Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email - 20 Adar I/February 25

A karfeif with a roof

There is a Talmudic concept known as pi tikrah yored visoseim, in which the edge of a roof can extend downwards in order to create a halachically valid fence. Pi tikrah only applies when a roof is flat, not when it is slanted. However, there is an exception to this rule. Although it is forbidden to carry within a karfeif larger than a bais sassayim that is not enclosed for a residence, if the karfeif is partially covered by a roof that sits on top of three walls, the roof can halachically be regarded as extending downwards in order to create a fourth wall, even if the roof is slanted. This will create a partition that separates the covered and uncovered parts. If either of these subdivisions is smaller than a bais sassayim, it is permissible to carry within its confines.

[ שו"ע שנח, יב, ומשנ"ב צא-צב; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 45 ]

A break in the wall between a karfeif and a courtyard

If a karfeif which is exactly the size of a bais sassayim is next to an enclosed courtyard, it is permissible to carry within each enclosure. If, however, the wall which separates the two enclosures breaks open, the following halachos apply: A partial break that is ten amos or less is inconsequential, and one may still carry within each enclosure. If the wall breaks either in its entirety or across more than ten amos, it is forbidden to carry in both the courtyard and the karfeif . The karfeif is forbidden because the space where the wall formerly stood now joins together with the rest of the karfeif to create an area larger than a bais sassayim . It is also forbidden to carry within the courtyard because it is now open to the karfeif .

[ שו"ע שנח, יג, משנ"ב צג-צו, ושעה"צ צא, צג ו־צה; וראה ביה"ל ד"ה שמקום; וראה עוד ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 49-47 ]

Building an additional wall for the karfeif

A karfeif with a house that does not have a door open to the enclosure is not considered residential, and it is forbidden to carry within its confines. If a person wishes to change the status of the enclosure he may do the following: First, he must build a door to connect the house with the enclosure so that the enclosure can be considered residential. Afterwards, he should build a section of wall that is more than ten amos wide in front of the existing wall. This nullifies the existing wall and allows the enclosure to be considered “rebuilt for the purpose of a residence”. If the new wall falls down, the karfeif reverts back to its forbidden status. If the outer wall of the house (which also serves as a wall for the karfeif ) falls down, we cannot consider the inner walls of the home as a partition for the karfeif because they were not built to encircle the karfeif .

[ שו"ע שנח, ו, משנ"ב צז, צט, ק ו־קא, ושעה"צ צח ]

If a karfeif that was originally enclosed for residential purposes floods with water, it can still retain its status as being designated for a residence if the water is fit for either drinking or washing.

The Rishonim disagree about whether unusable water that is less than ten tefachim deep renders the karfeif unlivable. One should only rely on the lenient opinion under pressing circumstances.

A large enclosed area

Carrying from a karfeif into a karmelis

A lot in back of a house

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.