Topics covered:
Chapter 6, Mishna 6
The Sages disagree on the minimum requirements of an alleyway that can be adjusted for carrying on Shabbos. Rav says two or more courtyards must open into it, each containing two or more houses. Shmuel says one house and one courtyard. Rabbi Yochanan says even one courtyard and one ruin will suffice. In order to help us understand how Rabbi Yochanan approaches these questions, we learn that he declined to decree more than necessary with respect to vessels that begin Shabbos in courtyards, enclosures or roofs compared to vessels that begin Shabbos inside people’s houses. In another incident, we learn Shmuel’s “medium” ruling was challenged by young Rabbi Elazar, the student of a Torah academy, and Shmuel was silent. Did he retract his ruling? To answer this question, we examine yet another incident: an alley dweller name Ivut ben Ihi relied on Shmuel’s ruling throughout Shmuel’s life, thus demonstrating that Shmuel did not retract. Not so fast, says the Gemara. Perhaps Shmuel did retract, but there were other circumstances at play in this particular alley…