The crossbeam that fixes an alley for carrying on Shabbat – and which was the subject of many a discussion hithertofore – has to be real: it needs to be able to support at least a half of a standard brick, which amounts to a hand-breadth; Rabbi Yehudah says that it only has to look right, not to be strong. What is the source for their disagreement? – The first teacher considers the crossbeam to be a reminder, thus, it has to be somewhat serious; Rabbi Yehudah says it is a symbolic fourth wall, and only has to look right.
By contrast, if one uses a side-post to delineate where the alley ends and the street begins – that side-post only has to be ten hand-breadths high, but it can be as thin as a thread. A side-post is more unusual than a crossbeam, and thus serves its purpose, whether as a symbolic wall or as a reminder.
Art: Vasily Perov - Three Apprentice Workmen Carrying Water
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