Study Eruvin folio 62B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אמר מר: חצירו של גוי הרי הוא כדיר של בהמה. והא אנן תנן: הדר עם הנכרי בחצר הרי זה אוסר עליו!
The Talmud proceeds to analyze the Tosefta: The Master said above: The courtyard of a non-Jew is like the pen of an animal, which implies that the residence of a non-Jew is not considered a significant residence. But didn’t we learn otherwise in the Mishnah: One who resides with a non-Jew in the same courtyard this person prohibits him from carrying? This implies that a non-Jew’s residence is in fact of significance.
לא קשיא: הא — דאיתיה. הא — דליתיה.
The Talmud answers: That is not difficult. This halakha in the Mishnah is referring to a situation where the non-Jew is present, and therefore carrying is prohibited, whereas that halakha in the Tosefta refers to a situation where he is not present, and therefore carrying is permitted.
ומאי קסבר? אי קסבר דירה בלא בעלים שמה דירה — אפילו גוי נמי ניתסר. ואי קסבר דירה בלא בעלים לא שמה דירה — אפילו ישראל נמי לא ניתסר!
The Talmud poses a question: What does R' Meir hold? If he holds that a residence without its owners is still considered a residence, and it is prohibited to carry in the courtyard even when the owner is away, then even a non-Jew in absentia should likewise render it prohibited for carrying. And if he holds that a residence without its owners is not considered a residence, then even a Jew who is away should also not render it prohibited for carrying.
לעולם קסבר דירה בלא בעלים — לא שמה דירה. וישראל, דכי איתיה אסר, כי ליתיה — גזרו ביה רבנן.
The Talmud answers: Actually, he holds that a residence without its owners is not considered a residence, but nevertheless, he draws a distinction between a Jew and a non-Jew. In the case of a Jew, who renders it prohibited to carry for those who reside in the same courtyard when he is present in his residence, the rabbis decreed with regard to him that even when he is not present, his residence renders it prohibited for them to carry as though he were present.