[A
CROSS-BEAM SPANNING] THE ENTRANCE [TO A BLIND ALLEY] AT A HEIGHT OF
MORE THAN TWENTY CUBITS SHOULD BE LOWERED.
Uncommented on until now was the
sentence which followed:
R.
JUDAH RULED: THIS IS UNNECESSARY.
Although it has come up
on previous pages, we have discussion now on width, not height, based on the
conclusion of the Mishnah from page 2:
AND
[ANY ENTRANCE] THAT IS WIDER THAN TEN CUBITS SHOULD BE REDUCED [IN WIDTH]
This “reduction” in the
width of an entrance can occur with the use of side-posts. But it can get
complicated when one courtyard or alley leads into another through a hole or
breach. The side-posts might be flush from one perspective. And, although it is
greatly argued, that matters:
it must be concluded [that a post that can be] seen
from without but appears even from within cannot be regarded as a valid
side-post. This is conclusive.
Similarly, a barrier
might be erected in the middle of a 20 cubit wide entrance making two parallel “doorways.”
Maybe it’s just a symbolic divider?
Levi learned: If [an entrance to] all alley was
twenty cubits wide a reed may be inserted in the center of it and this is
sufficient.
Ah, no:
He himself has learnt it and he himself said that the
halachah is not in agreement with that teaching
Instead a strip of
boarding is constructed 10 handbreadths high by 4 cubits long and placed in the
middle of the entrance parallel to the length – effectively creating two alleys.
Illusion and perspective:
these matter!
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