## Kitzur Shulchan Arukh Siman 81

###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:1
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/81:1)

אַרְבַּע רְשֻׁיּוֹת לְשַׁבָּת, רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, כַּרְמְלִית, וּמְקוֹם פְּטוֹר. וּנְבָאֵר קְצָת מֵהֶן בִּקְצָרָה.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
There are four classes of domains with regard to the laws of Shabbos: private domain, public domain, *karmelis* and *makom petur*. We shall explain them briefly.


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:2
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/81:2)

אֵיזֶה רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד. מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים עַל אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים, (שֶׁזֶּהוּ מָקוֹם חָשׁוּב שֶׁרָאוּי לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ), וּמֻקָּף בִּמְחִיצוֹת גְּבוֹהוֹת לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים (אֲפִלּוּ אֵינָן שְׁלֵמוֹת לְגַמְרֵי). וְחָרִיץ עָמֹק עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים וְרָחָב אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים, גַּם כֵּן דִּינוֹ כִּמְחִיצָה (עַיֵן חֲכָם צְבִי סִימָן ה'). וְכֵן בּוֹר שֶׁהוּא עָמֹק עֲשָׂרָה וְרָחָב אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה, וְכֵן תֵּל שֶׁהוּא גָּבוֹהַּ וְרָחָב אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה. וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּלִי, כְּגוֹן תֵּבָה, אִם גָּבוֹהָה עֲשָׂרָה אוֹ חָבִית שֶׁהִיא עֲגֻלָּה וְיֵשׁ בָּהּ לְרַבֵּעַ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה, כָּל אֵלּוּ אֲפִלּוּ הֵן בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אוֹ בְּכַרְמֵלִית, הֲרֵי הֵן נֶחְלָקוֹת לְעַצְמָן וְהֵן רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד. וַאֲוִיר רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד הוּא רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד עַד לָרָקִיעַ. וְהַמְּחִיצוֹת עַצְמָן שֶׁהֵן מַקִּיפוֹת לִרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד עַל גַּבֵּיהֶן גַּם כֵּן דִּין רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד לָהֶן. וְהַחוֹרִים שֶׁבַּמְּחִיצוֹת שֶׁכְּלַפֵּי רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, אֲפִלּוּ הֵן מְפֻלָּשִׁים מֵעֵבֶר לְעֵבֶר, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיְכוֹלִין לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, הֲרֵי הֵן בְּטֵלִין אֶצְלָהּ וְנֶחְשָׁבִים כִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד. (וְאִם הֵם רַק כְּלַפֵּי חוּץ, יִתְבָּאֵר בְּסָּעִיף שֶׁלְּאַחַר זֶה).

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
What is a private domain? It is a place that is at least four *tefachim*¹ by four *tefachim* (which is sufficiently significant to be of use) and is surrounded by partitions² (345: 3)—Acharonim] at least ten *tefachim* high (even if the partitions are not complete). A trench, ten *tefachim* deep and four *tefachim* wide, has the same halachah as a partition.³ (345: 11). Similarly, the same is true of a hole⁴ (345: 10) See *Mishnah Berurah* (345: 41). If the water freezes, see *Magein Avraham* 363: 31 and *Chayei Adam* 47: 5. ten [*tefachim*] deep, and four *tefachim* by four *tefachim* wide, and also a mound ten *tefachim* high and four *tefachim* by four *tefachim* wide. Even a vessel such as a box, if it is ten [*tefachim*] high, or a round barrel that is large enough to circumscribe a four by four square; all of these, even if they are in a public domain or in a *karmelis*,⁵ are considered separate premises of their own and constitute a private domain. The open space over a private domain is considered a private domain until the sky.⁶ 7a. The tops of the walls that surround a private domain, are also considered a private domain. If there are holes in the walls on the side facing a private domain, even if they run through from side to side,⁷ 47: 7. since they can be used from the private domain, they are insignificant in comparison to the wall [and therefore] are considered as a private domain. (When the holes are only on the outside of the wall, this will be explained in the following paragraph.)

footnotes:
¹ See Glossary.
² The thickness of the walls is not included. [Mishnah Berurah
³ See Shulchan Aruch
⁴ The walls of a private domain have to be visible. If a hole is filled with water it is a private domain, but if it is filled with fruit, etc., it is not (even if you intend to remove the fruit). Magein Avraham
⁵ See footnote 12.
⁶ Maseches Shabbos
⁷ To a public domain. See Chayei Adam


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:3
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/81:3)

