Eruvin 77b — the Talmud in English

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when some of their leaves

of them

are exposed, he need not be concerned

[and even if some of the leaves are covered],

neither because of diverse kinds

in a vineyard

nor because of tithe,

since they are not rooted in the ground.

That is to say: if the turnip and the radish had been tithed, there is no need for concern—even if some of their leaves are not exposed—that perhaps they took root and the addition became obligated in tithe, for they certainly did not take root.

Nor because of

the prohibition of planting in

the Sabbatical year.

And

may be removed—

the turnip and the radish, if some of their leaves are exposed—by means of the leaves

on Shabbat.

[And because of Shabbat the beraita stated, “when some of the leaves are exposed,” for with regard to diverse kinds, tithe, and the Sabbatical year, in either case he need not be concerned.]

We see, then, that they may be removed on Shabbat even though they are buried in the ground, and we are not concerned about digging; and the same applies to a basin that has rims, which is permitted [Ritva]. If so, how does the basin diminish [the height of the wall]?!

And we answer:

It is necessary:

that which we say, that a basin diminishes [the height of the wall], applies only where it was firmly attached with clay to the ground, so that it cannot be pulled away by hand, but

requires a hoe

[a mattock]

and a hatzina

[a type of ax], [Shulchan Arukh and Mishna Berura].

For in such a case it is forbidden to remove it on Shabbat, and it is therefore an object that may not be removed on Shabbat!

He leaned against the wall—which was ten handbreadths high—in one courtyard

an Egyptian ladder

[a small ladder that is convenient to carry], in order to ascend by way of it and use the wall comfortably;

it does not diminish [the wall]!

That is to say: the wall is not considered as though its height had been diminished and its use had become comfortable.

And

a ladder

of Tyre

[which is large and heavy]

does diminish,

and as its reason is explained below! [See illustration]

And we explain it:

What are the circumstances of an Egyptian ladder?

They said in the academy of Rabbi Yannai: Any

one that is so small

that it does not have four rungs

[steps].

Rav Aha, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: What is the reason that an Egyptian ladder does not diminish [the wall]?

He said to him:

But

have you not heard that which Rav Aha bar Adda said, Rav Hamnuna said in the name of Rav: Because it is an object that may be removed on Shabbat, and any object that may be removed on Shabbat does not diminish [the wall]!

And we are astonished:

If so, even a Tyrian ladder also

is an object that may be removed on Shabbat, so why does it diminish [the wall]?!

And we answer:

There,

with regard to a Tyrian ladder, which is heavy,

its weight fixes it.

Since it is heavy, they do not remove it from there, and it is as though it were fixed in the ground; therefore it diminishes [the wall]! It is established for us that the ladder has the status of a “doorway,” to be lenient [above, page 59b].

Therefore: two courtyards that have a partition between them—just as if there were a doorway between them, if they wished they could make two eruvin, and if they wished they could make one eruv, so too when there is a ladder on both sides of the wall, if they wished they could make one eruv, and if they wished they could make two eruvin, because a ladder is considered like a doorway.

Abaye said: A wall between two courtyards that is ten handbreadths high

the measure of a partition.

And he placed a ladder four [handbreadths] wide

handbreadths

here,

and

a ladder four [handbreadths] wide

handbreadths

here,

even though the ladders are not aligned opposite one another.

If

there are not three between this one and that one

handbreadths, for it is considered lavud [Rav Hai]—

it diminishes!

[See illustration 1]

That is to say: as a leniency, the two courtyards are judged as though there were no wall between them, and they make an eruv together.

But if there were

three

handbreadths between one ladder and the other, it is not like a doorway, and

it does not diminish,

since one cannot pass from one courtyard to the other.

And we said this

that if there are three handbreadths between them it is not like a doorway

only when the wall is not

four

[handbreadths]

wide.

But

if it

is

a

wall

four

[handbreadths]

wide,

even if each ladder is far

from the other

by very much,

it is also a doorway, for one ascends by way of the ladder to the top of the wall and walks along its top until he reaches the ladder on the other side of the wall. But when it is not four handbreadths wide, it is not comfortable to walk upon the wall.

Rav Bibi bar Abaye said: He built

in one courtyard, alongside the wall—in order that its use be comfortable for the members of one courtyard, and that they be able to use it on Shabbat—

a platform

of wood that has legs, and it stands

upon a platform

another one, with air separating them. [See illustration 2]

If the lower platform has four

handbreadths [along the length of the wall], and it alone is sufficient to diminish [the wall], for example, when the height between it and the top of the wall is not ten handbreadths, then it

diminishes

the height of the wall, and the members of this courtyard are permitted to use the wall.

For we say: remove the upper platform from here, and let the lower one alone diminish [the wall].

Alternatively

[and also, if] even

if the lower one does not have

a length of

four

handbreadths, so that it itself is not fit to diminish [the wall].

But if

the upper one has

a length of

four

handbreadths, and

there are not three between this one and that one

[between one platform and the other]

three

handbreadths, since we say “lavud” and they have become like one platform standing on the ground, then it

diminishes

[even though it turns out that the upper platform slopes and diminishes to less than four handbreadths]!

But if there are three handbreadths between one platform and the other, since the lower one is not fit to diminish [the wall], and only the upper one—which does not stand on the ground—is present, this is a diminution in the air, and a diminution in the air is not called a diminution.

And Rav Nahman said that Rabbah bar Avuha said: A ladder whose rungs project

[like our ladders, in which there is air between their rungs; and this is “project,” for they project in the air, one over the other, and there are ladders made like our steps], and they placed it alongside a wall to make its use comfortable.

If the lower rung has

a width of

four

handbreadths, and there are not ten from it to the top of the wall, and there are not three from it to the ground, for it is considered lavud [Shulchan Arukh], then it

diminishes.

Alternatively

[and also, if] even

if the lower rung does not have four

handbreadths,

and the upper rung has four

handbreadths,

and there are not three between this one and that one

[between one rung and the other]

three

handbreadths, for it is considered lavud, then it

diminishes,

just as we said above regarding one platform upon another. [See illustration 1]

And Rav Nahman said that Rabbah bar Avuha said: