✦ ❖ ✦
DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman שנ"ט · 1 Seif
The open space (rechava) behind houses — discovering the foundations
סימן שנ"ט
דִּין רְחָבָה שֶׁאֲחוֹרֵי הַבָּתִּים
🌱 Beginner Level · Mat'chilim
✦ ❖ ✦
A first encounter with Siman שנ"ט: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, clear English translation, halachic concept explanations, modern practical cases and synthesis.
Topic: Open space (rechava) behind houses
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim siman 359 (1 seif)
Compilation: Rav Yossef Haim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the single seif of the Mechaber
2. General context: why this siman?
3. Key halachic concepts
4. Detail of the seif
5. The Mishnah Berurah
6. The position of the Rema
7. Modern practical cases
8. Practical synthesis
9. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman שנ"ט contains 1 seif of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo) codifying the rules relating to the open space (rechava) behind houses.
Seif א
דין רחבה שאחורי הבתים. ובו סעיף אחד:
רחבה שאחורי הבתים יתירה על בית סאתים ולא הוקפה לדירה אין מטלטלין בה אלא בד' אמות ואם פתח לה פתח מביתו ואחר כך הקיפה אפילו אם יש גורן בינה לבית הוי היקף לדירה: הגה ומה שאין אנו נזהרין לטלטל בחצירות שאחורי הבתים משום דבזמן הזה סתמן מוקפין לדירה כמו שנתבאר לעיל גבי קרפף: (ד"ע)
Translation: A rechava (open space) located behind houses, whose area exceeds beis sa'asayim and which was not enclosed for dwelling (לֹא הֻקְּפָה לְדִירָה) — one may carry within it only within a radius of 4 amos. But if one first opened a doorway from his house onto this space and then enclosed it — even if between the space and the house there is a threshing floor (גֹּרֶן) — it is an "enclosure for dwelling" (הֵקֵּף לְדִירָה) [and carrying is free throughout]. Hagahah (Rema): And the reason we are not careful about carrying in the courtyards behind houses is that nowadays they are, by default (סְתָמָן), enclosed for dwelling — as explained above regarding the karpef [siman 358].
Complete text: this single seif constitutes the entirety of the Mechaber's codification on this topic. It poses one case (a large rechava not enclosed for dwelling), one exception (doorway opened before enclosure), and the Rema adds the reality of his time.
Three measures to know:
- בֵּית סָאתַיִם — the area of the Mishkan courtyard (50 × 100 amos = 5000 amos²). Below — no problem; above — karpef status may apply.
- ד' אַמּוֹת — the carrying radius permitted in a non-true private domain.
- גֹּרֶן — a grain threshing floor; here, an example of agricultural use that could mislead one to think the doorway serves the field, not the dwelling.
2. General context
What is this siman about?
Siman שנ"ט addresses the rechava — the open space arranged behind houses. In the ancient city, an empty lot was left in front of the house (the chatzer, courtyard) and another behind (the rechava). The whole question is whether one can carry objects there on Shabbos.
The fundamental question: is a fenced space a true reshus hayachid for carrying? Not always. If the enclosure is large (more than beis sa'asayim) and was not enclosed for dwelling, it takes on karpef status: its partitions do not fully "count," and carrying is restricted to 4 amos, as in a karmelis.
Place in Hilchos Shabbos
Siman שנ"ט is the direct continuation of siman 358 (the karpef). Where 358 stated the general rule of karpef, siman 359 applies it to a concrete case: the space behind houses. The underlying debate stems from the sugya in Eruvin on the karpef and the chatzer.
3. Key halachic concepts
Three concepts from the karpef structure the entire siman:
- הֻקַּף לְדִירָה — an enclosure "enclosed for dwelling": the fence was made to serve a place of dwelling. Such an enclosure is a true reshus hayachid regardless of size.
- לֹא הֻקַּף לְדִירָה — an enclosure walled in without intent to dwell (e.g., to keep cattle or wood). If exceeding beis sa'asayim, it becomes a karpef: only 4 amos.
- בֵּית סָאתַיִם — the threshold area (5000 amos²). Below, the enclosure remains reshus hayachid even without intent; above, karpef status may apply.
