Too many cooks spoil the broth TB Eiruvin 3

 There are many similarities between the height of the koreh (קורה), the crossbeam, of the alleyway (מבוי) and the height of the sukkah. According to the tanna kama, the first position in our Mishna, the beam cannot be higher than 20 amot and Rabbi Yehuda disagrees and says that being may be placed even higher. The very first Mishna of TB Sukkah 2b records a very similar disagreement. “A sukka, i.e., its roofing, which is the main and most crucial element of the mitzva, that is more than twenty cubits high is unfit. Rabbi Yehuda deems it fit.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Today’s daf TB Eiruvin 3 posits another possible reason underpinning the disagreement between the tanna kama and Rabbi Yehuda. The crossbeam has to serve as a conspicuous marker (משום הֶיכֵרָא) for all to see that the alleyway ends in the public domain begins. “Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Without Rav (who holds that the Heikhal is the paradigm-see yesterday’s daf-gg), the baraitot do not contradict each other, as according to the Rabbis, what is the reason that a cross beam renders an alleyway fit for carrying? Because it serves as a conspicuous marker between the alleyway and the public domain. Ordinarily a cross beam more than twenty cubits high is not noticeable; however, a cornice attracts attention even at that height. And that which is taught in the other baraita with regard to the height of a beam at the entrance to an alleyway: Greater than the entrance of the Sanctuary, is merely a mnemonic device. No actual halakhot are derived from the entrance of the Sanctuary.” (Sefaia.org translation)

 Obviously there are differences between a kosher sukkah and a kosher alleyway when part of the beam and part of the sukkah is higher than 20 amot if a conspicuous marker is the reason. “The Gemara offers a different explanation of Rabba’s distinction: Rava from Parzakya said: In the case of a sukka, which is generally erected for an individual, he casts responsibility upon himself and is reminded to make certain that the roofing is fit. In the case of an alleyway, which is used by many people, they are likely to rely upon each other and are not reminded to check the height of the cross beam. As people say: A pot belonging to partners is neither hot nor cold. When responsibility falls upon more than one person, each relies on the other, and ultimately the task is not completed.” (Sefaia.org translation) That’s why Rabba was stricter when it comes to the alleyway’s height than when it comes to the height of the sukkah.

Too often we don’t help another person because we figure somebody else will do it so we don’t have get involved. Rava from Parzakya is teaching us that we should take responsibility, do the right thing, and not be a passive bystander who doesn’t get involved.