DAAT · LEVEL 3 — MAGISTERIAL SYNTHESIS
Siman שע״ט
סימן שע״ט · דין חצירו׳ ובתים ביניהם
Recap & mnemonics for review
📑 Synthesis plan
- The central axiom of the siman
- The condensed key concepts
- Structure of the siman — from three houses to two houses
- Decision tree — the eruv placed in a house between two courtyards
- The Mechaber and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav — seif by seif
- Mnemonic ג-ב
- Pitfalls to avoid
- Practical cases
- Final synthesis table
- The practical commandments
The seif numbers on this page are those of the Shulchan Aruch of the Mechaber (2 seifim). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav, studied in Level 4, also has 2 seifim, divided the same way, under its own numbering: when it is cited, its name is given next to the number.
1. The central axiom
Siman שע״ט in one sentence.
When houses separate two courtyards, the siman asks what role each of them plays for the eruv: a house in which the eruv is placed, or a gatehouse (beis sha'ar) one passes through to bring it there. In seif א — two courtyards, three houses between them, open to one another, and they wish to make the eruv together — the people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle one: « שכל בית שאצל החצר חשוב לו כבית שער וא״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א), and « והאמצעי הוא בית שמניחין בו עירוב וא״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א). In seif ב — two courtyards, two houses between them, and they did not make the eruv together, but each courtyard for itself — each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard: « לא קנו עירוב שכל א׳ הניח עירוב בבי׳ שער של חצר אחרת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 1 of its numbering) gives the reason why the houses next to the courtyards need not give bread: « וּבֵית שַׁעַר אֵינוֹ אוֹסֵר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א).
When houses separate two courtyards, the siman asks what role each of them plays for the eruv: a house in which the eruv is placed, or a gatehouse (beis sha'ar) one passes through to bring it there. In seif א — two courtyards, three houses between them, open to one another, and they wish to make the eruv together — the people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle one: « שכל בית שאצל החצר חשוב לו כבית שער וא״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א), and « והאמצעי הוא בית שמניחין בו עירוב וא״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א). In seif ב — two courtyards, two houses between them, and they did not make the eruv together, but each courtyard for itself — each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard: « לא קנו עירוב שכל א׳ הניח עירוב בבי׳ שער של חצר אחרת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 1 of its numbering) gives the reason why the houses next to the courtyards need not give bread: « וּבֵית שַׁעַר אֵינוֹ אוֹסֵר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א).
2. The condensed key concepts
| Concept | Definition | In the seif |
|---|---|---|
| פתוחים זה לזה | Open to one another; according to the Mishnah Berurah, the houses are also open to the courtyards next to them: « והם ג״כ פתוחים לחצרות שאצלן » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק א) | Seif א: the condition of the case of the three houses |
| ומותרים בשלשתן | Permitted in all three [houses]: according to the Mishnah Berurah, « שהם מותרים לטלטל באותן הבתים והבתים בהן אע״פ שלא נתנו חלק בעירוב » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ב) | Seif א; the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 1) does not have these words: in their place, he writes that none of the three houses needs to give bread for the eruv, and that « וּבֵית שַׁעַר אֵינוֹ אוֹסֵר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א) (Level 4, section 2) |
| כבית שער | Like a gatehouse (beis sha'ar); the Shulchan Aruch HaRav gives its rule in this siman: « וּבֵית שַׁעַר אֵינוֹ אוֹסֵר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א) | Seif א: the house next to each courtyard counts for it as a gatehouse, and need not give bread; according to the Mishnah Berurah, because the people of the courtyard pass through it to carry their eruv to the middle one (ס״ק ג) |