אֵיזוֹהִי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. רְחוֹבוֹת וּשְׁוָקִים שֶׁהֵן שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה עַל שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה, שֶׁכֵּן הָיָה רֹחַב הַדֶּרֶךְ בְּמַחֲנֶה לְוִיָּה שֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּר. וְכֵן דְּרָכִים שֶׁעוֹבְרִין בָּהֶם מֵעִיר לְעִיר וּרְחָבִים שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה, הֲרֵי הֵן רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, אִם אֵינוֹ גָּבוֹהַּ שְׁלשָׁה טְפָחִים מִן הַקַּרְקַע, אֲפִלּוּ הוּא קוֹצִים אוֹ צוֹאָה שֶׁאֵין רַבִּים דּוֹרְסִים עֲלֵיהֶם, מִכָּל מָקוֹם בָּטֵל הוּא לְגַבֵּי הַקַּרְקַע וַהֲרֵי הוּא כִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְכֵן גוּמָּא בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, אִם אֵינָהּ עֲמֻקָּה שְׁלשָׁה טְפָחִים, הֲרֵי הוּא כִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְהַחוֹרִים שֶׁבַּכְּתָלִים כְּלַפֵּי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְאֵינָם מְפֻלָּשִׁים לְפָנִים לִרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, אִם הֵם נְמוּכִים מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים לַקַּרְקַע, בְּטֵלֵי לְגַבֵּי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, וַהֲרֵי הֵן כִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְאִם הֵן לְמַעְלָה מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים נִדּוֹנִין לְפִי מִדּוֹתֵיהֶן, אִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וְהֵם לְמַטָּה מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, הֲרֵי הוּא כַּרְמְלִית. וּלְמַעְלָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, הֲוֵי רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד. וְאִם אֵין בָּהֶם אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה הֲרֵי הֵם מְקוֹם פְּטוּר, בֵּין שֶׁהֵם לְמַעְלָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה בֵּין שֶׁהֵם לְמַטָּה מֵעֲשָׂרָה. הַמְּבוֹאוֹת שֶׁנִּכְנָסִין לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, לִפְעָמִים הֵן רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְלִפְעָמִים הֵן כַּרְמְלִית, וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה הַרְבֵּה חִלּוּקֵי דִּינִים. יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, שֶׁכָּל שֶׁאֵין שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא אֲנָשִׁים עוֹבְרִים בּוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם כְּדִגְלֵי מִדְבָּר, אֵינוֹ רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֶלָּא כַּרְמְלִית. וְלָכֵן בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, אֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְכָל יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם יַחְמִיר לְעַצְמוֹ.

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
What is a public domain? Streets and market squares that measure sixteen *amos*⁸ by sixteen *amos* are considered public domains, for this was the width of the road in the camp of the Levites in the desert.⁹ 99a. And highways by which people travel from city to city that are sixteen *amos* wide are [also] public domain. Anything in a public domain that is less than three *tefachim* above the ground, even thorns or dung on which most people do not step, is nevertheless insignificant when compared to the ground, and is considered part of a public domain.¹⁰ 7, *Shulchan Aruch* 345: 10–11. Likewise, a ditch in a public domain; that is less than three *tefachim* deep, is considered public domain. The holes in the walls facing a public domain that do not run through to a private domain, and are lower than three *tefachim* from the ground, are insignificant compared to the public domain, and are considered public domain. However, if they are higher than three *tefachim* [from the ground], we must consider them according to their dimensions.¹¹ 345: 13. If the hole measures four by four *tefachim* but is lower than ten *tefachim*, it is considered a *karmelis*;¹² is defined as an area which cannot be classified either as private or as public domain. See paragraph 4. if it is higher than ten *tefachim*, it is a private domain. If it is less than four by four *tefachim* it is a *makom petur*,¹³, as an exempted area. See paragraph 5. whether it is above ten *tefachim* or below ten *tefachim* [from the ground]. Alleys that lead into a public domain are sometimes regarded as public domain and sometimes as *karmelis*. This involves many intricate halachic details.¹⁴ 345: 8–9. Some authorities say,¹⁵ 345: 7 [*Bahag, Rashi* (*Maseches Eruvin* 6) *Rosh, Smag* etc.] that any place through which fewer than 600, 000 people¹⁶. [Maharsham Vol. 3, 188, Yeshuos Malka (Orach Chaim Resp. 26)] pass daily,¹⁷ (*Maseches Eruvin* 6b) and *Eishel Avraham* (*Batchutch*) 345—*poskim*.] as was the number of Jews in the desert,¹⁸. is not a public domain, but is regarded as a *karmelis*.¹⁹ Therefore, nowadays, we have no public domain.²⁰ Every God-fearing person should follow the more stringent view.²¹ etc. do not require that 600, 000 people pass by in order to make a public domain.

footnotes:
⁸ See Glossary.
⁹ See Maseches Shabbos
¹⁰ See Maseches Shabbos
¹¹ Shulchan Aruch
¹² Karmelis
¹³ Makom petur
¹⁴ See Shulchan Aruch
¹⁵ See Shulchan Aruch
¹⁶ Some say that this applies only to a city, but that major intercity highways are considered public domain even when there are not 600, 000 passers-by, even according to Rashi
¹⁷ Including non-Jews. [Beis Meir
¹⁸ During their forty years of wandering through the Sinai desert en route to Eretz Yisrael
¹⁹ See footnote 12.
²⁰ Almost none in the city, excluding large cities which are numerous nowadays. See footnotes 16 and 21.
²¹ The Rif, Rambam, Ramban, Rashba


