DAAT · LEVEL 3 — MAGISTERIAL SYNTHESIS
Siman שע״ג
סימן שע״ג · דין שתי גזוזטראות בשתי עליות
Recap & mnemonics for review
📑 Synthesis plan
- The central axiom of the siman
- The key concepts, condensed
- What makes two balconies an opening — in the order of the seif
- Decision tree — are the two balconies an opening, so that the eruv is made together?
- The Mechaber, the Rema and the Alter Rebbe — where their texts differ
- Mnemonic ד-ד-ג
- Pitfalls to avoid
- Practical cases
- Final synthesis table
- The practical commandments
1. The central axiom
Siman שע״ג in one sentence.
Two balconies projecting from two upper storeys, facing each other, with a plank four [tefachim] wide between them, are like an opening, and the eruv is made together: « שתי גזוזטראו׳ הבולטו׳ משני עליו׳ זו כנגד זו ונתן ביניהם נסר רחב ארבע׳ הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) — seif א. The Rema's gloss gives the same law, even without a plank, when the distance between them is not four [tefachim]; if they wish, each [of the two] makes the eruv for itself; an offset, or a difference in height, prevents the opening when the gap is three tefachim, and within three, whether in offset or in height, it counts well as an opening (seif א). What makes the opening, according to the Mishnah Berurah: « דכיון שיש נסר ביניהם רחב ארבע הרי יכול בקל לילך מפתח העליה זו להעליה שכנגדו ומצטרפים » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג).
Two balconies projecting from two upper storeys, facing each other, with a plank four [tefachim] wide between them, are like an opening, and the eruv is made together: « שתי גזוזטראו׳ הבולטו׳ משני עליו׳ זו כנגד זו ונתן ביניהם נסר רחב ארבע׳ הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) — seif א. The Rema's gloss gives the same law, even without a plank, when the distance between them is not four [tefachim]; if they wish, each [of the two] makes the eruv for itself; an offset, or a difference in height, prevents the opening when the gap is three tefachim, and within three, whether in offset or in height, it counts well as an opening (seif א). What makes the opening, according to the Mishnah Berurah: « דכיון שיש נסר ביניהם רחב ארבע הרי יכול בקל לילך מפתח העליה זו להעליה שכנגדו ומצטרפים » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג).
2. The condensed key concepts
| Concept | Definition | In the seif |
|---|---|---|
| The balcony (gezuztra) | The Taz explains it following Rashi: « נסרים בולטים משפת תקרת העלייה לר״ה » (ט״ז או״ח שע״ג ס״ק א) | Two balconies projecting from two upper storeys (seif א) |
| זו כנגד זו | Facing each other: « ר״ל שזה בולט מדרום לצפון וזה מצפון לדרום » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק א) | Facing each other, joined by the plank, they are like an opening; offset, they cannot make the eruv together (seif א) |
| נסר רחב ארבע׳ | The plank four [tefachim] wide; it must be fixed: « ובעינן שיקבע הנסר במסמרים שלא יוכל ליטלו בשבת » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ב); the Magen Avraham writes this in the name of the Shiltei HaGiborim (ס״ק א) | « הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) |
| הרי הוא כפתח | Like an opening: « דכיון שיש נסר ביניהם רחב ארבע הרי יכול בקל לילך מפתח העליה זו להעליה שכנגדו ומצטרפים » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג) | The eruv is made together (seif א); according to the Pri Megadim, whom the Mishnah Berurah cites, only as the Mechaber depicted it: « וכתב הפמ״ג דוקא כמו שצייר המחבר שהיו הגזוזטראות בולטות מן העליות שיש בהן דיורין » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג) |
| אין המרחק שביניהם ארבעה (רמ״א) | The Rema's gloss, as the Mishnah Berurah explains it: « היינו שאין בין גזוזטרא לגזוזטרא הפסק אויר רק פחות מד״ט וא״כ יוכל לפסוע בקל מזה לזה » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ד); the reason, according to the Taz, « כיון דיכול לפסוע מזה לזה » (ט״ז או״ח שע״ג ס״ק ב) | Even without a plank, the law is the same (seif א); if the closeness runs along the whole length of the wall (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ה) — of the balconies, writes the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב) — or over more than ten amos, one eruv is made, not two |
