Ein Baum, der sich über den Boden beugt [dh dessen Äste sich ringsum nach unten neigen] —Wenn sich seine Äste nicht drei Tefachim über dem Boden befinden, darf er darunter getragen werden, wenn. [Da seine Äste nicht drei Tefachim über dem Boden liegen, gelten sie als am Boden befestigt und sind daher wie Trennwände, weshalb es erlaubt ist, sie unter sich zu tragen. In jedem Fall muss der Raum zwischen den Ästen und dem Boden mit Stroh und Stoppeln oder dergleichen gefüllt sein, und die Äste müssen gebunden sein, damit sie nicht vom Wind bewegt werden. Für jede Trennwand, die einem normalen Wind nicht standhalten kann, handelt es sich nicht um eine Trennwand. Und man darf nur Beth Sa'atayim (siebzig Ellen und ein Überrest) dorthin tragen. Denn innerhalb jeder Partition, deren Zweck "Raum" ist— das heißt, den Raum der Felder und der Weinberge zu bewachen, aber nicht darin zu wohnen — es ist erlaubt, nur beth sa'atayim zu tragen.] Wenn seine Wurzeln drei Tefachim über dem Boden liegen, darf er nicht darauf sitzen [es ist verboten, einen Baum zu benutzen (am Schabbat) —ein Dekret, damit er nicht davon abreißt. Aber wenn sie nicht drei Tefachim hoch sind, sind sie wie der Boden, und es ist erlaubt, auf ihnen zu sitzen.] Die Tür des Muktzeh, [ein Raum hinter den Häusern, dessen Tür nicht in eine Steckdose gesetzt ist, wie andere Türen, die aber gegen die Öffnung stehen und beim Entfernen auf den Boden gestellt werden] und Dornen in [dh, die eine Lücke füllen] und [Schilf-] Matten—Es ist verboten, die Öffnung mit ihnen zu schließen, es sei denn, sie befinden sich über dem Boden. [Alle diese sind nicht gebunden und nicht fixiert, aber wenn jemand zum Öffnen kommt (das Gehege), legt er sie auf den Boden. Aus diesem Grund ersetzt er sie nicht, was den Eindruck eines "Bauens" erweckt (eine verbotene Sabbatarbeit).— es sei denn, sie befinden sich über dem Boden. In diesem Fall wird der Eindruck eines "Gebäudes" nicht vermittelt, und er kann (den Raum) mit ihnen schließen.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
המיסך – that its branches hang over downwards from all of its sides around.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
Introduction
The first part of this mishnah deals with carrying below the branches of a tree and sitting on a tree’s roots. The second part of the mishnah deals with setting up a make-shift door.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
מטלטלין תחתיו – for since its branches are not three handbreadths or higher from the ground, they are like the legal fiction of considering separated parts as united and they are seen as partitions. Therefore, it is permitted to carry underneath it, but nevertheless, it is necessary to fill the airspace that is between the branches and the land with straw, stubble and similar things, and to tie up the branches so that the wind doesn’t move them for a partition that is unable to withstand a wind that is present is not a partition. But we don’t carry in it other than in a field requiring one Se’ah of seed (a square measure) which is seventy cubits and a balance (less than eighty) for every partition whose usage is for the airspace, that is to say, to protect the airspace of the fields and vineyards and not to dwell there, we don’t carry there other than with a field requiring one Se’ah of seed/בית סאתים.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If a tree overshadows the ground: if its branches are not higher than three handbreadths from the ground it is permitted to carry underneath it. If a tree’s branches lie within three handbreadths from the ground it is as if they are attached to the ground. This is a special rule that is applied in certain circumstances according to which anything that is three handbreadths from the ground it is as if it is attached to the ground. Assumedly the branches are at least ten handbreadths high and therefore they act as partitions. The area in between the branches is therefore considered a private domain and it is permitted to carry there.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
לא ישב עליהן – for it is prohibited to use a tree lest one detaches something, but if it is not higher than three [handbreadths], it is permitted to sit upon it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If its roots are three handbreadths high above the ground, one may not sit on them. On Shabbat it is forbidden to climb on or make any use of a tree, lest by doing so one comes to break off a branch, an activity which is forbidden. The mishnah teaches that if the roots are higher than three handbreadths one may not sit on them, since they are part of the tree. However, if they are less than three handbreadths than they are part of the ground and it is permitted to sit on them.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
הדלת שבמוקצה – it is wide, that is behind the house, and its door is not affixed with a hinge like other doors but stands upright against the opening and when he opens it, the door attaches to the ground.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
With the door in the “muktzeh”, and the thorns in the breach [of a wall] and reed mats, one may not close an opening, unless they are high off the ground. In this context “muktzeh” refers to a backyard separate from the courtyard which was used usually for storage. Since people didn’t regularly go in and out of the muktzeh and it was only used to store items which were not particularly valuable (like produce and wood) it did not have a regular door, with a hinge and lock. Rather the door was just propped up against the opening in the wall and when people went in, they would take the door down and lay it on the ground. The thorns referred to here were used to fill up holes in a wall. The mishnah says that it is forbidden to use these three things (the muktzeh door, the thorns and the reed mats) to make a door. The reason is that these are not actually doors (which have hinges and locks) and therefore one who puts them into the opening of the wall looks like he is building, and not just putting a door in its place. In other words, this is prohibited because it looks too much like building. However, if when placing them he raised them from the ground, then it is clearer that he is not building and it is permitted. Others explain differently. They explain that these three things will make furrows in the ground when the door is opened and it is forbidden on Shabbat to make furrows. Therefore, if he wishes to use them as a door, he must lift them a little off the ground so that they won’t make furrows.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
חדקים – thorns that they set up to close with them a breach.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
וכן מחלצות – [matting] of reeds – all of these are not attached and are not affixed in their places but when we come too open, we cast them on the ground; therefore, we don’t lock with them for it appears like “building,” other than if they are above the ground, for then, they do not appear like “building” and one can lock things with them.
