Siman שנ"א · 1 Seif
First approach to Siman שנ"א: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, fluent English translation, pedagogical explanations of the halachic concepts, modern practical cases, and synthesis.
Subject: Extending the hand to a spout in reshus harabim to drink
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן שנ"א (1 seif)
Compilation: Rav Yossef Chaim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study outline
1. The Shulchan Aruch text
Siman שנ"א contains 1 seif of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo), which codifies the rules concerning extending the hand to a spout in the reshus harabim to drink.
Seif א
דין המושיט ידו לצנור ברשות הרבים לשתות. ובו סעיף אחד:
לא יעמוד אדם ברשות הרבי' ויחבר ידו למזחילה שהוא צנור ארוך מונח לאורך הגג בתוך ג' טפחים סמוך לגג ולקבל המים ממנה שכיון שהוא בתוך ג' סמוך לגג חשוב כגג ואסור בין אם הוא למעלה מעשרה או למטה מעשרה אבל מותר לקלוט מן האויר אפי' אם ידו תוך ג' למזחילה היתה מזחילה בולטת ג' מן הגג וכן סתם צנור שבולט ג' יכול לחבר ידו אליהם ולקבל המים וכגון שאין בהם ד' על ד' והן למטה מעשרה אבל אם יש בהן ד' על ד' או אפי' אין בהן ד' על ד' והן למעל' מעשרה אסור:
2. The general context
What does this siman discuss?
Siman שנ"א addresses a frequent practical case: a person in the street wants to collect water flowing from a roof gutter. The roof is a reshus hayachid; the street, a reshus harabim. Depending on whether the gutter is "stuck" to the roof or projects beyond it, and depending on its measurements, collecting this water amounts — or not — to a transfer from one reshus to another.
Place in Hilchos Shabbos
Siman שנ"א continues the series on hotza'ah (345-365). The Talmudic source is Eruvin 99b — the sugya of the mazchilah and the tzinor.
3. The key halachic concepts
Four notions structure this siman:
- מַזְחִילָה — a long gutter laid along the roof; צִנּוֹר — a downspout.
- לָבוּד — the principle that anything within 3 tefachim is deemed "attached"; a gutter within 3 of the roof is the roof.
- קוֹלֵט מִן הָאֲוִיר — to catch the water in midair: the water has not rested anywhere, there is no transfer from one reshus to another.
- ד' עַל ד' / לְמַעְלָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה — the measurements that make a protruding pipe a reshus hayachid, or out of reach of the reshus harabim.
4. The detail of the seif
The single seif distinguishes three situations depending on the position and measurements of the gutter.
| Case | Ruling | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Gutter within 3 tefachim of the roof | Forbidden to place the hand against it to collect water | Lavud: it is "the roof" (reshus hayachid) → transfer R"Y→R"R |
| Catching water in midair | Permitted, even with the hand within 3 of the gutter | The water has not rested anywhere — no hotza'ah |
| Protruding pipe of 3 tefachim or more, without 4×4, below 10 | Permitted to place the hand against it | It is a mekom petur — not reshus hayachid |
| Pipe measuring 4×4, or above 10 | Forbidden | 4×4 = reshus hayachid; above 10 = out of the reshus harabim |
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
The Mishnah Berurah of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the Chofetz Chaim) has 10 entries on this siman. Here are the first — to better understand the meaning of the seif:
For the full text of all 10 entries, see Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 351.
6. The position of the Rama
The Rama adds no gloss to this siman: the Mechaber and the Rama are unified. The Mishnah Berurah clarifies several practical points.
- The rule also applies to the mouth or a vessel, not only the hand.
- Collecting water directly from the wall is forbidden, all the more so.
- Lavud (less than 3 tefachim) "attaches" the gutter to the roof even if it is not 4 tefachim wide.
- Chabad → follow the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, Siman שנ"א (see Level 4).
7. Modern practical cases
Siman שנ"א applies to any collection of rainwater from the street on Shabbos:
| Situation | Quick analysis |
|---|---|
| Collecting water from a gutter stuck to the roof | Forbidden — the gutter is "the roof" (reshus hayachid). |
| Catching rainwater midair, before it reaches any surface | Permitted — nothing has rested. |
| Collecting water from a narrow, low, protruding downspout | Permitted — it is a mekom petur. |
| Wide (4×4) or high (above 10) pipe | Forbidden — reshus hayachid, or out of reach of reshus harabim. |
8. Practical synthesis of the siman
- Gutter stuck to the roof (within 3 tefachim): it is the roof — reshus hayachid; forbidden to collect water from it in the street.
- Catching water in midair: permitted — nothing has rested.
- Protruding pipe, narrow, low: mekom petur — permitted.
- Wide pipe (4×4) or high (above 10): forbidden.
- For halachah lema'aseh, consult your local Rav.
9. Comprehension questions
- What is the general subject of Siman שנ"א?
- How many seifim does this siman contain? What is the theme of each?
- What is the difference between the Mechaber and the Rama (where applicable)?
- What structuring halachic concepts appear in this siman?
- What is the practice to retain for daily life?
- In which borderline cases should one consult a Rav?
To go further
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: for pilpul, the shittos of the Rishonim, fundamental chakiros, and the nuances of the Acharonim
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: for review and rapid memorization with mnemonics
- 📜 Level 4 — Daat HaRav: the shittah of the Alter Rebbe (Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch Siman שנ"א)