Red Heifer Chapter 7

הַמְּלָאכָה פּוֹסֶלֶת בְּמַיִם קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְקַדְּשׁוּ וְאֵינָהּ פּוֹסֶלֶת בְּהַזָּאָה. וּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ הֵן דִּבְרֵי קַבָּלָה. כֵּיצַד. הַמְמַלֵּא מַיִם לְקִדּוּשׁ וְנִתְעַסֵּק בִּמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת בִּשְׁעַת הַמִּלּוּי אוֹ בִּשְׁעַת הוֹלָכַת הַמַּיִם שֶׁמְּמַלֵּא אוֹ בְּעֵת שֶׁמְּעָרֶה אוֹתָן מִכְּלִי אֶל כְּלִי פְּסָלָן. לְעוֹלָם הַמְּלָאכָה פּוֹסֶלֶת בְּמַיִם עַד שֶׁיָּטִיל לָהֶן אֶת הָאֵפֶר. הֵטִיל אֶת הָאֵפֶר וְנִתְקַדְּשׁוּ וְנַעֲשׂוּ מֵי נִדָּה אֵין הַמְּלָאכָה פּוֹסֶלֶת בָּהֶן אֶלָּא הַמּוֹלִיךְ הַמַּיִם הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין אוֹ מְעָרֶה אוֹתָן מִכְּלִי לִכְלִי וְהוּא עוֹסֵק בִּמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם. וְכֵן מַזֶּה מֵהֶן בְּיָדוֹ אַחַת וְהוּא עוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בְּיָדוֹ הָאַחֶרֶת:

The performance of work disqualifies water that was drawn for the ashes of the red heifer before it is sanctified, but it does not disqualify the sprinkling of the ashes. These rulings are stated in the Oral Tradition. What is implied? If one draws water for sanctification with the ashes and was involved with another activity while drawing it, carrying the water that was drawn, or pouring it from one container to another, he disqualifies it. The performance of an activity disqualifies the water until the ashes are placed on it. If one placed the ashes on the water and sanctified it, causing it to be fit for sprinkling, the performance of another activity does not disqualify it. If one carries sanctified water from place to place or pours it from one container to another while being occupied with another activity, it is of no consequence. This also applies if one sprinkles it with one hand and performs an activity with the other hand.

הַשָּׂכָר פָּסוּל בְּקִדּוּשׁ וּבַהַזָּיָה וְאֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵל בְּמִלּוּי. כֵּיצַד. הַנּוֹטֵל שְׂכָרוֹ לְקַדֵּשׁ מֵי חַטָּאת אוֹ לְהַזּוֹת מֵהֶן הֲרֵי אוֹתָן הַמַּיִם כְּמֵי הַמְּעָרָה וְהָאֵפֶר כְּאֵפֶר מַקְלֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ כְּלוּם. אֲבָל נוֹטֵל הוּא שָׂכָר לְמַלְּאוֹת הַמַּיִם אוֹ לְהוֹלִיכָן. וּמְקַדְּשִׁין אוֹתָן בְּחִנָּם וּמַזֶּה מֵהֶן הַמַּזֶּה בְּחִנָּם. הָיָה הַמְקַדֵּשׁ אוֹ הַמַּזֶּה זָקֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַלֵּךְ עַל רַגְלָיו וּבָא הַטָּמֵא וּבִקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ לַהֲלֹךְ עִמּוֹ בְּמָקוֹם רָחוֹק לְקַדֵּשׁ אוֹ לְהַזּוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה מַרְכִּיבוֹ עַל הַחֲמוֹר וְנוֹתֵן שְׂכָרוֹ כְּפוֹעֵל בָּטֵל שֶׁבָּטֵל מֵאוֹתָהּ מְלָאכָה שֶׁבִּטְּלוֹ מִמֶּנָּה. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה כֹּהֵן וְהָיָה טָמֵא בְּטֻמְאָה הַמּוֹנַעְתּוֹ מִלֶּאֱכל תְּרוּמָתוֹ בְּעֵת שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ עִמּוֹ לְהַזּוֹת אוֹ לְקַדֵּשׁ הֲרֵי זֶה מַאֲכִילוֹ וּמַשְׁקֵהוּ וְסָכוֹ. וְאִם בִּטְּלוֹ מִמְּלָאכָה נוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ כְּפוֹעֵל בָּטֵל שֶׁל אוֹתָהּ מְלָאכָה. שֶׁכָּל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים אֵינָן שָׂכָר שֶׁנִּשְׂתַּכֵּר בְּקִדּוּשׁ אוֹ בְּהַזָּאָה שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא הִרְוִיחַ כְּלוּם וְלֹא נָטַל אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד מַה שֶּׁהִפְסִיד:

The payment of a wage disqualifies the sanctification of the water and the sprinkling of it, but it does not disqualify the drawing of it. What is implied? When one takes a wage for sanctifying the water for the ashes of the red heifer or sprinkling it, the water is considered as the water of a cavern and the ashes, as ashes from a range, which are of no halachic significance. One may, however, take a wage for drawing the water or transporting it. One should sanctify it without charge and the one who sprinkles it, should sprinkle it without charge. If the one sanctifying or sprinkling the water was old and unable to walk and an impure person came and asked him to go with him to a distant place to sanctify such water or sprinkle it, he may have him ride on a donkey and pay him a wage as befits an unemployed worker who had previously worked at that profession. Similarly, if he was a priest and because he would accompany him, he would contract an impurity that prevents him from partaking of terumah, he should feed him, give him beverages, and oil to anoint himself during the time he travels with him to sanctify or sprinkle the water. If he causes him to cease working, he should pay him a wage as befits an unemployed worker who had previously worked at that profession. The rationale is that all of these considerations are not wages he is being paid for sanctifying or sprinkling the water, for he did not profit at all. He only took compensation for what he lost.

הַמְמַלֵּא בְּאַחַת יָדוֹ וְעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בְּיָדוֹ הָאַחֶרֶת אוֹ הַמְמַלֵּא לוֹ וּלְאַחֵר אוֹ שֶׁמִּלֵּא לִשְׁנַיִם כְּאַחַת שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּסוּלִין שֶׁהַמִּלּוּי מְלָאכָה וְנִמְצָא כָּל מִלּוּי מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ עָשָׂה עִמּוֹ מְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת. וּכְבָר הוֹדַעְנוּ שֶׁהַמְּלָאכָה פּוֹסֶלֶת בְּמִלּוּי בֵּין שֶׁמִּלֵּא לְעַצְמוֹ בֵּין שֶׁמִּלֵּא לַאֲחֵרִים:

When a person draws water with one hand and performs work with his other hand, the water is unacceptable. Similarly, if he drew water for himself and for another person or he drew water for two people at the same time, both are unacceptable. For drawing water is considered as work. Thus during each of the drawings of water, it is as if he performed another task at that time. And we have already stated that the performance of an activity disqualifies the drawing of water, whether one draws for himself or for others.

הַמְמַלֵּא לַאֲחֵרִים אֲפִלּוּ מִלֵּא אֶלֶף חָבִיּוֹת זוֹ אַחַר זוֹ לְאֶלֶף בְּנֵי אָדָם כֻּלָּן כְּשֵׁרִים וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן נוֹטֵל הַמַּיִם שֶׁלּוֹ וּמְקַדְּשָׁן. מִלֵּא לְעַצְמוֹ חָבִית אַחַר חָבִית אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לְקַבֵּץ כָּל הֶחָבִיּוֹת לִכְלִי אֶחָד וּלְהַשְׁלִיךְ עֲלֵיהֶן אֶת הָאֵפֶר וּמְקַדְּשָׁן קִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד כֻּלָּן כְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁהַכּל מִלּוּי אֶחָד הוּא. אֲבָל אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לְקַדֵּשׁ כָּל חָבִית וְחָבִית בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ כֻּלָּן פְּסוּלִין חוּץ מִן הָאַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁהָרִאשׁוֹנָה נִפְסֶלֶת בַּמְּלָאכָה שֶׁעָשָׂה קֹדֶם שֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ וְהוּא מִלּוּי הַשְּׁנִיָּה. וְכֵן הַשְּׁנִיָּה נִפְסֶלֶת בְּמִלּוּי הַשְּׁלִישִׁית וְאֵין כְּשֵׁרָה אֶלָּא אַחֲרוֹנָה:

When a person draws water for the ashes of the red heifer for others - even if he filled one thousand barrels one after the other for one thousand different people - they are all acceptable. Each person should take his water and sanctify it. The following rules apply if one drew water for himself, one barrel after another. If he intended to collect all the water in one container, cast the ashes upon it, and sanctify all at once, it is all acceptable, for it is all considered as one drawing of water. If, however, he intended to sanctify every barrel individually, they are all unacceptable except for the last one. The rationale is that the first becomes disqualified due to the work - i.e., the drawing of the second barrel - that was performed before it was sanctified. Similarly, the second is disqualified by the drawing of the third. Thus it is only the last which is acceptable.

חֲמִשָּׁה שֶׁמִּלְּאוּ חָמֵשׁ חָבִיּוֹת לְקַדְּשָׁם חֲמִשָּׁה קִדּוּשִׁים כְּגוֹן שֶׁיַּשְׁלִיךְ הָאֵפֶר עַל כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְנִמְלְכוּ לְעָרְבָן וּלְקַדְּשָׁן כֻּלָּן קִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד אוֹ שֶׁמִּלְּאוּם לְקַדְּשָׁן קִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד וְנִמְלְכוּ לְקַדְּשָׁן חֲמִשָּׁה קִדּוּשִׁין כֻּלָּן כְּשֵׁרִין שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִתְעַסֵּק הַמְמַלֵּא בְּמִלּוּי אַחֵר. אֲבָל הַיָּחִיד שֶׁמִּלֵּא חָמֵשׁ חָבִיּוֹת לְקַדְּשָׁם חֲמִשָּׁה קִדּוּשִׁין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָזַר וְנִמְלַךְ לְקַדְּשָׁן קִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד אֵין כָּשֵׁר אֶלָּא אַחֲרוֹן. מִלְּאָן לְקַדְּשָׁן קִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד וְנִמְלַךְ לְקַדְּשָׁן חֲמִשָּׁה קִדּוּשִׁין אֵין כָּשֵׁר אֶלָּא זֶה שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ בַּתְּחִלָּה. וְכֵן אִם אָמַר לְאַחֵר קַדֵּשׁ לְךָ אֶת אֵלּוּ אֵין כָּשֵׁר אֶלָּא זוֹ שֶׁנִּתְקַדְּשָׁה מֵהֶן בַּתְּחִלָּה. אֲבָל אִם אָמַר לוֹ קַדֵּשׁ לִי אֶת אֵלּוּ הֲרֵי כֻּלָּן כְּשֵׁרִין שֶׁהֲרֵי לְקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד מִלְּאָן וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּמְלַךְ עָלֶיהָ לְקַדְּשָׁהּ חֲמִשָּׁה קִדּוּשִׁין הֲרֵי לֹא קִדֵּשׁ הוּא אֶלָּא אַחֵר קִדֵּשׁ לוֹ:

When five people fill five barrels with spring water to sanctify them for five different sanctifications, e.g., they intended to cast the ashes on each one individually and then changed their minds and decided to mix them all together and sanctify them at once; alternatively, they filled the barrels to sanctify them all in one container and then changed their minds and decided to sanctify each of the five independently, they are all acceptable, because the person drawing the water did not become involved in drawing other water afterwards. When, by contrast, an individual fills five barrels to sanctify each of the five independently, only the last one is acceptable, If he filled the barrels to sanctify all the water in one container and he changed his mind and sanctified each of the five individually, only the one that he sanctified first is acceptable. Similarly, if a person told a colleague: "Sanctify these for yourself," only the bucket that is sanctified first is acceptable. If, however, he told him: "Sanctify these for me," they are all acceptable, because they were all filled to be sanctified in one container. Even though he changed his mind and decided to sanctify each of the five individually, he himself did not perform the sanctification, someone else did.

