It is agreed in Beitzah that a ladder (other than the ladder between bird coups) cannot be moved on Shabbat or Yon Tov etc.. If I remember correctly when we studied Eruvim, it was there agreed that any size of ladder could be moved in courtyards etc.. as long as it does not lead to anywhere. Can you explain the contradiction. Thanks
Abe Murad, Montreal, Canada
Tosfos asks your question in Eruvin (77b) and in Beitzah (9b). Tosfos offers two answers.
(1) Big ladders are prohibited, small ones permited.
(2) On Yom Tov, when it is permited to take ladders outside, there is a possibility that it will appear that a person intends to plaster his roof, so the Chachamim forbade moving ladders. But on Shabos, when it is forbidden to take ladders outside of the house, there is no way it may appear that a person intends to plaster his roof, so there was no need for a prohibition.
For further sugestions see Rashba Beitzah 9b and Biur ha'Gra (OC 618:4).
Dov Freedman