| בית שמניחין בו עירוב | The house in which the eruv is placed: it need not give bread — the Mechaber writes it in siman 366: « הבית שמניחים בו העירוב א״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שס״ו:ג) | Seif א: the middle one. The Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק ד) refers to siman 366 on the words וא״צ ליתן פת, which the seif writes twice; Sefaria places its marker before the first occurrence, that of the houses next to the courtyards (see Level 1) |
| כל אחת לעצמה | Each for itself: the two courtyards do not make the eruv together | Seif ב: the condition of the case of the two houses |
| מָה נַפְשָׁךְ | Whichever way you take it: the Gemara counts the house either as a gatehouse or as a house, and neither of them acquired the eruv: « שְׁנֵיהֶן לֹא קָנוּ עֵירוּב, מָה נַפְשָׁךְ: אִי בֵּית שַׁעַר מְשַׁוֵּית לֵיהּ, הַנּוֹתֵן אֶת עֵירוּבוֹ בְּבֵית שַׁעַר אַכְסַדְרָה וּמִרְפֶּסֶת — אֵינוֹ עֵירוּב. אִי בַּיִת מְשַׁוֵּית לֵיהּ — קָא מְטַלְטֵל לְבַיִת דְּלָא מְעָרֵב לֵיהּ » (עירובין ע״ו ע״א) | Seif ב: when each courtyard makes the eruv for itself and places it in the house next to the other courtyard, the eruv is not acquired, for each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard; the Mechaber writes only this first branch; the Magen Avraham gives the second in the name of the Tur (ס״ק ב; Level 1, section 6) |
3. Structure of the siman — from three houses to two houses
Seif א — two courtyards, three houses: the three houses are open to one another, and they wish to make the eruv together, « ב׳ חצירו׳ וג׳ בתים ביניהם פתוחים זה לזה ורוצים לערב יחד » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א). The people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle house; they are permitted in all three. The house next to each courtyard counts for it as a gatehouse and need not give bread; the middle one is the house in which the eruv is placed and need not give bread.
↓
Seif ב — two courtyards, two houses: they did not make the eruv together, but each courtyard for itself, « שני חצירו׳ ושני בתים ביניהם ולא עירבו יחד אלא כל אחת לעצמה » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב); each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard. They have not acquired the eruv, for each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard.
4. Decision tree — the eruv placed in a house between two courtyards
Q1: Two courtyards, three houses between them, open to one another: do they wish to make the eruv together? (seif א)
↓ YES, and the people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle house → they are permitted in all three, and none of the three houses needs to give bread: the two houses next to the courtyards count as a gatehouse, the middle one is the house in which the eruv is placed (seif א). According to the Mishnah Berurah, one can picture here none of the three giving a share in the eruv, and yet all being permitted to carry: « הכא יצוייר ששום אחד מהשלשה לא יתנו חלק בעירוב ואפ״ה מותרים הכל לטלטל כגון אם יתנו בעלי שתי החצרות את עירובן בבית האמצעי » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק א).
Q2: Was the joint eruv placed elsewhere than in the middle house — in a house next to one of the courtyards, or in another house of the courtyards? (seif א)
↓ Seif א of the Mechaber describes only the eruv placed in the middle house. For the other case, a view is reported by the Magen Avraham in the name of Tosafos (ס״ק א), by the Mishnah Berurah under « ויש שכתבו » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ג) and by the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 1) under « וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א); according to this view, the three houses need not give [a share in the eruv]. The Rav does not write in this seif whether one may rely on this view → consult your Rav (section 5).
Q3: Two courtyards, two houses between them: they did not make the eruv together, but each courtyard for itself, and each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard? (seif ב)
↓ YES → they have not acquired the eruv, for each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard (seif ב).
→ At the slightest doubt: consult your Rav.
5. The Mechaber and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav — seif by seif
The two works divide this siman the same way: seif 1 of the Rav corresponds to seif א of the Mechaber, and seif 2 to seif ב. summary: the table condenses what Level 4 notes when it compares the two texts; the full texts and their translations are in Levels 1 and 4.
