Vessels Chapter 21

הַחוּטִין הַיּוֹצְאִין מִן הָאָרִיג וְשֶׁבִּתְחִלַּת הַיְרִיעָה וְשֶׁבְּסוֹפָהּ וְהֵן הַנִּקְרָאִין נִימִין כַּמָּה שִׁעוּרָן. שֶׁל סָדִין וְשֶׁל סוּדָרִין וְשֶׁל צָעִיף וְשֶׁל פִּלְיוֹן שֶׁל רֹאשׁ שֵׁשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת. וְשֶׁל חָלוּק שֶׁהוּא קָרוּעַ מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ וְעַד סוֹפוֹ וְאַחַר שֶׁלּוֹבְשִׁין אוֹתוֹ מְקַבְּצִין אוֹתוֹ בְּלוּלָאוֹת שִׁעוּר חוּטָיו עֶשֶׂר אֶצְבָּעוֹת. הַסָּגִיס וְהָרְדִיד וְהַטַּלִּית שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת. וְכָל הַיֶּתֶר עַל הַשִּׁעוּרִין הָאֵלּוּ הַנּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ טָהוֹר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבֶּגֶד טָמֵא בְּמִדְרָס אוֹ בִּשְׁאָר טֻמְאוֹת. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁאִם נָגְעָה טֻמְאָה בַּיֶּתֶר שֶׁהַבֶּגֶד טָהוֹר:

The strands that emerge from the weave and those at the beginning of the sheet of fabric and at its end are called nimin. Until what measure are they considered as part of the fabric? For a sheet, for a headcovering, a scarf, or a veil, six fingerbreadths. For a cloak that is open across its entire length and which is then closed with loops, the measure of its strands is ten fingerbreadths; a thick blanket, a mantle, a cloak, three fingerbreadths. Even if the garment is impure due to the impurity of a zav or because of another form of impurity, if one touches a strand beyond these measures, he remains pure. Needless to say that if impurity touched the additional portion, the garment does not contract impurity.

נִימֵי הַכִּפָּה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וְהַמַּסְוֶה שֶׁמַּנִּיחִין הָעַרְבִיִּים עַל פְּנֵיהֶם. וְהַקִּלְקָלִין הַשְּׁזוּרִין מִן הַשֵּׂעָר. וְהַפֻּנְדָּא שֶׁלּוֹבֵשׁ הָאָדָם עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ. וְהַשִּׂמְלָה וְהַפַּרְגּוֹד שֶׁמַּנִּיחִין עַל הַפְּתָחִים כְּמוֹ פָּרֹכֶת. נִימֵיהֶן כָּל שֶׁהֵן:

There is no minimum measure for the strands that emerge from a headcovering, a mask worn by the Arabs over their faces, a belt made of goats' hair, undergarments worn by a person close to his flesh, a handkerchief, and a curtain placed over entrances like a drape.

מִשְׁקלֶת שֶׁנִּטְמֵאת הֲרֵי שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר טֶפַח מִן הַחוּט שֶׁלָּהּ חִבּוּר לָהּ. וְכָל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּחוּץ לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר טֶפַח טָהוֹר. וּמִשְׁקלֶת שֶׁל חָרָשִׁים שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר טֶפַח. וְשֶׁל בַּנָּאִין חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה. וְהַיֶּתֶר עַל מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה בְּקִיּוּמוֹ טָהוֹר:

When a plumb line contracts impurity, the twelve handbreadths of its strand are considered as joined to it. Anyone who touches a portion beyond twelve handbreadths is pure. A plumb line of carpenters is eighteen handbreadths; one used by the builders of large structures is 50 cubits. When one touches any portion beyond these measures, even if the owner desires that it be preserved, he is pure.

מִשְׁקוֹלוֹת שֶׁל סַיָּדִין וְשֶׁל צַיָּרִין אֲפִלּוּ אֲרֻכִּין כָּל שֶׁהֵן טְמֵאִין:

Plumb lines used by roofers and artists are impure regardless of their length.