| כל א׳ מערבת לעצמה | Each for itself: according to the Mishnah Berurah, each is then permitted to carry the objects of his house on the part of the balcony that is his: « ובאופן זה יהיה מותר לכ״א לטלטל מכלי ביתו בשטח גזוזטרא השייך לו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ז) | If they wish (seif א); according to the Mishnah Berurah, when the plank extends only from four tefachim to ten amos (ס״ק ו); it adds (ודע) that the joint eruv serves only to carry on the balcony, and to carry into the other's courtyard utensils that spent Shabbos in the house: even without a joint eruv, « יכולים כ״א לערב לעצמו החצר עם בתיו ועליה שלו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ו); and, on the area facing the plank and on the plank itself, « מסתברא דאסור שהרי כ״א פרוץ למקום חבירו ואוסרין זה על זה » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ז) |
| משוכה למזרח | Offset: « ר״ל משוכה ממקום חברתה לצד מזרח » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ח) | They cannot make the eruv together (seif א); the reason, according to the Mishnah Berurah: « שכשיתנו הנסר מזו לזו יבא מקרן זוית של זו לזו ופתחא בקרן זוית לא עבדי אינשי » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ט); and also « וגם לפי שאין הגשר ישר אלא באלכסון עומד מתירא אדם לעבור בו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ט) |
| אחת גבוה מחבירת׳ | One higher than the other | « וכן אם היתה אחת גבוה מחבירת׳ לא חשיב פתח » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) |
| תוך ג׳ | Within three tefachim: « פי׳ דהוי כאלו הנסר מונח בשוה » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק י); for the offset, « אמרינן לבוד והוי כאלו הם זו כנגד זו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק י״א) | « והני מילי כשמרוחקו׳ זו מזו ג״ט אבל אם הם תוך ג׳ זו לזו בין בריחוק בין בגובה חשיב שפיר כפתח » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); and, when the gap between them exceeds four tefachim, with the plank: « ואז אף שעדיין יש אויר רחוק בין זו לזו יותר מד״ט מותר ע״י נסר שנותן בין זו לזו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק י״א) |
3. What makes two balconies an opening — in the order of the seif
Facing each other, with a plank four [tefachim] wide → « הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); the plank must be fixed, according to the Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק ב).
↓
The Rema's gloss — within four [tefachim], without a plank → « ואם אין המרחק שביניהם ארבעה אפילו בלא נסר נמי דינא הכי » (רמ״א או״ח שע״ג:א): one can step across from one to the other (Taz, ס״ק ב; Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ד). According to the Mishnah Berurah, they may then make the eruv together, or two eruvin, unless the closeness runs along the whole length of the wall or over more than ten amos: then one eruv is made, not two (ס״ק ה); the Magen Avraham sets the same limit, for closeness over more than ten amos or along the whole length of the balconies (ס״ק ב).
↓
Each for itself → « ואם רצו כל א׳ מערבת לעצמה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); according to the Mishnah Berurah, not if the plank extends over more than ten amos; it adds (ודע) that the joint eruv serves only to carry on the balcony, and to carry into the other's courtyard utensils that spent Shabbos in the house; each may make the eruv of his courtyard with its houses and his upper storey (ס״ק ו).
↓
Offset, one to the east and the other to the west → « אבל אם היו זו שלא כנגד זו שאחת משוכה למזרח וא׳ למערב אינם יכולים לערב יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א): the plank would run from one corner to the other, and would stand diagonally (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ט). The scope of this case is disputed (Taz, ס״ק ג; Biur Halachah, in the name of the Eliyah Rabbah).
↓
One higher than the other → « וכן אם היתה אחת גבוה מחבירת׳ לא חשיב פתח » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א).
↓
The measure of three tefachim → « והני מילי כשמרוחקו׳ זו מזו ג״ט אבל אם הם תוך ג׳ זו לזו בין בריחוק בין בגובה חשיב שפיר כפתח » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א): it is as if the plank lay level (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק י), and, for the offset, lavud is applied; when the empty space between them exceeds four tefachim, it is through the plank (ס״ק י״א).
