?The Gemara says that Abaye could not make a jar of vinegar into the Shituf for his Mavoy since "Ein ??Mishtatfim b'Otzar." Rashi explains that although there was enough vinegar for Abaye's use plus the Shituf, ??nevertheless, since we do not say Bereirah, when Abaye would use the vinegar it might be that he used up the ??portion reserved for Shituf.?
?If Abaye really wanted to make a Shituf, why didn't he just put some vinegar into a separate jar, and keep the ??part that he wanted for himself in another jar. Wouldn't that avoid the problem of Bereirah and of Ein ??Mishtatfim b'Otzar??
Q. Reese, Atlanta, Georgia
I must admit, your Kashya had me stumped, until I saw the Mishnah at the beginning of 'Keitzad Mishtatfin', which, with reference to Shituf Mavu'os, speaks about placing the barrel of wine (in one of the Chatzeiros). Tosfos there explains that it was customary to use specifically a barrel of wine or fruit for Shituf Mavu'os.
The Bi'ur ha'Rishonim cites the Seifer ha'Itim, who in turn, cites the Ga'on (i.e. Rav Hai Ga'on), that it is in fact obligatory to use a barrel since it provides the best protection against creatures and the elements).
In the case to which you are referring too, the barrel of vinegar was for Shituf Mavu'os (since Eiruv Chatzeiros requires specifically bread). Consequently, Abaye would have had to use a barrel. And bearing in mind his poverty (as is clear from the Sugya), he probably did not have any spare barrels and did not want to pour some of the vinegar into other vessels, either because he did not have time for that (as he declared earlier) or because vinegar keeps better in the barrel in bulk.
be'Virchas Kol Tov
Eliezer Chrysler.