| Seif | The Mechaber | The Shulchan Aruch HaRav |
|---|---|---|
| א (Rav: 1) | The case of the three houses, open to one another, when they wish to make the eruv together; the eruv in the middle house; « ומותרים בשלשתן » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א) | The same case. He writes that the resident makes the house open to his courtyard like a gatehouse « לַעֲבוֹר דֶּרֶךְ עָלָיו לְהָאֶמְצָעִי » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א); he does not have the words « ומותרים בשלשתן » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א): in their place, he writes that none of the three houses needs to give bread: « וְאֵין אֶחָד מִג׳ בָּתִּים אֵלּוּ צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן פַּת לָעֵרוּב » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א), for the houses next to the courtyards are like a gatehouse, « וּבֵית שַׁעַר אֵינוֹ אוֹסֵר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א) (Level 4, section 2). Then he reports, under « וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א), the view that an eruv placed in a house next to one of the courtyards, or in a house of the courtyards, also exempts the three houses from giving bread |
| ב (Rav: 2) | The case of the two houses, when each courtyard makes the eruv for itself; « לא קנו עירוב שכל א׳ הניח עירוב בבי׳ שער של חצר אחרת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב) | The same case. He specifies that each courtyard « לֹא נָתְנָה עֵרוּבָהּ בַּבַּיִת הַפָּתוּחַ לָהּ אֶלָּא עֲשָׂאַתּוּ בֵּית שַׁעַר » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:ב), and adds to the reason « וְאֵינוֹ עֵרוּב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן שס״ו » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:ב). Like seif ב of the Mechaber, he gives only one branch of the reasoning |
The view reported in seif א, with those who report it (the same throughout this page):
- The Magen Avraham reports it in the name of Tosafos: « והתוס׳ כתבו דאפי׳ נתנו העירוב באחד מבתים הסמוכים לחצירות או באחד מבתי החצר אלו הג׳ בתים א״צ ליתן עירוב » (מגן אברהם שע״ט ס״ק א).
- The Mishnah Berurah reports it under « ויש שכתבו » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ג): « ויש שכתבו דה״ה אם נתנו שניהם העירוב באחד מבתים הסמוכים לחצרות או באחד משאר בתים שבשתי החצרות אלו השלשה בתים אין צריכין ליתן עירוב » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ג).
- The Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 1) reports it, after the law of the middle house: « וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ נָתְנוּ עֵרוּב בְּאֶחָד מִבָּתִּים הַסְּמוּכִים לַחֲצֵרוֹת, אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ בְּאֶחָד מִבָּתֵּי הַחֲצֵרוֹת עַצְמָן — אֵין ג׳ בָּתִּים אֵלּוּ צְרִיכִים לִתֵּן פַּת » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א). He does not write in this seif whether one may rely on this view.
- Seif א of the Mechaber does not report it. This page does not decide: consult your Rav.
6. Mnemonic ג-ב
The number of houses between the two courtyards, in the order of the seifim: three, then two.
ג — וג׳ בתים ביניהם: three houses, open to one another, and they make the eruv together — the eruv in the middle one, and they are permitted in all three (seif א).
ב — ושני בתים ביניהם: two houses, each courtyard makes the eruv for itself and places it in the house next to the other courtyard — « לא קנו עירוב » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב) (seif ב).
7. Pitfalls to avoid
Pitfall 1: Thinking that the house next to a courtyard, in which the eruv is not placed, must give bread for the joint eruv. In seif א, when the three houses are open to one another and they make the eruv together, placing it in the middle one: « שכל בית שאצל החצר חשוב לו כבית שער וא״צ ליתן פת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:א). The Mishnah Berurah gives the reason: « אחרי שבני החצר מוליכין עירובן דרך עליה לאמצעית » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ג).
Pitfall 2: Presenting as a settled rule that, if the joint eruv is placed in a house next to one of the courtyards, or in another house of the courtyards, the three houses are still exempt from giving bread. Seif א of the Mechaber describes the eruv placed in the middle house; the view that exempts the three houses when the eruv is placed in a house next to one of the courtyards, or in another house of the courtyards, is reported by the Magen Avraham in the name of Tosafos (ס״ק א), by the Mishnah Berurah under « ויש שכתבו » (משנה ברורה שע״ט ס״ק ג) and by the Shulchan Aruch HaRav under « וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א), who does not write in this seif whether one may rely on it. Consult your Rav.