4. Decision tree — are the two balconies an opening, so that the eruv is made together?
Starting point (beginning of the seif): two balconies projecting from two upper storeys (seif א); according to the Pri Megadim, cited by the Mishnah Berurah, upper storeys with residents (ס״ק ג).
↓
Q1: Is a plank four [tefachim] wide, fixed (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ב), placed between them?
↓ YES → it is like an opening: the eruv is made together, and, if they wish, each for itself (seif א; according to the Mishnah Berurah, not if the plank extends over more than ten amos; it adds (ודע) that the joint eruv serves only to carry on the balcony, and to carry into the other's courtyard utensils that spent Shabbos in the house, ס״ק ו; and, on the plank and on the area facing it, it seems reasonable to him that this is forbidden, ס״ק ז) — provided they are neither offset nor one higher than the other by three tefachim: Q3 and Q4. NO ↓
Q2 (the Rema's gloss): Is the distance between them less than four [tefachim]?
↓ YES → facing each other, even without a plank, the law is the same (seif א, where the gloss comes in the case of balconies facing each other; for this case, the Beis Yosef reports from the Maggid Mishneh, in the name of the Rashba, a different rule — one eruv, and not two —, which the Taz sets against the gloss before distinguishing the two cases, ס״ק ב: see Level 1, section 6); along the whole length of the wall (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ה) — of the balconies, writes the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב) — or over more than ten amos, one eruv, not two. For balconies that are close but offset, this page does not decide: consult your Rav. NO → it is through the plank (Q1) that the seif makes them an opening; the Rema's gloss exempts from the plank only within four: « אבל אם הם סמוכות זו לזו ממש שיערו בארבע כמ״ש בהג״ה ואין צריך נסר » (מגן אברהם שע״ג ס״ק ה)
Q3 (distant balconies, joined by the plank): Are they offset from each other, one to the east and the other to the west? — The Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes
« וְכָל זֶה כְּשֶׁהֵן רְחוֹקוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א)
before the case without a plank (373:1); the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ה) already reserves for distant balconies the measure of three tefachim for the offset, and refers close balconies to the measure of four of the gloss.
↓ by three tefachim → they cannot make the eruv together (seif א; Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ט); by less than three → it is as if they faced each other (seif א; Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק י״א); not offset ↓
Q4 (likewise): Is one higher than the other?
↓ by three tefachim → it does not count as an opening (seif א); by less than three → it counts well as an opening (seif א; Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק י)
→ When the gap between them exceeds four tefachim, an offset or a height difference of less than three tefachim still leaves the plank necessary (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק י״א). The scope of the offset is disputed: the Taz writes « משמע כל שאינם בקרן זוית שפיר מהני הנסר אע״ג דהוה בעיקום » (ט״ז או״ח שע״ג ס״ק ג); the Biur Halachah reports that the Eliyah Rabbah disagrees, « והנה בא״ר חולק עליו וסובר דאין נ״מ אלא כל שהוא מעוקם בג״ט לא מהני נסר » (ביאור הלכה שע״ג), and concludes « וכן עיקר דהרבה ראשונים ס״ל כדעת רש״י דהמשנה דגזוזטרא קאי אנסר ואפ״ה בזה שלא כנגד זה לא מהני » (ביאור הלכה שע״ג). Consult your Rav.
5. The Mechaber, the Rema and the Alter Rebbe — where their texts differ
The Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch also has a single seif for this siman. Level 4 gives its full text and the comparison; here are some points where his text differs from the Mechaber's seif and the Rema's gloss. These points are not unique to the Rav for all that: several of these details are already found, among others in Rashi, the Tur, the Magen Avraham and the Taz; Level 4 names, at each point, where they are found. The rows follow the order of the Mechaber's seif; in the Rav's text, the case without a plank, within four, comes after the offset and the height.
