The Gemara mentions several times a chatzer and a rechavah and the distinction between them. Both a chatzer and a rechavah are areas adjacent to the dwelling and enclosed by partitions. A chatzer is a front courtyard used for various daily activities, such as laundry and similar uses. A rechavah is a rear courtyard used for long-term storage and is considered a place without residents, similar to a storage area or shelter today.
Where does this apply to us?
Today, some homes have a front courtyard, but in most buildings the area closest to the entrance of the home is the stairwell. The poskim disagree whether such areas have the same status as courtyards of earlier times (regarding eiruv chatzeiros, lighting Chanukah candles, and more), or whether their status is different.
According to the Chazon Ish, our courtyards do not have the halachic status of a chatzer, since we do not use them for residential functions but rather for leisure or aesthetics. As a side note, for this reason (among others) we do not permit contemporary streets with a lechi or korah, as described in the Mishnah at the beginning of the tractate. The definition of a mavoi is an alleyway with two courtyards, and in each courtyard two houses – and since we no longer have courtyards like those of the past, a mavoi also lacks the required conditions to permit it with a lechi or korah
A courtyard in the past –
A courtyard today –