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:4
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/81:4)

אֵיזֶהוּ כַּרְמְלִית. מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין הִלּוּךְ לְרַבִּים, וְגַם אֵינוֹ מֻקָּף בִּמְחִיצּוֹת כָּרָאוּי, כְּגוֹן הַשָּׂדוֹת וְנָהָר שֶׁהוּא עָמֹק לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים וְרָחָב לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים. וּמְבוֹאוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן שָׁלֹשׁ מְחִצּוֹת, וְאִצְטְוָנִית (הוּא מָקוֹם שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַחֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁהַסּוֹחֲרִים יוֹשְׁבִים), וְאִיצְטַבָּא (הוּא מָקוֹם שֶׁמַּנִּיחִים עָלָיו פְּרַקְמַטְיָא) שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הָעַמּוּדִים בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, וְהִיא רְחָבָה אַרְבָּעָה וּגְבוֹהָה שְׁלשָׁה טְפָחִים אוֹ יוֹתֵר עַד עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים. וְכֵן מָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה מֻקָּף בִּמְחִצּוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן גְּבוֹהוֹת עֲשָׂרָה, וְתֵל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וְגָבוֹהַּ מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה וְעַד עֲשָׂרָה, וּבוֹר שֶׁהוּא אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וְעָמֹק מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה וְעַד עֲשָׂרָה, וְעוֹד יֵשׁ הַרְבֵּה שֶׁהֵן כַּרְמְלִית. (וּלְשׁוֹן כַּרְמְלִית הוּא לְשׁוֹן רַךְ מָל, פֵּרוּשׁ לֹא לַח וְלֹא יָבֵשׁ, אֶלָּא בֵּינוֹנִי. הָכָא נַמִּי לֹא רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מְחִצּוֹת כָּרָאוּי. וְגַם לֹא רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין רַבִּים הוֹלְכִים שָׁם) (שמה שנו).

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
What is a *karmelis?* It is any place that is not a public thoroughfare, and is not properly surrounded by partitions such as a field; or a stream that is no less than ten *tefachim* deep and no less than four *tefachim* wide; and alleys that have three²² 345: 14—*Tur, Rambam*. See *Beis Yosef*. partitions. Also an *itztavanis*, (which is a place in front of shops where merchants sit) or an *itztaba*, (a stand on which merchandise is placed,) in front of the pillars in the public domain, and [the *itztaba*] is four *tefachim* wide and from three *tefachim* to ten *tefachim* high. Also a place that measures four [*tefachim*] square, and is surrounded by partitions that are less than ten [*tefachim*] high; and a mound that measures four [*tefachim*] square and from three to ten [*tefachim*] high; and a pit that measures four [*tefachim*] square and is from three to ten [*tefachim*] deep. There are also many other examples of *karmelis*. (The word *karmelis* is a composite of *rach* and *mol*, which means, neither wet nor dry,²³ (*Maseches Shabbos* 6b). Also see *Rashi* (*Maseches Shabbos* 3b). but in between. The same applies in this case; it is neither a private domain, because it does not have proper walls, nor is it public domain, because not many walk there.)

footnotes:
²² Rema
²³ Tosafos


###### Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:5
[Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 81:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Kitzur%20Shulchan%20Arukh/r/81:5)

אֵיזֶהוּ מְקוֹם פְּטוֹר. כָּל מָקוֹם בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וְהוּא גָּבוֹהַּ מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה וּלְמַעְלָה, אוֹ בּוֹר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וְעָמֹק מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה לְמַטָּה, וְכֵן מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה וּמֻקָּף בִּמְחִצּוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה וּלְמָעְלָה. וְכָל אֵלּוּ דַּוְקָא כְּשֶׁהֵן בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים הֵן מְקוֹם פְּטוֹר. אֲבָל אִם הֵן בְּכַרְמְלִית, הֲרֵי הֵן גַּם כֵּן כַּרְמְלִית (שמ"ה).

**Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, trans. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Pub., 1996:**
What is a *mekom petur?* It is any place in a public domain that does not measure four [*tefachim*] square and is more than three [*tefachim*] high; or a pit that is not four [*tefachim*] square and is deeper than three [*tefachim*] ; and a place that does not measure four [*tefachim*] square but is surrounded by partitions of three or more [*tefachim*] high.²⁴ 345: 19. All these places [are exempt] only when they are in a public domain, [for then] they are considered a *mekom petur*. But when they are in a *karmelis*, they are also considered part of *karmelis*.

footnotes:
²⁴ Shulchan Aruch