| Point | Mechaber and Rema (seif א) | Shulchan Aruch HaRav (373:1) |
|---|---|---|
| The plank (Level 4, point א) | « ונתן ביניהם נסר רחב ארבע׳ הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); the seif does not say how the plank is held in place | The plank is « כְּמִין גֶּשֶׁר מִזּוֹ לְזוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), and fixed: « וּקְבָעוֹ שָׁם בְּמַסְמֵר שֶׁלֹּא יוּכַל לְהִנָּטֵל בְּשַׁבָּת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א); then, in parentheses, « אוֹ שֶׁבִּטְּלוֹ בְּפֵרוּשׁ לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א). The description “like a bridge” is already Rashi's, « כמין גשר מזו לזו » (רש״י עירובין ע״ח ע״ב); the Magen Avraham writes the condition of the nail in the name of the Shiltei HaGiborim (ס״ק א), and the Mishnah Berurah writes it after the Rav (ס״ק ב); the parenthesis is found neither in the Magen Avraham, nor in the Taz, nor in the Mishnah Berurah on this siman: where the Rav takes it from is a question put to the Rav (Level 4) |
| Without a plank, within four (Level 4, point ג) | The Rema's gloss: « ואם אין המרחק שביניהם ארבעה אפילו בלא נסר נמי דינא הכי » (רמ״א או״ח שע״ג:א), without saying whether, in this case, each may make the eruv for itself; the option of doing so, « ואם רצו כל א׳ מערבת לעצמה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א), follows the gloss in the seif, and the Mishnah Berurah reads the gloss « כמו בנסר שיכולין לערב יחד כשירצו ואם רצו מערבין שנים » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ה) | The Rav opens this case with « וְכָל זֶה כְּשֶׁהֵן רְחוֹקוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), — the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ה) had already reserved for distant balconies the measure of three tefachim for the offset —; he gives the law with its reason, that of the Taz (ס״ק ב): « אֲבָל אִם אֵין הַמֶּרְחָק שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן ד׳, אַף שֶׁאֵין שָׁם נֶסֶר כְּלָל — מְעָרְבִין יַחַד, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנּוֹחַ לִפְסוֹעַ מִשְּׂפַת זוֹ לִשְׂפַת זוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א); and he draws from it « וְלָכֵן אֵינָן יְכוֹלִים לְעָרֵב כָּל אַחַת לְעַצְמָהּ וּלְטַלְטֵל זוֹ בְּשֶׁלָּהּ וְזוֹ בְּשֶׁלָּהּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן אוֹסְרוֹת זוֹ עַל זוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), « אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן קֵרוּב זֶה שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן אֵינוֹ בְּמִלּוּאוֹ אֶלָּא בְּאֶמְצַע רָחְבָּן בִּלְבָד » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), « וְגַם אֵין בְּקֵרוּב זֶה יוֹתֵר מֵעֲשָׂרָה אַמּוֹת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א) — the two conditions of the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב). The Mishnah Berurah, after him, sets out these conditions starting from the option of making two eruvin (ס״ק ה) |
| Each for itself (Level 4, point ג) | « ואם רצו כל א׳ מערבת לעצמה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) | He writes it for the plank: « הֲרֵי הוּא כְּפֶתַח וּמְעָרְבִין יַחַד, וְאִם רָצוּ, כָּל אַחַת מְעָרֶבֶת לְעַצְמָהּ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א). The limit of ten amos that the Mishnah Berurah sets in the case of the plank (ס״ק ו), the Rav does not write for the plank in this seif: whether he holds it from elsewhere is a question put to the Rav (Level 4) |
| Offset, or one higher (Level 4, point ב) | « אבל אם היו זו שלא כנגד זו שאחת משוכה למזרח וא׳ למערב אינם יכולים לערב יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א), without the reason; the measure of three tefachim is given once for both cases, « בין בריחוק בין בגובה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) | The reason: « מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַנֶּסֶר שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ מִזּוֹ לְזוֹ יָבֹא מִקֶּרֶן זָוִית שֶׁל זוֹ לְשֶׁל זוֹ וְאֵינוֹ חָשׁוּב כְּפֶתַח, שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת פֶּתַח בְּקֶרֶן זָוִית » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א) — it is the Tur's, which the