חוּט מֹאזְנַיִם שֶׁל זֶהָבִים. שֶׁל פֶּלֶס. וְשֶׁל שׁוֹקְלֵי אַרְגָּמָן טוֹב שֶׁאוֹחֵז הַשּׁוֹקֵל בּוֹ וְתוֹלֶה הַמֹּאזְנַיִם מִיָּדוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת. קָנֶה שֶׁלָּהּ וְחוּטֶיהָ כָּל שֶׁהֵן. חוּטֵי מֹאזְנַיִם שֶׁל מוֹכְרֵי עֲשָׁשִׁיּוֹת שֶׁל מַתָּכוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. קָנֶה שֶׁלָּהּ וְחוּטֶיהָ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר טְפָחִים. חוּט מֹאזְנַיִם שֶׁל חֶנְוָנִים וְשֶׁל בַּעֲלֵי בָּתִּים טֶפַח. קְנֵה הַמֹּאזְנַיִם וְחוּטֶיהָ שִׁשָּׁה טְפָחִים. חוּט מֹאזְנַיִם שֶׁל צַמָּרִים וְשֶׁל שׁוֹקְלֵי זְכוּכִית טְפָחַיִם. קְנֵה מֹאזְנַיִם וְחוּטֶיהָ תִּשְׁעָה טְפָחִים. וְהַיֶּתֶר עַל הַשִּׁעוּרִין אֵלּוּ אֵינָן חִבּוּר:

The length of the chain of a scale of goldsmiths, an ordinary balance scale, or a scale used by those who weigh precious purple cloth which is held by the seller, suspending the scale from his hand, is three fingerbreadths. Its horizontal beam and its strings have no specific length. The length of the chain of the scale of sellers of scrap metal and the like is three handbreadths. Its beam and its strings are twelve handbreadths. The length of the chain of a scale used by merchants and homeowners is a handbreadth. Its beam and its strings are six handbreadths. The length of the chain of a scale used by wool merchants and those who weigh glass is two handbreadths. Its beam and its strings are nine handbreadths. Anything more than these measures is not considered as joined to the scale.

הַחֶבֶל שֶׁמְּסָרְגִין הַמִּטּוֹת מֵאֵימָתַי הוּא חִבּוּר לַטֻּמְאָה מִשֶּׁיְּסָרֵג בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּתִּים. וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּחֶבֶל מִן הַקֶּשֶׁר וּלְפָנִים טָמֵא מִן הַקֶּשֶׁר וְלַחוּץ עַד שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת טָמֵא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן צְרָכָיו שֶׁל קֶשֶׁר הֲרֵי הֵן מִכְּלַל הַמִּטָּה. וְחוּץ לְשָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת טָהוֹר שֶׁאֵינוֹ לְצֹרֶךְ הַכְּלִי שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ פְּסָקוֹ אֵין הַקֶּשֶׁר נִתָּר:

When is the cord used to tie the supports for a bed considered as joined to the bed? When one ties three squares. One who touches the cord from the point where it is tied and further inward is impure. For three fingerbreadths, the length of the cord on the outside of the knot is impure, because that measure is necessary for the knot and is considered as part of the bed. Anything outside of three fingerbreadths is pure, because it is not necessary for the k'li. Even if it is cut off, the knot will not become undone.

חֶבֶל הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַמִּטָּה שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה עַד סוֹף אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים הַנּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ טָהוֹר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִצָּרְכֵי הַמִּטָּה לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לִכְלוּם. מִתְּחִלַּת חֲמִשָּׁה וְעַד סוֹף עֲשָׂרָה טָמֵא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁתּוֹלִין בּוֹ אֶת הַמִּטּוֹת. מֵעֲשָׂרָה וְלַחוּץ טָהוֹר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא יֶתֶר עַל צֹרֶךְ הַמִּטָּה:

When a person touches a cord extending out from a bed that is impure, until the end of four handbreadths, he is pure. The rationale is that this measure is not considered as necessary for the bed, since it is not fit for any purpose. From the beginning of the fifth handbreadth until the end of the tenth handbreadth, he is impure, because the cord is used to tie the beds when they are hung from the walls. From ten handbreadths and more, he is pure, because it is more than what is necessary for the bed.

