A karfei f that floods

If there is a flood in a karfeif that was originally enclosed for residential purposes, the karfeif can still retain its status as designated for a residence if the water is fit for either drinking or washing. If the water is muddy and useless, however, the karfeif is rendered unlivable (as in the case of a karfeif where seeds were planted). Some Rishonim maintain that if the entire enclosure fills with water, it is no longer considered livable even if the water can serve a purpose, since it is not normal for a residential area to be filled with water. [ שו"ע שנח, יא, משנ"ב פד, פה, פז, פח ו־פט, ושעה"צ פא ו־פד; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 39 ]

Water that is less than ten tefachim deep

A karfeif that floods with unusable water does not retain its residential status. According to some Rishonim, this only applies if the water is at least ten tefachim deep; otherwise, the water is nullified in relation to the rest of the enclosure. Other Rishonim disagree and maintain than even a body of water that is less than ten tefachim deep renders the karfeif unlivable. One should only rely on the lenient opinion under pressing circumstances. Some opinions maintain that even the stringent opinion would agree that carrying is permissible in the karfeif if the water is less than three tefachim deep. Others hold that it would only be permissible to carry if people could still live inside the enclosure. [ שו"ע שנח, יא, משנ"ב צ, וביה"ל ד"ה והוא; וראה שם ד"ה דינם; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 42 ו־44 ;וראה שם, 43 ]

A pit in an enclosure

If an enclosure contains a pit that is at least tefachim deep and has an area of at least four by four tefachim, the pit can have the status of a karfeif if it is not designated for a residence. It will not affect the rest of the enclosure since it is considered as if there are walls blocking the pit from the rest of the karfeif . Some opinions maintain that the pit must be larger than a bais sassayim to be considered a karfeif . Others hold that even if it is smaller than a bais sassayim, carrying from the pit into a home that is next to the karfeif would still be forbidden. [ משנ"ב שנח, פא, ושעה"צ פה; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 41 ,וראה עוד שם ]

The poskim discuss whether flowers planted in a karfeif can cause the enclosure to no longer be considered residential. If seeds are planted across an area that is larger than a bais sassayim, carrying becomes forbidden even on the unplanted area of the enclosure.  If the seeded area of a karfeif is fenced off, it does not affect the status of the rest of the karfeif.

A karfeif with a roof A break in the wall between a karfeif and a courtyard Building an additional wall for the karfeif

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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