סימן שבח סעיף א

And now, the guy, I guess, whose house it’s in wants to fix it. The Mishnah Berurah explains that we’re talking about before the eruv (communal Shabbat boundary arrangement) was ever chal (take effect). We’re talking about the first week they made the eruv, because the laws are going to be different if the eruv was already chal. Here, they all contributed the bread, and something happened to it: it got ruined before Shabbat. If he is going to take more bread from the other people, and it’s the same species of bread that was collected the first time—let’s say wheat—you’re still allowed to take more from them, even though there’s nothing left of the eruv, provided it’s the same species. So you’re going to take more wheat bread from them without telling them, even if you’re using their bread for this.

But if you’re going to make the eruv now with a new species—for example, you had wheat bread, and now you’re going to get barley—then if the first eruv is completely depleted, it’s gone. You’re not allowed to make a new eruv without telling them. If you’re going to use their bread, you have to tell them you’re reestablishing the eruv. But if you want to use your bread and do Zikui for them, have someone accept it for them, then you never need to ask them anything. You can just reestablish it. And if there’s still something left of the first eruv, you don’t need to inform them, even if you’re using their bread. So even if you’re going to use a different species, you don’t need to tell them anything. You can take it from them.

If it’s the same species of bread, then even if the eruv is completely depleted, you can still reestablish it without asking them. And if it’s a different species of bread that you’re starting with, as long as there’s something left of the first, you can still add to it without telling them. This is talking about the first week they made the eruv, when it got ruined before Shabbat started. If it had gotten ruined after Shabbat started, you wouldn’t need any Tikkun (remedy) for this. Even if the eruv were completely gone, it would still work for at least this Shabbat. But for next Shabbat, if it’s completely gone, you need a new one. If there’s any amount left from the eruv, you don’t need any Tikkun. You could just use what’s left as the eruv. Why? Because you already had the Shi’ur (the amount that’s necessary) of Bein Hashmashot (twilight) at the first Shabbat. As we will learn, it lasts forever as long as there’s something left.

So how could Maran (our master) say at the end of the Se’if (section) that if there’s a little left, you need to collect more? If there’s a little left, you wouldn’t need to collect any more if it was already established. We’re talking about the case where the first Shabbat had not even started and the eruv got ruined. So what did Maran say? He said that if you’re using the same species of bread, even if the eruv was completely finished, you could reestablish it without informing them. You don’t need to ask them if they want it. You don’t have to ask them, “Okay, guys, do you want the eruv again?” Keep it on the chazakah, the status quo. They’ll all want to continue the eruv that they started. And Mimin says that since he donated this kind of bread the first time, he would want to donate the same bread again, so we could take the liberty of taking it without informing him. That is the first law.

And then we said that if you’re coming to use a different species, the initial eruv was made with wheat bread. So then, if the first one is completely gone, you’ll have to tell him to take new, since the first min (species) is gone. It’s like you’re starting a brand-new eruv, and for a brand-new eruv, you have to ask him. This whole chiddush (novel insight) is talking about a case where the house is open to two courtyards, and we don’t know which one he’d prefer. But if it’s only open to one courtyard, it’s for sure a zechut (benefit) for him to have an eruv, and you would not need to inform him even if you’re using a new species now. And so write the other Acharonim (later authorities), the Nahar Shalom and the Beit Meir.

Next, the Mishnah Berurah says that if you’re using your own bread to reestablish the eruv, you don’t need to tell them anything. For sure they’re going to want it; they don’t care what you use because they’re not giving anything, and they already agreed to make an eruv with you. And the last line of Maran was that if the first min did not completely run out, but rather just got less, then even though you are taking from them, you don’t need to inform them because the eruv is still alive. That is Mishnah Berurah: Ela nitma'et mi-shi'ur hameforash, it’s less than the amount that’s necessary. Se'if Gimel (section three), Be'ezrat Hashem, we will learn the minimum of an eruv. We’re talking about before Shabbat started. You don’t have the minimum, but there’s still some left. Eino Tzarich Lehodiam: you don’t need to inform them. You can go take the other new species without telling them because for sure they want it, and it’s not called the new eruv because there’s still some left of the first.

This is Se'if Aleph (section one). Se'if Bet (section two) goes on to a large portion of tomorrow’s page in the Mishnah Berurah, and therefore we will leave it for tomorrow. Be'ezrat Hashem, we will finish this siman (chapter) tomorrow, the short siman.