some of the leaves of the turnip or radish are showing, he need not be concerned due to diverse kinds, i.e., that he violated the prohibition of planting food crops in a vineyard, as he did not intend to commit an act of planting; nor due to tithes, i.e., there is no concern lest the turnip or radish grew further, in which case he would be obligated to tithe it; nor due to the prohibition against working the land during the Sabbatical Year, and similarly, he need not be concerned that they grew further and that the additional growth is prohibited as produce that grew during the Sabbatical Year. And therefore, the turnip or radish may be taken from the ground on Shabbat. Even if most of the turnip or radish is underground, it is permitted to pull it from the ground on Shabbat. If so, in the case described in the mishna here, even if the basin buried in the ground has a rim, it should nevertheless be permitted to move it.

The Gemara answers: No, Rabbi Yeḥiel’s ruling is necessary in a case where the basin was so firmly attached to the ground that one would need a hoe [mara] or a spade to remove it, as this action would certainly involve digging, which is prohibited on Shabbat. Therefore, since the basin cannot be removed on Shabbat, it is considered fixed in its place and effectively diminishes the height of the wall.

It was taught in a baraita: An Egyptian ladder, which is small, does not diminish the height of a wall, whereas a larger, Tyrian ladder effectively diminishes its height. The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of an Egyptian ladder; i.e., what characterizes it? The scholars of the school of Rabbi Yannai said: Any ladder that does not have four rungs.

Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: What is the reason that an Egyptian ladder does not diminish the height of a wall? He said to him: Did you not hear that which Rav Aḥa bar Adda said that Rav Hamnuna said that Rav said: It is because it is an object that may be moved on Shabbat, i.e., it is not set-aside [muktze], and the principle is that any object that may be moved on Shabbat does not diminish the height of a wall, as it cannot be considered a permanent part of the wall.

The Gemara objects: If so, this should apply even to a Tyrian ladder as well, as a large ladder is also not set-aside and may be handled on Shabbat. The Gemara answers: There, in the case of a Tyrian ladder, its heaviness establishes it as part of the wall. Even though one is permitted to move it, since due to its weight it is not moved easily, it effectively diminishes the height of the wall.

Abaye said: If a wall between two courtyards is ten handbreadths high, and one placed a ladder four handbreadths wide against the wall on one side, in one courtyard, and another ladder four handbreadths wide on the other side, in the other courtyard, and there are less than three handbreadths between them, i.e., the two ladders on the opposite sides of the wall are within three handbreadths of each other, even if they are not directly opposite each other, this diminishes the height of the wall. The pair of ladders is regarded as a valid passageway between the two courtyards. However, if the gap between the two ladders is three handbreadths or more, this does not diminish the height of the wall.

And we only said this qualification if the wall was less than four handbreadths wide. However, if the wall was at least four handbreadths wide, then even if one ladder was greatly distanced from the other, this likewise renders it permitted. Since it is possible to walk along the thickness of the wall, the pair of ladders constitutes a passageway between the two courtyards.

Rav Beivai bar Abaye said: If one built a wooden platform next to the wall above another platform, then if the lower platform is four handbreadths wide, it diminishes the height of the wall to below ten handbreadths. Alternatively, if the lower one is not four handbreadths wide, but the upper one is four handbreadths wide, and there is a gap of less than three handbreadths between them, it diminishes the height of the wall, as the two platforms are considered as one.

And Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: In the case of a ladder whose rungs are disconnected, if the bottom rung is four handbreadths wide, it diminishes the height of the wall. Alternatively, if the bottom rung is not four handbreadths wide, but the upper rung is four handbreadths wide, and there is a gap of less than three handbreadths between them, it diminishes the height of the wall, because the principle of lavud joins the two rungs together.

And Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: