Part 6: REBUTTAL TO THE LAWS OF AN ERUV

2:4A - The criterion of shishim ribo

The text of the Shulchan Aruch reads:

“What is a reshus harabbim? Marketplaces that are sixteen amos wide … and there are those who say [v’yeish oimrim] that if they [the marketplaces] do not have 600,000 people traversing it daily [shishim ribo (sixty myriads) ovrim bo b’chol yom], they are not a reshus harabbim.”

Since there is a difference of opinions among the Rishonim, when the Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 345:7) mentions the criterion that the marketplace requires shishim ribo, it prefaces it with a qualifier, “vyeish oimrim,” there are those who say. Subsequently, there is a machlokas haposkim if the Shulchan Aruch maintains that the criterion of shishim ribo can be relied on l’chatchilah.

2:4B - Do we accept the criterion of shishim ribo l’chatchilah

The Bais Ephraim rules that relying on shishim ribo is not a matter of following a majority but only that the criterion was accepted as our minhag in Tzorfas and Ashkenaz. However, since the Mishkenos Yaakov argued that the Magen Avraham and Taz were mistaken in their opinion that the majority of Rishonim maintain that shishim ribo is a fundament of a reshus harabbim, the Bais Ephraim presented evidence that the majority of Rishonim accepted shishim ribo.

In fact, we can add to the Bais Ephraim’s tally of Rishonim, since we know today of many more Rishonim who accepted the criterion of shishim ribo [more than seventy accept the criterion and thirteen clearly do not[21]]. Hence, we accept the fundament either because this is the minhag or because the overwhelming majority of Rishonim [and all of those from Tzorfas and Ashkenaz,[22] and at least four Gaonim[23]] upheld the criterion l’chatchilah.[24]    

Additionally, many poskim maintain that, notwithstanding the qualifier, “vyeish oimrim,” the Shulchan Aruch does accept the criterion of shishim ribo l’chatchilah.[25] Moreover, there is no doubt that the Rema accepted shishim ribo as a fundament of a reshus harabbim.[26] Consequently, Benei Ashkenaz, who follow the Rema, certainly accept the criterion as a fundament of a reshus harabbim, l’chatchilah.

 

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[21] This is my preliminary list, I will eventually publish a complete list with over seventy Geonim and Rishonim who uphold the criterion and thirteen who do not.

Gaonim - 1) Bahag, Berlin edition, p. 131. 2) Rav Amram Gaon, Halachos Pesukos Min HaGaonim, siman 70. 3) Sar Shalom Gaon, Chemdah Genuzah, siman 70 and Sharei Teshuvah, siman 209 (see also Sefer Ha’itim, ois 92). 4) The Gaon mentioned in the Sefer Ha’itim, ois 206.

Rishonim - 5) Rashi, Eruvin 6a, 6b, 26a, 59a, 47a. 6) Baalei HaTosfos, Eruvin 6a, 26a, 59a, and Shabbos 6b, 64b. 7) Sefer Ha’itim, ois 92, 206, 209. 8) Rabeinu Shmuel, Or Zarua, ois 164. 9) Machzor Vitri, Perek B'mah Isha, ois 31, 32. 10) Ra’avan, Shabbos 349. 11) HaEshkol, Hilchos Tzitzis ois 31. 12) Ha’itur, Hilchos Tzitzis, Shaar 3 Shaar Adom Chelek 1. 13) Ravyah, Hilchos Eruvin 379, 391. 14) HaManhig, Hilchos Shabbos HaTzarichos ois 138. 15) Rokeach, Hilchos Shabbos 175. 16) Sefer HaNer, Eruvin 6a, 59a. 17) Sefer HaTrumah, ois 214, 239. 18) Or Zarua, Hilchos Shabbos siman 16, Eruvin 129. 19) Rid, Piskei Eruvin 6a, 59a, Tosfos Pesachim 69a and Teshuvos, siman 107. 20) MaHrach Or Zarua, Piskei Eruvin Perek 2 ois 57. 21) Rivevan, Eruvin 6b, 59a. 22) Semag, Hilchos Shabbos p. 17. 23) Maharam MeRotenberg, siman 31, Eruvin ois 9, 10. 24) RaaH, Ran (Hamyuchos), Shabbos 6b. 25) Riaz, Eruvin Perek 1:5, 5:5. 26) Talmid HaRashba, Chiddushei Eruvin, 2a, 59b. 27) Mordechai, Shabbos 64b, 100a. 28) Smak, Mitzvos Hatluyos B’Shabbos p. 296, 299. 29) Hagahos Maimonios, Eruvin Perek 5:2, 5:4.  30) Rosh, Beitzah 24a, Eruvin 6a (see also Kitzur Piskei HaRosh, Perek 1:8). 31) Tur, O.C. 345, 364, 392. 32) Ramak, Piskei (Rabeinu Mendel Kloizner) Shabbos 6a, Hagahos Ashri, Eruvin 6b, 20b. 33) Rabeinu Yerucham, Toldos Adom V’Chavah 12:4, 12:17. 34) Orchos Chaim, Hilchos Shabbos ois 284. 35) HaAgudah, Perek 5:56. 36) Tsedah LaDerech, Perek 42, 46. 37) Sefer HaNeyar, Hilchos Eruvin p. 51. 38) Hagahos Ashri, Eruvin 6b, 20b. 39) Nimukei Yosef, Hilchos Tzitzis. 40) HaAgur, siman 537.