Magen Avraham repeats (ס״ק ג); the measure, for the offset, « כְּשֶׁהֵן מְשׁוּכוֹת זוֹ מִכְּנֶגֶד זוֹ ג׳ טְפָחִים, אֲבָל פָּחוֹת מִג׳ טְפָחִים אֵינוֹ כְּלוּם, וְכִמְכֻוָּנוֹת הֵן » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), and again for the height, « וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם הֵן מְכֻוָּנוֹת מַמָּשׁ, אִם הָאַחַת גָּבוֹהַּ מֵחֲבֶרְתָּהּ ג׳ טְפָחִים — אֵינוֹ חָשׁוּב פֶּתַח » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א). On the scope of this reason, the Taz and the Eliyah Rabbah, whom the Biur Halachah reports, differ; the Rav writes the Tur's reason, without the Taz's inference or the Eliyah Rabbah's objection; this page does not say which of the two readings he follows: the question is put to the Rav (Level 4) |
| The balconies themselves, and the upper storeys with their courtyard (Level 4, point ד) | The seif does not draw this distinction | « בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? לְטַלְטֵל בִּגְזוּזְטְרָאוֹת עַצְמָן » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א); « אֲבָל הָעֲלִיּוֹת שֶׁאֶצְלָן יְכוֹלָה כָּל אַחַת לְעָרֵב לְעַצְמָהּ עִם הַבָּתִּים שֶׁבַּחֲצֵרָהּ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), on this condition: « רַק שֶׁלֹּא יְטַלְטְלוּ בִּגְזוּזְטְרָאוֹת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א); and, if they wish, the houses of both courtyards may make the eruv together, « רַק שֶׁיִּהְיוּ סֻלָּמוֹת כְּדִינָם מֵהַבָּתִּים לָעֲלִיּוֹת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א); likewise if the balconies are far apart but a plank was placed from one to the other, « וְהוּא הַדִּין אִם הַגְּזוּזְטְרָאוֹת רְחוֹקוֹת אֶלָּא שֶׁנָּתַן נֶסֶר מִזּוֹ לְזוֹ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א). The Taz, for his part, distinguished by the width of the balconies and by whether one wants to use them or only to make them an opening from courtyard to courtyard (ס״ק ב): whether the two distinctions coincide, and to which laws the condition of ladders “in accordance with their law” refers, is a question put to the Rav (Level 4) |
6. Mnemonic ד-ד-ג
Three measures of the seif, in the order in which it gives them, form ד-ד-ג — four, four, three:
ד — נסר רחב ארבע׳: the plank four [tefachim] wide between two facing balconies makes them an opening (seif א).
ד — אין המרחק שביניהם ארבעה: the Rema's gloss — within four [tefachim], even without a plank, the law is the same (seif א).
ג — ג״ט: an offset or a height difference prevents the opening when the gap is three tefachim; within three, it counts well as an opening (seif א).
The measure of ten amos is not found in the Mechaber's seif: it is found in the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב), who refers to siman 372, seif 7, and writes « וכ״כ במ״מ בשם הרשב״א וכ״כ הב״ח » (מגן אברהם שע״ג ס״ק ב); the Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes it for the case without a plank (373:1); the Mishnah Berurah writes it for the case without a plank (ס״ק ה), and also for the plank (ס״ק ו), where the Rav does not write it in this seif. For halachah lema'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Pitfalls to avoid
Pitfall 1: Thinking that a plank simply laid there suffices. The Mishnah Berurah requires it to be fixed: « ובעינן שיקבע הנסר במסמרים שלא יוכל ליטלו בשבת » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ב); the Magen Avraham writes this in the name of the Shiltei HaGiborim (ס״ק א). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes the nail, and, in parentheses, « אוֹ שֶׁבִּטְּלוֹ בְּפֵרוּשׁ לְכָל הַשַּׁבָּת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א) (section 5).
Pitfall 2: Extending the seif to balconies that would project from two courtyards. The Mishnah Berurah cites the Pri Megadim: « וכתב הפמ״ג דוקא כמו שצייר המחבר שהיו הגזוזטראות בולטות מן העליות שיש בהן דיורין » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג); and « אבל אם היו כה״ג בולטות משתי חצרות לא מהני כיון שהוא למעלה מי״ט » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ג). On the joint eruv of the houses of both courtyards, the Shulchan Aruch HaRav sets the condition of the ladders (373:1, section 5).
