Una pared entre dos patios de diez (tefachim) de alto y cuatro de ancho. —se hacen dos eruvin y no uno. ["cuatro" se enseña, no porque esta cantidad sea necesaria para "cerrarse" (un patio de otro), porque una partición de cualquier amplitud constituye "cerrarse", sino (se enseña) en razón de lo que sigue, a saber .:] Si había frutas encima, éstas suben desde aquí (es decir, desde su patio) y comen, y las que suben desde allí y comen, siempre y cuando no lo bajen [a la casa- habitantes; pero al patio está permitido. Para ello (una partición de ancho de cuatro manos) se considera un dominio en sí mismo. Es en este sentido que se requieren cuatro anchos de mano, menos que el que constituye un makum p'tur ("un lugar de exención) y se les permite a ambos derribarlo.] Si se rompió la pared, hasta diez codos, hacen dos eruvin; y si lo desean, hacen uno, porque es como una abertura. (Si es) más que eso, hacen un eruv y no dos. [(Porque si es más) es una violación, y todo se considera un patio. Y si cada uno hizo un eruv para sí mismo, es como si ellos (los hombres de un patio) estuvieran dividiendo su eruvin, y se prohibieran mutuamente.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
כותל שבין שתי חצירות – this that it (i.e., the Tanna of the Mishnah) took [the words] "רחב ד'"/”that it was wide four handbreadths” – is not because it needs to be four handbreadths width to be a closing/closure, for a partition with a width of any amount is a closure/closing. But rather, because it was necessary to teach the closing [segment], “if there were [at its top] produce, these can ascend from here, and eat [them] as long as they don’t bring it down below, which is considered a domain of its own, and for this law, it was necessary that it would be wide four [handbreadths], for less than four [handbreadths] is an exempt domain (i.e., an area of less than four handbreadths by four handbreadths or a height differential of at least three handbreadths – as one may carry objects to or from this exempt domain, but one may not transfer objects through it from of those domains to another), ad both of them (the people on the two sides) can lower it downwards.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
Introduction
This mishnah deals with what constitutes a wall between two courtyards.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
ובלבד שלא יורידו למטה – to the inhabitants in the houses, but in the courtyard, it is permitted.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If a wall between two courtyards was ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths thick, two eruvin must be prepared, but not one. In order for the wall to count as a full partition between the two courtyards, it needs to be ten handbreadths high. Such a wall fully separates the two, such that each must make their own eruv. According to the Yerushalmi, although the mishnah says that the wall must be four handbreadths thick, even a wall less thick still counts as a full partition. The mishnah mentions a thickness of four handbreadths because of clause 2, which says that they may not bring the fruit down. According to the Yerushalmi, if the wall is less than four handbreadths wide it is not its own domain, and one can take produce down from there.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Eruvin
יותר מכאן – this is a breach, and all of it would be like one courtyard. But if he made an Eruv each one for itself, it would be as if they divide their Eruv and prohibit those [on one side from carrying to] those [on the other side].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If there was produce on top of it, the [residents] from this side may climb up and eat and those from this side may climb up and eat, provided they do not bring it down. The top of a ten handbreadth high, four handbreadth wide wall is a domain unto itself, and therefore, one cannot take something down from there to another domain. However, people from either side may climb up and eat the produce while sitting on top of the wall.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If the wall was breached a breach of ten cubits, the residents prepare two eruvin or, if they prefer, they prepare one eruv, because it is like a doorway. A breach of less than ten cubits can count as a doorway, and therefore, the residents of the two courtyards may make either separate eruvin, or one eruv for both courtyards. The advantage to making two different eruvin is that if one of those from one courtyard does not participate in the eruv, those of the other courtyard will still be able to carry within their own courtyard. The advantage to making one eruv is that it is obviously easier (and slightly cheaper) to set up one eruv than two.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Eruvin
If the breach was bigger, only one eruv and not two may be prepared. If the breach in the wall is greater than ten cubits the breach cannot be considered a doorway and we must consider the two courtyards to be one. This would mean that if one person from either courtyard does not participate, none of the residents of either courtyard may carry.
