Planting flowers in a karfeif

Seeds that were planted in a karfeif cause the karfeif to be regarded as a non-residential area where carrying is forbidden on Shabbos . The poskim disagree about whether the same rule also applies to flowers that are planted to beautify the enclosure. Some poskim say that flowers will only classify the actual area where they are growing as non-residential, but will not affect the rest of the enclosure (unlike seeds for vegetation, which render the entire enclosure non-residential). The poskim also disagree about whether vegetation that sprouts up on its own renders the karfeif non-residential. All opinions agree that grass does not classify the karfeif as non-residential.

[ ביאורים ומוספים דרשו שנח, 28-27 ] [ ביאורים ומוספים דרשו שנח, 28-27 ]

Carrying from the unseeded area of a karfeif

When it comes to planting seeds, there is a difference if the planted area is larger than a bais sassayim or not. If it is larger, carrying would be forbidden within the entire enclosure, including the part of the karfeif that was not seeded. If it is exactly a bais sassayim , it is permissible to carry within the karfeif but it is forbidden to carry from the planted area into a house that is next to the karfeif (or vice versa) . The poskim disagree about whether this prohibition also applies to a part of the karfeif that was not seeded. If the planted area is smaller than a bais sassayim, it is certainly permissible to carry from the unplanted part of the karfeif into the house. Regarding the area that was planted, the poskim disagree about whether it is permissible to carry from there into a house. Some are lenient under extenuating circumstances.



[ שו"ע שנח, י, משנ"ב סט, פ, פא, פב ו־פג, ושעה"צ עו-עז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 34 ]

Fencing off the seeded area

If the seeded area of the karfeif is fenced off, it does not affect the rest of the karfeif . It is sufficient to enclose the area with a tzuras hapesach or a wall that relies on the concept of lavud . If there is a break of more than ten amos in the wall, the planted area would affect the rest of the enclosure. It would then be subject to the halachos mentioned in the previous paragraph.

[ משנ"ב שנח, פג; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 29 ו־36 ]





PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.

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