The following is a list of Rishonim who oppose the criterion of shishim ribo:

1) Rambam, Hilchos Shabbos 14:1. 2) Hashlama, Eruvin 6a. 3) Ramban, Shabbos, 57a, and Eruvin 59a. 4) Sefer HaMeoros, Eruvin 6a. 5) Rashba, Teshuvos HaRashba siman 722. 6) Hagahos Mordechai, Shabbos Perek 6. 7) Ritva, 59a. 8) Magid Mishnah, Shabbos 14:1. 9) Meiri, Bais HaBechirah Shabbos 57a, and Eruvin 6b, and Chidushim Eruvin 6b. 10) Ran, Shabbos Perek 6, Chidushim Eruvin 6a. 11) Rivash, siman 405. [Rabeinu Tam, Rashbam, and Yereim on the Mishkenos Yaakov’s/Mishnah Berurah’s list of those opposing the criterion are debatable and today can be listed with those who maintain that shishim ribo is a criterion of a reshus harabbim (at least regarding Rabeinu Tam and the Rashbam).]

[22] The fact that we now know that there is not one Rishon from Tzorfas and Ashkenaz who objects to the criterion of shishim ribo explicitly, demonstrates that Benei Ashkenaz accepted the criterion l’chatchilah, without reservations.

[23] The Bahag’s opinion is considered Divrei Kabbalah (Tosfos, Chulin 44a; Rosh, Berachos 84 ois 14; Shach, Y.D. 25:2) and is not dismissed easily. Today, we know of an additional three Gaonim who uphold the fundament, and we do not know of even one who objects to the criterion, which demonstrates that there is a deep mesorah underpinning the fundament of shishim ribo.    

[24] While the Mishnah Berurah (Biur Halachah, 345:7, and 364: ) following the Mishkenos Yaakov maintains that the majority of Rishonim upheld that shishim ribo is not a criterion of a reshus harabbim, as mentioned above, their list of Rishonim has been superseded.   

[25] The following is a list of some of the poskim who maintain that the Shulchan Aruch accepted shishim ribo as a fundament of a reshus harabbim: Magen Avraham (345:7); Yad Aharon (345:2); Pachad Yitzchak (Erech, Reshus Harabbim); Erech HaShulchan (345:2); Pri Megadim (Aishel Avraham, 345:7, Mishbetzes Zahav, 345:6); Tosfos Chadashim (Shabbos, Perek 11:1); Zera Emes (3:41); Sedeh Haaretz (Chelek 3, p. 29), and Maharsha Alfandari (O.C. siman 9).

[26] While the Bais Meir questions (as cited in the Biur Halachah, 345:7) what the Rema’s opinion is, the Bais Ephraim (and even the Mishkenos Yaakov) and all the other poskim cite additional proof that the Rema does uphold the criterion of shishim ribo.