Pitfall 3: Thinking that “each for itself” has no limit. In the case of the Rema's gloss, which comes first in the seif, according to the Mishnah Berurah one eruv is made, not two, if the closeness runs along the whole length of the wall or over more than ten amos (ס״ק ה), and likewise according to the Magen Avraham, for closeness over more than ten amos or along the whole length of the balconies (ס״ק ב). The seif then writes « ואם רצו כל א׳ מערבת לעצמה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); but, according to the Mishnah Berurah, « ודוקא כשאין הנסר מחזיק רק מארבעה טפחים עד עשר אמות אבל אם הוא מרוצף בנסרים יותר מעשר אמות מערבין אחד ולא שנים » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ו); it adds (ודע) that the joint eruv serves only to carry on the balcony, and to carry into the other's courtyard utensils that spent Shabbos in the house; each may make the eruv of his courtyard with its houses and his upper storey (ס״ק ו); and, when each makes the eruv for itself, on the area facing the plank and on the plank itself, « מסתברא דאסור שהרי כ״א פרוץ למקום חבירו ואוסרין זה על זה » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק ז) — the Mishnah Berurah writes that it seems reasonable to him that this is forbidden. For the plank, the Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes « וְאִם רָצוּ, כָּל אַחַת מְעָרֶבֶת לְעַצְמָהּ » (שו״ע הרב שע״ג:א), without writing there the Mishnah Berurah's limit of ten amos (ס״ק ו; see Level 4, point ג). For balconies within four tefachim, without a plank, he writes that each cannot make the eruv for itself to carry each on its own balcony, unless the closeness is only in the middle of their width and does not exceed ten amos, but that each upper storey may make the eruv with the houses of its courtyard, provided they do not carry on the balconies (373:1).
Pitfall 4: Thinking that the plank suffices wherever the balconies stand. Offset, « אינם יכולים לערב יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) — according to the Mishnah Berurah, the plank would run from one corner to the other, and people do not make an opening in a corner, and a person is afraid to cross a walkway set diagonally (ס״ק ט); one higher than the other, it does not count as an opening (seif א) — this, when the gap is three tefachim (seif א). On the scope of the case of offset balconies, the Taz and the Eliyah Rabbah differ, and the Biur Halachah concludes like the Eliyah Rabbah (section 4). Consult your Rav.
Pitfall 5: Reading « והני מילי כשמרוחקו׳ זו מזו ג״ט אבל אם הם תוך ג׳ זו לזו בין בריחוק בין בגובה חשיב שפיר כפתח » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א) as an exemption from the plank. According to the Mishnah Berurah, when the gap between them exceeds four tefachim, « ואז אף שעדיין יש אויר רחוק בין זו לזו יותר מד״ט מותר ע״י נסר שנותן בין זו לזו » (משנה ברורה שע״ג ס״ק י״א).
Pitfall 6: Confusing the measures. Four [tefachim]: the width of the plank, and the distance of the Rema's gloss; three tefachim: the offset and the height (seif א); ten amos: the limit of the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב) and of the Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק ה and ו), which the Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes for the case without a plank (373:1). Tefachim are not amos.
Pitfall 7: Attributing to the Mechaber's seif the reasons for its laws. The seif writes the laws; the reasons reported on this page come from the Tur and from the commentators — among them the Magen Avraham, the Taz, the Mishnah Berurah and the Biur Halachah —, and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes several of these reasons in the body of the law (373:1, section 5).
8. Practical cases
These situations are applications by the site: the seif does not name them; each is tied to the part of the seif it brings into play.
