{"id":8045,"date":"2016-01-30T02:00:08","date_gmt":"2016-01-30T00:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=8045"},"modified":"2016-10-06T16:36:37","modified_gmt":"2016-10-06T13:36:37","slug":"01-30-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/01-30-02\/","title":{"rendered":"02. Squaring the Te\u0125um<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sages established that one\u2019s mekom shevita <\/em>on Shabbat is square, and thus his te\u0125um<\/em> is square as well. This means that if he is spending Shabbat in a field, and his mekom shevita<\/em> is thus four amot<\/em>, the measurement is not made by drawing a circle around him with a diameter of four amot<\/em>. Rather, to determine his mekom shevita<\/em> we inscribe such a circle in a square with four-ama<\/em> sides along the four cardinal directions, which adds space to his mekom shevita <\/em>at the corners. Similarly, if one\u2019s mekom shevita<\/em> is in a city or town, even if the area is round, we inscribe it in a square or rectangle, adding space at the corners (m.<\/em> Eruvin<\/em> 53a).<\/p>\n

\"Eruvin<\/p>\n

\"The
The diameter of the circle is 4 amot. After squaring, the corners are added<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then 2,000 amot<\/em> are measured in each direction. Once again we draw a square or rectangle, which once again grants him additional space in the corners.[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The corners are added<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This rule, that we square off the city, is derived from the Torah\u2019s description of the area the Levites were given outside each of their cities:<\/p>\n

You shall measure off two thousand amot<\/em> outside the city wall all around. You shall measure off two thousand amot<\/em> outside the town on the east side (lit. corner; same applies to the other directions), two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west side, and two thousand on the north side, with the city in the center. (Bamidbar 35:5)<\/p>\n

The most straightforward explanation for why we square the te\u0125um<\/em> is that it is extremely difficult to measure and mark off a circular boundary. One would need to measure 2,000 amot<\/em> from almost each and every point of the city\u2019s perimeter. In contrast, when marking off a square boundary, only four measurements need to be made \u2013 one in each of the four cardinal directions. After that, a straight line can be drawn in each direction, and the result is the te\u0125um<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, this method reflects a spiritual reality. A circle represents the infinite, which has no beginning and no end. A person\u2019s life is circular and cyclical. His actions, wishes, and thoughts repeat themselves cyclically. Even his limbs are circular and cylindrical. This makes it difficult for a person to realize his aspirations. The way to solve the problem is to take one\u2019s \u201ccircular\u201d infinite ideas, and give them a \u201csquare\u201d finite framework that will help him put them into practice. This is the meaning of te\u0125um Shabbat<\/em>, which is meant to provide a framework for absorbing the holiness and blessing of Shabbat. This is why each city belonging to the Levites, who are charged with revealing faith in this world, is surrounded by a square boundary.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
[4]<\/a>. When measuring 2,000 amot<\/em> from a city or town, according to Rambam and SA 398:5, we measure from the outermost homes or from the eruv<\/em> (following the opinion of the Sages in Eruvin<\/em> 57a). According to Rosh and Rema, one first adds the equivalent area of a karpif<\/em> (an enclosed courtyard in front of the houses) to the city, which amounts to 70 2\/3 amot<\/em> (approximately 32 meters). This area is now considered part of the city. From there we measure 2,000 amot<\/em> (following the opinion of R. Meir in the above gemara<\/em>; see MB 398:21 and BHL s.v. \u201cve-khen\u201d). As explained in section 8 below, when there are two settled areas adjacent to each other, SA agrees to the karpif<\/em> rule.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sages established that one\u2019s mekom shevita on Shabbat is square, and thus his te\u0125um is square as well. This means that if he is spending Shabbat in a field, and his mekom shevita is thus four amot, the measurement is not made by drawing a circle around him with a diameter of four amot. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-01-30"],"yoast_head":"\n02. 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