Mishnah Eruvin 7

¹If a window between two courtyards was four handbreadths by four handbreadths, and was within ten handbreadths [from the ground], the tenants prepare two eruvin or, if they want, they may prepare one. If [the size of the window was] less than four handbreadths by four handbreadths or higher than ten handbreadths from the ground, they may prepare two eruvin but not one. ²If a wall between two courtyards was ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths thick, two eruvin must be prepared, but not one. If there was produce on top of it, the [residents] from this side may climb up and eat and those from this side may climb up and eat, provided they do not bring it down. If the wall was breached a breach of ten cubits, the residents prepare two eruvin or, if they prefer, they prepare one eruv, because it is like a doorway. If the breach was bigger, only one eruv and not two may be prepared. ³If a ditch between two courtyards was ten handbreadths deep and four handbreadths wide, they may make two eruvin but not one, even if it was full of stubble or straw. If it was full of earth or gravel, only one eruv may be prepared, but not two. ⁴If he placed over it a board four handbreadths wide, and so also where two balconies are opposite one another, the residents may prepare two eruvin or, if they prefer, only one. [If the board] was less wide two eruvs may be prepared, but not one. ⁵If a heap of straw between two courtyards yards was ten handbreadths high, they make two eruvin but not one. These may feed [their cattle] from this side and these may feed from the other side. If the height of the straw heap was reduced to less than ten handbreadths, one eruv may be prepared but not two. ⁶How does one make an “alley partnership”? One [of the residents] places a jar and declares, “Behold, this belongs to all the residents of the alley”, and he confers possession upon [the other residents] through his adult son or daughter, through his Hebrew servant or maidservant or through his wife. But he may not confer possession through his minor son or daughter or through his Canaanite slave or female slave, because their hand is as his hand. ⁷If the food was reduced, he must add to it and confer possession [upon the other residents] but he need not inform them. If the number of residents has increased, he must add food and confer possession [upon them], and he must inform them. ⁸What is the quantity required?When the residents are many there should be food sufficient for two meals for all of them; And when they are few there should be food of the size of a dried fig for each one. ⁹Rabbi Yose says: When does this apply? To the beginnings of the eruv but in the case of the remnants of an eruv even the smallest quantity of food is sufficient, They said that one should set up an eruv for courtyards only so that the law should not be forgotten by the children. ¹⁰They may set up an eruv or a shittuf with all kinds [of food] except for water or salt, the words of Rabbi Eliezer. Rabbi Joshua says: a whole loaf of bread is a valid eruv. Even a baking of one se’ah, if it is a broken loaf, may not be used for eruv while a loaf of the size of an issar, provided it is whole, may be used for eruv. ¹¹A man may give a ma’ah to a shopkeeper or a baker in order to acquire a share in the eruv, the words of Rabbi Eliezer. The sages say: his money acquires no share for him They agree that in the case of all other men his money may acquire [an eruv for him], Since they do not prepare an eruv except with one’s consent. Rabbi Judah says: To what does this apply? To Shabbat border eruvin, but in the case of courtyard eruvin they prepare an eruv with his consent and without his consent, since they confer a benefit on a person in his absence but they do not confer a disability on a person except in his presence.