Pitfall 3: Thinking that, when two courtyards separated by two houses each make the eruv for itself, the eruv that each courtyard places in the house next to the other courtyard is acquired. In seif ב, each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard: « לא קנו עירוב שכל א׳ הניח עירוב בבי׳ שער של חצר אחרת » (שו״ע או״ח שע״ט:ב). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav adds: « וְאֵינוֹ עֵרוּב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן שס״ו » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:ב).
The Rema's gloss (רמ״א או״ח שס״ו:ג) and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (שו״ע הרב שס״ו:ו) report the custom, in their time, of placing the eruv in the synagogue, with a reason that the Rema proposes ("it seems to me") and that the Rav reports in the name of "some": that our eruvin have the status of shituf. The Rav writes this custom although the synagogue is not fit for dwelling, because of its sanctity (שו״ע הרב שס״ו:ו). He also recalls, in the same seif, referring to siman 365, that in places whose mavo'os have neither a lechi nor a korah, or whose synagogue is not in a mavoy fixed with a lechi or a korah, the eruv is not placed in the synagogue — and there he nevertheless permits carrying in the synagogue (שו״ע הרב שס״ו:ו). On our siman, the Eliyah Rabbah, commenting on the Levush and in the name of the Perishah, sees in it a contradiction to the custom of some places of placing the eruv in the synagogue while houses of Kutim [non-Jews] interpose between them and the eruv (אליה רבה שע״ט ס״ק ב). What this custom changes in this case, this page does not decide: consult your Rav (Level 1, concept בית שער; Level 4, section 2).
The Gemara says of one who places his eruv in a gatehouse, a portico or a gallery that it is not an eruv (עירובין ע״ו ע״א; see pitfall 4).
Pitfall 4: Counting the same house as a house with regard to one courtyard and as a gatehouse with regard to the other (seif ב). The Gemara answers: « אִי דִּלְגַבֵּי דְּהַאי בַּיִת, לְגַבֵּי דְּהַאי בַּיִת. אִי לְגַבֵּי דְּהַאי בֵּית שַׁעַר, לְגַבֵּי דְּהַאי נָמֵי בֵּית שַׁעַר » (עירובין ע״ו ע״א) — if [it is] a house with regard to the one, [it is] a house with regard to the other; if [it is] a gatehouse with regard to the one, with regard to the other too [it is] a gatehouse. The Magen Avraham, who asks why the rule that a rabbinic doubt is decided leniently is not applied here, answers likewise: « התם לא מנכר׳ מלתא הכא קיימי הנך בתים קמן ואי משוי לה להאי חצר בית ולהאי בית שער א״כ הוי כי חוכא ואטלולא » (מגן אברהם שע״ט ס״ק ב) — there, the matter is not noticeable; here these houses stand before us, and if one made it a house for this courtyard and a gatehouse for that one, it would be like a mockery.
Pitfall 5: Mixing the two numberings. Levels 1 to 3 follow the Shulchan Aruch of the Mechaber; Level 4 follows the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. Here both have 2 seifim, divided the same way: seif 1 of the Rav corresponds to seif א, seif 2 to seif ב; but seif 1 of the Rav also carries the view introduced by « וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים » (שו״ע הרב שע״ט:א), which seif א of the Mechaber does not report.
8. Practical cases
The situations below follow the form of the cases of the seifim; whether today's buildings meet these conditions is a question for your Rav.