The decisive point: what transforms a large enclosure into a reshus hayachid is not the fence alone, but the intention that precedes it. The doorway opened from the house before the fence is concrete proof that one enclosed "for dwelling."
4. Detail of the seif
| Stage | Case | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | Rechava behind the houses, area > beis sa'asayim, not enclosed for dwelling. | Karpef: carrying limited to 4 amos; forbidden to carry from the house into it. |
| Exception | Doorway opened from the house, then enclosed. | Hekkef le-dira: the doorway preceding the fence proves dwelling intent → free carrying. |
| Clarification | Between the house and the rechava there is a threshing floor (גֹּרֶן) — which could mislead one to think the doorway serves the field. | Irrelevant: the doorway retains its status as a "dwelling entrance"; the space remains mukaf le-dira. |
The order of operations is everything:
- Doorway first, fence after → enclosed for dwelling → permitted.
- Fence first, doorway after → the enclosure already existed without link to the house → remains a karpef.
5. The Mishnah Berurah — opening entries
The Mishnah Berurah of the Chofetz Chaim has 5 entries on this siman:
משנה ברורה (א) — (א) רחבה שאחורי הבתים - דרכן היה להניח שטח מקום פנוי לפני הבתים ואחורי הבתים אותו שלפני הבתים קרוי חצר ואותו שלאחורי הבתים קרוי בשם רחבה...
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) ולא הוקפה לדירה - שלא פתח בהכותל פתח להרחבה קודם שהקיפה:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) אלא בד' אמות - כדין שאר קרפף שלא הוקף לדירה...
Full text on Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 359.
6. The position of the Rema
The Rema adds here a brief but decisive hagahah for practice. The Mechaber posed the theoretical case of a rechava that remains a karpef; the Rema explains why, in fact, we carry without concern in the courtyards behind houses.
The Rema's gloss:
- The reason for our leniency: in our time, courtyards behind houses are סְתָמָן מֻקָּפוֹת לְדִירָה — by default deemed enclosed for dwelling.
- The Rema explicitly refers to what he wrote in siman 358 on the karpef: the same favorable presumption applies.
- Consequence: the Mechaber's restrictive case has become rare in practice.
- Shitah of the Alter Rebbe → Shulchan Aruch HaRav, siman 359 (see Level 4).
7. Modern practical cases
| Situation | Quick analysis |
|---|---|
| Small fenced garden (less than beis sa'asayim) behind the house | No karpef status, even without intent to dwell: free carrying, including from the house to the garden and vice versa. |
| Large lot (over 5000 amos²) fenced to store wood or material, without a doorway to the house | Karpef status: carrying limited to 4 amos, and forbidden to carry from the house into it. |
| Large lot where a doorway was first opened from the house, then fenced | Enclosed for dwelling (הֵקֵּף לְדִירָה): free carrying throughout, regardless of size. |
| Ordinary courtyard behind a currently inhabited house | Per the Rema's gloss, presumed mukefes le-dira by default: carrying permitted without special arrangement. |
For precise practical cases: measure the area and check the order of operations. For halachah le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
8. Practical synthesis
The teachings of Siman שנ"ט:
- A rechava more than beis sa'asayim, not enclosed for dwelling: karpef status — carrying limited to 4 amos.
- A rechava of beis sa'asayim or less: no karpef status — free carrying, including to the house.
- Doorway opened from the house before the fence: the space is mukaf le-dira — free carrying, even beyond beis sa'asayim and even with a threshing floor between.
- The Rema's gloss: today, courtyards behind houses are presumed enclosed for dwelling — hence our practical leniency.
- For halachah le-ma'aseh, consult your local Rav.
9. Comprehension questions
- What is the general topic of Siman שנ"ט?
- How many seifim? What is each one's theme?
- What is the difference between the Mechaber and the Rema?
- What structuring concepts appear?
- What practice should be remembered?
- In which borderline cases should one consult a Rav?
To go further
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis
- 📜 Level 4 — Daat HaRav: Shitah of the Alter Rebbe (Shulchan Aruch HaRav siman 359)