter?** The reason here is **just as it is** in the case of **a platform above** another **platform.** Even though it is not easy to climb, since it provides steps that can be climbed, albeit with difficulty, it is considered a valid passageway.


###### Eruvin 78a:17
[Eruvin 78a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:17)

אָמַר רַבָּה אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא: דְּקָלִים שֶׁבְּבָבֶל — אֵינָן צְרִיכִין קֶבַע. מַאי טַעְמָא: כְּבֵידָן קוֹבַעְתָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabba said** that **Rabbi Ḥiyya said:** The trunks of **palm trees in Babylonia** that were placed next to a wall between two courtyards so that people could climb on them and pass from one courtyard to another **do not need to be established** permanently and attached to the ground; rather, they serve to diminish the wall as they are. **What is the reason** for this? It is that **their heaviness establishes them** as connected to the ground. Although it is permitted to handle them, nevertheless, since their weight makes them difficult to move, they are considered fixed in place.


###### Eruvin 78a:18
[Eruvin 78a:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:18)

וְרַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: סוּלָּמוֹת שֶׁבְּבָבֶל — אֵינָן צְרִיכִין קֶבַע. מַאי טַעְמָא: כְּבֵידָן קוֹבַעְתָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** similarly, **Rav Yosef** said that **Rabbi Oshaya said: Ladders in Babylonia do not need** to be **established** and fixed permanently in place. **What is the reason** for this? It is that **their heaviness establishes them,** as the ladders in Babylonia were typically large and heavy.


###### Eruvin 78a:19
[Eruvin 78a:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:19)

מַאן דְּאָמַר סוּלָּמוֹת, כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּקָלִים. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר דְּקָלִים, אֲבָל סוּלָּמוֹת לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: With regard to **the one who said** that Babylonian **ladders** do not need to be fixed in place, **all the more so** would he agree that the trunks of **palm trees,** which are placed there from the outset for this purpose, are considered fixed, as both are extremely heavy and also designed to remain in place. On the other hand, **the one who said** that the trunks of **palm trees** need not be fixed permanently in the ground, spoke only with regard to palm trees. **However,** as for **ladders, no,** they are not considered fixed in place. A ladder, even a heavy one, is designed to be moved from place to place.


###### Eruvin 78a:20
[Eruvin 78a:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:20)

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף מֵרַבָּה: סוּלָּם מִכָּאן וְסוּלָּם מִכָּאן וְקַשִּׁין בָּאֶמְצַע, מַהוּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yosef raised a dilemma before Rabba:** If there is a narrow **ladder** measuring less than two handbreadths wide **on one** side, **and a** similarly narrow **ladder on the other** side, **and** there are rungs of woven **straw in the middle** between them which would not support a person’s weight, **what is** the *halakha*? Are the two ladders considered a single unit, forming a ladder four handbreadths wide, which serves to diminish the height of a wall?


###### Eruvin 78a:21
[Eruvin 78a:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:21)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֵין כַּף הָרֶגֶל עוֹלָה בָּהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabba **said to him: The sole of the foot cannot** climb **upon them.** A person usually places his foot in the middle of a ladder. Since the middle of this ladder is made of straw, then although it appears to be four handbreadths wide, it is not fit for use and does not diminish the height of the wall.


###### Eruvin 78a:22
[Eruvin 78a:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Eruvin/r/78a:22)

קַשִּׁין מִכָּאן וְקַשִּׁין מִכָּאן וְסוּלָּם בָּאֶמְצַע, מַהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲרֵי כַּף הָרֶגֶל עוֹלָה בָּהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Yosef continued to ask: And what if there were rungs of **straw on one** side **and** rungs of **straw on the other** side, **and a** narrow **ladder** less than four handbreadths wide **in the middle,** and their combined width is four handbreadths? **What is** the *halakha* in this case? Rabba **said to him: The sole of the foot can** climb **upon them,** and the ladder appears to be four handbreadths wide. Therefore, it serves to diminish the height of the wall.