An eruv and a partnership (in a mavui) is made with all (foods), except with water and salt. [("An eruv":) We are speaking here of eruvin of tchumin (Sabbath bounds); for eruvin of chatzeroth (courtyards) are made only with bread.] These are the words of R. Eliezer. R. Yehoshua says: A loaf is an eruv. [R. Eliezer, in "all (foods)" includes eruvei chatzeroth, permitting a piece of bread and not requiring an entire loaf; and R. Yehoshua differs with him, saying that only an entire loaf is an eruv. The halachah is in accordance with R. Yehoshua.] (R. Yehoshua says:) It is forbidden to make an eruv with a baked piece (of bread) even if it contains a sa'ah (of flour) [The reason: animosity, the possibility that this will arouse contention among the men of the courtyard, viz.: "I gave a whole loaf and he gave only a piece!"]; it is permitted to make an eruv with a whole loaf (even) if it is (only) the size of an issar. [It is placed as an eruv together with the other loaves of the men of the courtyard, so long as there be among all of them the size of a dried fig for each one. Rambam explains that a whole loaf the size of an issar (a certain coin) may be used as an eruv by itself for all the men of the courtyard, irrespective of the amount.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
בכל מערבין – the joining of borders/תחומין , whereas, if were the joining of courtyards, we don’t made an Eruv other than with [a loaf of] bread. But however, that Rabbi Eliezer stated here that we make an Eruv with everything includes joining of courtyards with a half-a-loaf of bread and we don’t need a complete loaf, but Rabbi Yehoshua disputes him and states that specifically, an Eruv is a complete loaf. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yehoshua.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
Introduction
In today’s mishnah Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Joshua disagree over whether one can set up an eruv with a broken loaf of bread.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
אין מערבין בה – and the reason is because of enmity/hostility that the members of the courtyard come to a dispute to state: “I gave a full loaf, and he [only] gave one-half/part of [a loaf].”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
They may set up an eruv or a shittuf with all kinds [of food] except for water or salt, the words of Rabbi Eliezer. Rabbi Joshua says: a whole loaf of bread is a valid eruv. Even a baking of one se’ah, if it is a broken loaf, may not be used for eruv while a loaf of the size of an issar, provided it is whole, may be used for eruv. The first line of this mishnah was already taught above in mishnah 3:1, but the context there was border eruvin (eruvei techumin), while here it is courtyard eruvin and alley partnerships (shittufim). Everyone agrees that all types of food except salt and water may be used to set up an eruv. The disagreement in our mishnah is about whether a broken loaf of bread may be used. According to Rabbi Eliezer even a broken loaf is valid. Rabbi Joshua disagrees and holds that only a full loaf is valid. Even if it contains a large amount of dough, even a full seah, if it is broken it is not valid. However, if it is a complete loaf, even if it small, it can count towards one’s eruv. According to the Rambam, a full loaf can constitute an eruv even if it doesn’t meet the minimum requirements listed above in mishnah eight. However, according to Rashi, the small loaf counts towards the eruv, but doesn’t count as the whole eruv unless the minimum requirements are met.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
ככר מאיסר והוא שלם מערבין בו – they place it in the Eruv with the rest of the loaves of the members of the courtyard, as long as there will be among all of them the equivalent of a dried fig for each and every one. But Maimonides explained (see Hilkhot Eruvin, Chapter 1, Halakha 8), that a full loaf [of bread] the size of an Issar’s worth (i.e., 8 pennies), we make an Eruv with it alone for all the members of the courtyard and it does not require a [specific] quantity.