| Situation | Analysis | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Two facing balconies, on two buildings, joined by a plank | Application by the site, seif א: this is the shape of the seif's case — balconies projecting from upper storeys with residents (the Pri Megadim, cited by the Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ג), facing each other, a plank four [tefachim] wide between them: « הרי הוא כפתח ומערבין יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א); the plank must be fixed (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ב) | Whether a building of today meets these conditions: consult your Rav |
| Two balconies almost touching, without a plank | Application by the site, seif א, the Rema's gloss: facing each other, if the distance between them is not four [tefachim], even without a plank, the law is the same (the gloss comes in the case of balconies facing each other; for this case, the Beis Yosef reports in the name of the Maggid Mishneh a different rule — one eruv, and not two —, which the Taz sets against the gloss before distinguishing the two cases, ס״ק ב: see Level 1, section 6); for balconies that are close but offset, this page does not decide; one eruv if the closeness runs along the whole length of the wall or over more than ten amos (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ה); the Shulchan Aruch HaRav does not allow each to make the eruv for itself to carry on the balconies, except under two conditions, and each upper storey may nonetheless make the eruv with the houses of its courtyard, provided they do not carry on the balconies (373:1) | Consult your Rav |
| Two balconies offset from each other | Application by the site, seif א: « אינם יכולים לערב יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ג:א), unless the offset is less than three tefachim (seif א); the scope of this case is disputed (Taz, ס״ק ג; Biur Halachah, in the name of the Eliyah Rabbah) | Consult your Rav |
9. Final synthesis table
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject of the siman | Two balconies projecting from two upper storeys: when are they an opening, so that the eruv is made together? |
| Place | Hilchos Eruvin, after siman 372 |
| Number of seifim | 1 (Mechaber, with a gloss of the Rema) — 1 also in the Shulchan Aruch HaRav |
| Mishnah Berurah | 11 ס״ק |
| Talmudic source | The Mishnah in Eruvin 78b and Rava's statement in 79a, to which the Beis Yosef links the seif; studied at Levels 1 and 2 |
| Golden rule | Facing each other: with a plank four [tefachim] wide — or, according to the Rema's gloss, within four without a plank —: an opening; offset or one higher, when the gap is three tefachim: no opening (seif א) |
| Practical ruling | The seif writes each case; the scope of the offset is disputed (Taz, ס״ק ג; Biur Halachah); the limit of ten amos comes from the commentators (Magen Avraham, ס״ק ב; Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ה and ו) and from the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (373:1): consult your Rav |
10. The practical commandments of Siman שע״ג
For daily conduct
- Two facing balconies, joined by a plank four [tefachim] wide, are like an opening: the eruv is made together (seif א); the plank must be fixed, according to the Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק ב).
- The Rema's gloss: facing each other, if the distance between them is not four [tefachim], even without a plank, the law is the same (seif א); if the closeness runs along the whole length of the wall (Mishnah Berurah, ס״ק ה) — of the balconies, writes the Magen Avraham (ס״ק ב) — or over more than ten amos, one eruv is made, not two.
- If they wish, each makes the eruv for itself (seif א); according to the Mishnah Berurah, not if the plank extends over more than ten amos; it adds (ודע) that the joint eruv serves only to carry on the balcony, and to carry into the other's courtyard utensils that spent Shabbos in the house; each may make the eruv of his courtyard with its houses and his upper storey (ס״ק ו).
- Balconies offset from each other: they cannot make the eruv together (seif א); the scope of this case is disputed (Taz, ס״ק ג; Biur Halachah).
- One higher than the other: it does not count as an opening (seif א).
- This, when the gap is three tefachim; within three, whether in offset or in height, it counts well as an opening (seif א) — with the plank when the gap between them exceeds four tefachim, according to the Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק י״א).
- The Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes the case of a plank fixed by a nail, or, in parentheses, expressly annulled (bittul) for the whole Shabbos; without a plank, within four, he writes that the eruv is made together and that each cannot make it for itself to carry each on its own balcony, unless the closeness is only in the middle of their width and does not exceed ten amos; and he writes that this applies to carrying on the balconies themselves, each upper storey being able to make the eruv with the houses of its courtyard provided they do not carry on the balconies, and the houses of both courtyards being able, if they wish, to make the eruv together provided there are ladders in accordance with their law from the houses to the upper storeys; and likewise if the balconies are far apart but a plank was placed from one to the other (373:1) — see section 5 and Level 4.
- In case of doubt: consult your Rav.
- In-depth pilpul — Level 2; Chabad shitah — Level 4.
📚 Recap of the study path
You have studied Siman שע״ג in 3 levels:
You have studied Siman שע״ג in 3 levels:
- 🌱 Level 1 — Base: the Mechaber's seif with the Rema's gloss, English translation, halachic concepts, the 11 ס״ק of the Mishnah Berurah
- ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan: the sugya of Eruvin 78b-79a, the hakirah on the Mishnah of the balconies, Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam, the Rishonim and the Acharonim
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: axiom, mnemonic, decision tree, practical commandments