אַבְנֵט שֶׁל אָרִיג שֶׁמַּקִּיפִין אוֹתוֹ עַל הַמִּטָּה כְּדֵי לְקַבֵּץ אֵיבָרֶיהָ וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא מִזְרָן שֶׁמִּקְצָתוֹ יוֹצְאָה מִן הַמִּטָּה עַד עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים הֲרֵי הוּא מִצָּרְכֵי הַמִּטָּה. יֶתֶר עַל כֵּן אֵינוֹ מִצָּרְכֵי הַמִּטָּה. וּמִזְרָן שֶׁבָּלָה אִם נִשְׁאַר מִמֶּנּוּ שִׁבְעָה טְפָחִים כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ חֶבֶק לַחֲמוֹר הֲרֵי זֶה מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה:

The woven band tied around a bed to reinforce the connection between its components is called a mizran. The following rules apply with regard to the portion that extends outside the bed. For ten handbreadths, it is considered as necessary for the bed. Anything more than that is not necessary for the bed. When a mizran has worn out, if seven handbreadths of it - enough to make a girdle for a donkey - remain, it is susceptible to impurity.

מִטָּה שֶׁהָיְתָה טְמֵאָה מִדְרָס וּמִזְרָן יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנָּה עַד עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים הֲרֵי הוּא אַב טֻמְאָה כַּמִּטָּה עַצְמָהּ וְהַכּל מִדְרָס. מֵעֲשָׂרָה וְלַחוּץ הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמַגַּע מִדְרָס. דָּרַס הַזָּב עַל הַמִּזְרָן הַיּוֹצֵא מֵעֲשָׂרָה וּלְפָנִים הֲרֵי הַמִּטָּה כֻּלָּהּ מִדְרָס. מֵעֲשָׂרָה וְלַחוּץ טְהוֹרָה. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים לְמִדְרָס. אֲבָל לִשְׁאָר טֻמְאוֹת אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה אַמָּה כֻּלּוֹ חִבּוּר. כֵּיצַד. מִזְרָן שֶׁהוּא כָּרוּךְ עַל הַמִּטָּה וְהִכְנִיס קְצָתוֹ לְאֹהֶל הַמֵּת אוֹ שֶׁנָּגַע שֶׁרֶץ בִּקְצָתוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנָּפְלוּ מַשְׁקִין טְמֵאִין עַל מִקְצָתוֹ נִטְמֵאת הַמִּטָּה וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה הַקָּצֶה שֶׁנִּטְמָא יוֹצֵא מִן הַמִּטָּה מֵאָה אַמָּה:

When a bed was impure because it served as a support for a zav and a portion of its mizran protrudes from it, for ten handbreadths, it is a primary source of impurity like the bed itself. Everything is considered as a support to which a zav imparted impurity. Beyond ten handbreadths, the extra portion of the mizran is impure like an object that was touched by a support to which a zav imparted impurity. When a zav steps on the extension of a mizran, if he steps on the first ten handbreadths, the entire bed is considered as a support to which a zav imparted impurity. If he steps on the portion, outside of ten handbreadths, the bed is pure. With regard to what does the above apply? With regard to impurity stemming from serving as support for a zav. With regard to other types of impurity, even 100 cubits is considered as attached to the bed. What is implied? When a mizran is wound around a bed and one brought its end into a structure in which a human corpse was found, the carcass of a crawling animal touched its end, or impure liquids fell on its end, the bed contracts impurity even if the end of the mizran that contracted impurity is 100 cubits away from the bed itself.