הָרוֹצֶה לְמַלְּאוֹת מַיִם לְקַדְּשָׁן וּמַיִם אֲחֵרִים לִצְרָכָיו מְמַלֵּא אֶת שֶׁל צְרָכָיו תְּחִלָּה וְקוֹשְׁרָן וְטוֹעֲנָן לַאֲחוֹרָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְמַלֵּא אֶת שֶׁל חַטָּאת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַסֵּק בִּמְלָאכָה אַחַר הַמִּלּוּי וְנוֹתְנָם לְפָנָיו וְהוֹלֵךְ:

When a person seeks to draw water to sanctify it and other water for his own purposes, he should draw the water he desires for his own purposes first and tie the barrels and load them behind him. Afterwards, he fills the buckets he intended to use for the water for the ashes of the red heifer so that he will not be involved in any work after drawing it. He places it in front of him, and proceeds.

שְׁנַיִם שֶׁהָיוּ מְמַלְּאִין כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְעַצְמוֹ וְהִגְבִּיהוּ זֶה עַל זֶה וְנָטַל זֶה לָזֶה קוֹץ מִיָּדוֹ אוֹ מִגּוּפוֹ בִּשְׁעַת מִלּוּאוֹ אִם מִלְּאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם לְקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִים וְאִם מִלְּאוּ לְקַדֵּשׁ כָּל אֶחָד לְעַצְמוֹ זֶה שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ אוֹ הוֹצִיא אֶת הַקּוֹץ פָּסַל מֵימָיו:

The following laws apply when two people were drawing water individually and one helped the other lift his water to load it on his back or one removed a thorn from the other's hand or body when he was drawing the water. If they both drew the water to sanctify it in a single container, all of the water is acceptable. If each of them drew the water to sanctify it independently, the one who helped his colleague lift his water or removed the thorn, disqualified his own water.

הַשּׁוֹאֵל חֶבֶל לְמַלְּאוֹת בּוֹ וּמִלֵּא וְנָטַל הַחֶבֶל בְּיָדָיו וּמֵימָיו עַל כְּתֵפוֹ וּפָגַע בַּבְּעָלִים בְּדַרְכּוֹ וְנָתַן לָהֶן אֶת הַחֶבֶל כְּשֶׁהוּא מְהַלֵּךְ כְּשֵׁרִין. וְאִם יָצָא מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ כְּדֵי לְהוֹלִיךְ הַחֶבֶל לַבְּעָלִים פָּסַל אֶת הַמַּיִם:

When a person borrows a rope to draw water for the ashes of the red heifer, draws the water, takes the rope in his hand, and the water on his shoulders, and meets the owner of the rope while he is on his way, the water remains acceptable even though he give him the rope while he is walking. If he went out of his way to bring the rope to its owner, he disqualified the water.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה מְמַלֵּא וּמַשְׁלִיךְ הַחֶבֶל שֶׁמִּלֵּא בּוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאַחַר שֶׁמִּלֵּא חָזַר וְקִבֵּץ עַל יָדוֹ פְּסָלָן. וְאִם הָיָה דּוֹלֶה וּמְקַבֵּץ לְתוֹךְ יָדוֹ הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִים:

If someone who was drawing water for the ashes of the red heifer cast the rope he used to draw the water on the ground and after he drew the water gathered the rope in his hand, he disqualified the water. If, while drawing the water, he gathered the rope, winding it around his hand, the water is acceptable.