| Situation | Analysis | Conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Two courtyards separated by three houses open to one another; they want a single eruv | The people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle house: they are permitted in all three, and none of the three houses needs to give bread (seif א) | If the joint eruv is placed in the middle house, they are permitted in all three (seif א); for the concrete case: consult your Rav |
| The same case, but the joint eruv was placed in a house next to one of the courtyards, or in another house of the courtyards | Seif א of the Mechaber describes the eruv placed in the middle house; the view that exempts the three houses here too is reported by the Magen Avraham in the name of Tosafos (ס״ק א), by the Mishnah Berurah under "some have written" (ס״ק ג) and by the Shulchan Aruch HaRav under "some say" (seif 1 of its numbering), who does not write in this seif whether one may rely on it (section 5) | This page does not decide: consult your Rav |
| Two courtyards separated by two houses; each courtyard makes its own eruv and places it in the house next to the other courtyard | They have not acquired the eruv, for each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard (seif ב) | Where to place the eruv, and what the custom of placing it in the synagogue changes (Rema and Rav, siman 366; Pitfall 3): consult your Rav |
9. Final synthesis table
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Topic of the siman | The law of courtyards, and of the houses between them (דין חצירו׳ ובתים ביניהם) |
| Place | In Sefaria's index, the section הלכות עירובין of the Shulchan Aruch begins at siman 345 |
| Number of seifim | 2 seifim (Mechaber) — 2 seifim also in the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, divided the same way |
| Mishnah Berurah | 4 ס״ק on this siman, all on words of seif א |
| Magen Avraham | One entry on each of the two seifim (ס״ק א and ב) |
| Glosses of the Rema | In the text served by Sefaria, no gloss introduced by the word הגה on this siman |
| Kuntres Acharon | Sefaria gives no Kuntres Acharon entry for this siman |
| Cross-references | To siman 366: the Mishnah Berurah (ס״ק ד), on the words וא״צ ליתן פת, which seif א writes twice (see Level 1); the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (seif 2), for the eruv placed in a gatehouse |
| Talmudic sources | Eruvin 75b-76a (Level 1); see Level 2 |
| Golden rule | Two courtyards, three houses between them open to one another, when they make the eruv together and the people of each courtyard, coming through the house next to their courtyard, place it in the middle house: the house next to each courtyard, through which one passes to carry the eruv, counts as its gatehouse, and the middle house is the one in which the eruv is placed: none of the three needs to give bread (seif א). When, between two courtyards separated by two houses, each courtyard makes the eruv for itself and places it in the house next to the other courtyard, the eruv is not acquired: each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard (seif ב) |
| Practical decision | For each case described, the rule of its seif; for a joint eruv placed elsewhere than in the middle house, a view is reported (the Magen Avraham in the name of Tosafos, the Mishnah Berurah under "some have written", the Rav under "some say"; section 5), which this page does not decide: consult your Rav |
10. The practical commandments of Siman שע״ט
For daily conduct
- Two courtyards, three houses open to one another, when they wish to make the eruv together: the people of each courtyard come through the house next to their courtyard and place their eruv in the middle house; they are permitted in all three (seif א) — according to the Mishnah Berurah, they may carry in those houses, and [the people of the] houses in [the courtyards], although they did not give their share in the eruv (ס״ק ב).
- The houses in this case: the house next to each courtyard counts for it as a gatehouse and need not give bread; the middle one is the house in which the eruv is placed and need not give bread (seif א). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav writes that a gatehouse does not prohibit (seif 1 of its numbering).
- A joint eruv placed elsewhere than in the middle house: seif א of the Mechaber does not describe it; the view that exempts the three houses is reported by the Magen Avraham in the name of Tosafos (ס״ק א), by the Mishnah Berurah under "some have written" (ס״ק ג) and by the Shulchan Aruch HaRav under "some say" (seif 1), who does not write in this seif whether one may rely on it. Consult your Rav.
- Two courtyards, two houses, when they did not make the eruv together but each courtyard for itself: if each courtyard placed its eruv in the house next to the other courtyard, they have not acquired the eruv, for each one placed it in the gatehouse of another courtyard (seif ב).
- 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״ט in 3 levels:
You have studied Siman שע״ט in 3 levels:
- 🌱 Level 1 — Foundations: the two seifim of the Mechaber (without a gloss of the Rema), English translation, halachic concepts, the 4 ס״ק of the Mishnah Berurah and the two entries of the Magen Avraham
- ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan: the sugya of Eruvin 75b-76a, Rashi, Tosafos, the Rishonim and the Acharonim
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: axiom, mnemonic, decision tree, practical commandments