DAAT · LEVEL 3 — MASTER SYNTHESIS
Siman 356
סימן שנ"ו · דִּין אַמַּת הַמַּיִם הָעוֹבֶרֶת בְּחָצֵר
Recap & mnemonics for review
📑 Synthesis plan
1. Central axiom
Siman 356 in one sentence.
Everything inside partitions is reshus hayachid — except water that communicates with outside water, which retains its karmelis status. A channel crossing the courtyard (10 deep, 4 wide) is therefore a karmelis; to draw from it, one must "cut" the communication by a partition at the entrance and exit.
Everything inside partitions is reshus hayachid — except water that communicates with outside water, which retains its karmelis status. A channel crossing the courtyard (10 deep, 4 wide) is therefore a karmelis; to draw from it, one must "cut" the communication by a partition at the entrance and exit.
2. Condensed key concepts
| Concept | Definition | Application |
|---|---|---|
| אַמַּת הַמַּיִם | Channel crossing the courtyard | Karmelis if 10 deep and 4 wide |
| בָּטֵל לרה"י | Water "nullified" to the courtyard | If no outside connection |
| מְחִיצָה בִּכְנִיסָה וּבִיצִיאָה | Partition at entrance and exit | One tefach submerged |
| לָבוּד | Gap less than 3 tefachim = joined | Narrow openings → no partition |
| גִּידוּדִין | Remaining wall ridges | Courtyard breached on the sea |
3. When is water a karmelis?
Enclosed water, no outside connection → nullified to the courtyard → reshus hayachid → draw freely.
↓
Channel 10 deep and 4 wide, communicating with outside → retains karmelis status → cannot draw.
↓
Solution: a 10-high partition at entrance and exit (one tefach submerged), made for the water → cuts the connection → may draw.
4. Decision tree
Q1: Is the channel 10 deep and 4 wide?
↓ NO → nullified to the courtyard, draw; YES ↓
Q2: Are the entry/exit openings less than 3 tefachim?
↓ YES → lavud closes them, no partition needed; NO ↓
Q3: Has a 10-high partition been made at entrance and exit (one tefach submerged), for the water?
↓ YES → may draw
→ Any doubt → consult your Rav.
5. Courtyard breached on the sea
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Partial breach, not more than 10 amos | Draw and bring water into the house |
| Full breach or more than 10, 10-high ridges remaining | Draw in the courtyard; not into the house (unless partition) |
| Full breach, no ridges | Forbidden even to draw in the courtyard |
6. Mnemonic אַמָּה
א — אַמָּה מְחֻבֶּרֶת: a channel communicating with outside water remains a karmelis (10 deep, 4 wide).
מ — מְחִיצָה לְשֵׁם הַמַּיִם: a partition at entrance and exit, made for the water, one tefach submerged.
ה — הֶבְדֵּל קָטָן מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה: an opening less than 3 tefachim — lavud — no partition needed.
7. Pitfalls to avoid
Pitfall 1: Believing any water in a closed courtyard is reshus hayachid. Water communicating outside retains karmelis status.
Pitfall 2: Relying on the courtyard's own partition. The partition must be made for the water.
Pitfall 3: Forgetting the submerged tefach. The partition must sink one tefach into the water.
Pitfall 4: Thinking a small channel needs a partition. Less than 10 deep or less than 4 wide — nullified to the courtyard.
8. Practical cases
| Situation | Analysis | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosed pool in the courtyard | No outside connection | Reshus hayachid — draw freely |
| Channel (10 deep, 4 wide) crossing | Karmelis | Partition at entrance and exit |
| Channel with narrow openings (less than 3) | Lavud | No partition needed |
| Courtyard open to the sea | According to breach and ridges | See seif 2 table |
9. Final synthesis table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Topic of siman | Water channel crossing a closed courtyard |
| Number of seifim | 2 |
| Mishnah Berurah | 16 entries |
| Talmudic source | עירובין פ"ז ע"ב |
| Golden rule | Water connecting outside remains karmelis; must "cut" the connection |
| Practical decision | Measure depth, width and openings; consult your Rav |
10. The practical takeaways of Siman 356
For daily conduct
- Enclosed water without outside connection: reshus hayachid — draw freely.
- Channel (10 deep, 4 wide) crossing the courtyard: karmelis — partition at entrance and exit.
- The partition must be made for the water, with one tefach submerged.
- Openings less than 3 tefachim: lavud — no partition needed.
- In doubt — consult your Rav.
- Deep pilpul — Level 2; Chabad shitah — Level 4.
📚 Study path recap
You have studied Siman 356 in 3 levels:
You have studied Siman 356 in 3 levels:
- 🌱 Level 1 — Base
- ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · Rav Yossef Chaim Samama
Siman 356 · Level 3 — Master Synthesis
DAAT · Rav Yossef Chaim Samama
Siman 356 · Level 3 — Master Synthesis