מִטָּה הַטְּמֵאָה מִדְרָס וְכָרַךְ לָהּ מִזְרָן הַכּל טָמֵא מִדְרָס. הִפְרִישׁוֹ הַמִּטָּה מִדְרָס כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה וְהַמִּזְרָן מַגַּע מִדְרָס. הָיְתָה טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה וְכָרַךְ לָהּ מִזְרָן כֻּלָּהּ טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה. הִפְרִישׁוֹ הִיא טְמֵאָה כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה וְהַמִּזְרָן טָמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב. הָיְתָה טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב וְכָרַךְ לָהּ מִזְרָן הַכּל טָמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב. הִפְרִישׁוֹ הִיא טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב וְהַמִּזְרָן טָהוֹר:

When a bed was impure because it was used as a support for a zav and one wound a mizran around it, everything contracts that impurity. If one separated them afterwards, the bed retains its original status, but the mizran is considered merely as an object that touched a support for a zav. If the bed had contracted impurity that lasts seven days and one wound a mizran around it, everything contracts that impurity. If one separated them afterwards, the bed retains its original status, but the mizran is impure merely until nightfall. If the bed was impure until nightfall and one wound a mizran around it, everything contracts that impurity. If one separated them afterwards, the bed retains its original status, but the mizran is pure.

מִטָּה שֶׁכָּרַךְ עָלֶיהָ מִזְרָן וְנָגַע בָּהֶן הַמֵּת הַכּל טָמֵא טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה. פֵּרְשׁוּ טָמֵא טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה. נָגַע בָּהּ שֶׁרֶץ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן טְמֵאִין טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב. פֵּרְשׁוּ טְמֵאִין טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב:

If there was a mizran wound around a bed and a human corpse touched them, everything contracts impurity that lasts seven days. If they are separated, they both remain impure for that time. If the carcass of a crawling animal or the like touches them, they contract impurity that lasts until nightfall. If they are separated, they both remain impure for that time.

כֶּרַע שֶׁהָיְתָה טְמֵאָה מִדְרָס וְחִבְּרָהּ לְמִטָּה הַמִּטָּה כֻּלָּהּ מִדְרָס. פֵּרְשָׁה הַכֶּרַע טְמֵאָה מִדְרָס כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה וְהַמִּטָּה מַגַּע מִדְרָס. וְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה הַכֶּרַע טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה וְחִבְּרָהּ לְמִטָּה הַמִּטָּה כֻּלָּהּ טְמֵאָה שִׁבְעָה כְּאִלּוּ נָגַע הַמֵּת בְּכֶרַע שֶׁלָּהּ. וְאִם הִזָּה עַל הַמִּטָּה טִהֲרָה וְהַכֶּרַע בִּכְלָלָהּ. וְאִם פֵּרְשָׁה קֹדֶם הַזָּיָה הַכֶּרַע טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה וְהַמִּטָּה טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב. הָיָה הַכֶּרַע טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב וְחִבְּרָהּ לַמִּטָּה הַכּל טָמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב. פֵּרְשָׁה הִיא טְמֵאָה טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב וְהַמִּטָּה טְהוֹרָה שֶׁאֵין הַטָּמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב מִן הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא לֹא אָדָם וְלֹא כֵּלִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא וָלָד כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְכֵן הַדִּין בְּשֵׁן שֶׁל מַעְדֵּר שֶׁנִּטְמָא בְּמֵת וְאַחַר כָּךְ חִבְּרוֹ לַמַּעְדֵּר:

When a bedpost that was deemed impure as a support for a zav was connected to a bed that had been pure, the entire bed is considered as such a support. If they were separated afterwards, the bedpost retains its original status and the bed is impure because of contact with such a support. Similarly, if a bedpost that had contracted impurity that lasts seven days was connected to a bed, the entire bed is impure for seven days as if a corpse had touched its bedpost. If one sprinkled the ashes of the red heifer on the bed, it is purified and the bedpost is purified together with it. If the bedpost was separated from the bed before the ashes of the red heifer were sprinkled, the bedpost retains its original status and the bed is impure until the evening. If a bedpost that was impure until the evening was connected to a bed, everything is impure until the evening. If the bedpost was separated from the bed, the bedpost retains its original status and the bed is pure, for an article that it is impure until the evening as a derivative of impurity stemming from a corpse does not impart impurity, neither to a person, nor to a k'li, because it is merely a derivative, as we explained. Similar laws apply with regard to a tooth of a plow that contracted impurity from a corpse and was then joined to the plow.