הַמְמַלֵּא וְנוֹתֵן לֶחָבִית עַד שֶׁיְּמַלְּאֶנָּה מַיִם וְהִצְנִיעַ אֶת הֶחָבִית שֶׁלֹּא תִּשָּׁבֵר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיָה מְמַלֵּא אוֹ שֶׁכְּפָאָהּ עַל פִּיהָ עַל מְנָת לְנַגְּבָהּ לְמַלְּאוֹת בָּהּ כָּשֵׁר שֶׁזֶּה מִצֹּרֶךְ הַמִּלּוּי הוּא. אֲבָל אִם הִצְנִיעָהּ אוֹ נִגְּבָהּ כְּדֵי לְהוֹלִיךְ בָּהּ אֶת הַקִּדּוּשׁ פָּסַל שֶׁהֲרֵי עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ לְצֹרֶךְ הַמִּלּוּי. וְכֵן הַמְמַלֵּא וְנוֹתֵן לְשֹׁקֶת וּפִנָּה חַרְסִית מִן הַשֹּׁקֶת בִּשְׁעַת מִלּוּי אִם בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁתַּחְזִיק מַיִם רַבִּים כְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁהֲרֵי זוֹ צֹרֶךְ הַמִּלּוּי וְאִם בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הַחֲרָסִין מְעַכְּבִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא זוֹלֵף אֶת הַמַּיִם שֶׁמִּלֵּא בַּשֹּׁקֶת הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ פְּסוּלִין:

When one was drawing water with a small jug and pouring the water into a larger barrel and he put aside the larger barrel so that it would not break while he was drawing the water or he turned it upside down to dry it so he could fill it, the water is acceptable, for these activities were performed for the sake of drawing the water. If, however, before sanctifying the water he had drawn, he set the barrel aside or dried it to transport the water he would sanctify, he disqualified the water, because he performed a task that was not for the purpose of drawing the water. Similar laws apply when one who was drawing water and pouring the water into a trough within a stone removed shards from the trough while filling it. If his intent was so that the trough would hold more water, the water is acceptable, for this is considered as for the purpose of drawing water. If his intent is that the shards should prevent the water from flowing out when he seeks to draw off the water with which he filled the trough, the water is unacceptable.

הַמְמַלֵּא דְּלִי לִשְׁתּוֹת וְנִמְלַךְ וְחִשֵּׁב עָלָיו לְמֵי חַטָּאת אִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ הַדְּלִי לַמַּיִם חִשֵּׁב מְעָרֶה וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לְנַגֵּב וְאִם מִשֶּׁהִגִּיעַ הַדְּלִי לַמַּיִם חִשֵּׁב מְעָרֶה וְצָרִיךְ לְנַגֵּב וְאַחַר כָּךְ יְמַלֵּא בּוֹ לְחַטָּאת. שִׁלְשֵׁל הַדְּלִי וְנִפְסַק הַחֶבֶל מִיָּדוֹ אִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ הַדְּלִי לַמַּיִם חִשֵּׁב עָלָיו מְעָרֶה וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לְנַגֵּב. נִמְלַךְ וְהוּא עוֹדֵהוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם וְחִשֵּׁב עָלָיו לְמֵי חַטָּאת מְעָרֶה וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְנַגֵּב. מַיִם שֶׁמִּלְּאָן לְמֵי חַטָּאת וְאַחַר שֶׁנִּתְמַלֵּא חִשֵּׁב עֲלֵיהֶן לִשְׁתּוֹתָן כְּשֶׁיַּטֶּה אֶת הַכְּלִי לִשְׁתּוֹת פָּסַל הַמַּיִם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁתָה מֵהֶן כְּלוּם:

The following rules apply when a person thinks of filling a bucket of water to drink and changes his mind and decides to use the water for the ashes of the red heifer]. If he changed his mind before the bucket reached the water, he must pour the water out, but he does not have to dry out the bucket. If he changed his mind after the bucket reached the water, he must pour it out and he must dry it. Only afterwards, may he fill it with water for the ashes of the red heifer. If he lowered the bucket towards the water with the intent of using the water to drink and the rope broke away from his hand, if he changed his mind before the bucket reached the water, he must pour the water out, but he does not have to dry out the bucket. If he changed his mind while the bucket was still in the water and intended to use the water for the ashes of the red heifer, he must pour it out, but does not have to dry the bucket. When a person drew water to use for the ashes of the red heifer and, after drawing it, thought to drink it, the water is disqualified from the time he inclined the container to drink from it, even though he did not drink from it at all.