הלכות כלים
15 halachot · Hebrew + English
כָּל כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת אֵינָן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה עַד שֶׁתִּגָּמֵר מְלַאכְתָּן כֻּלָּהּ וְלֹא יִהְיֶה הַכְּלִי מְחֻסַּר מַעֲשֶׂה כְּלָל. אֲבָל גָּלְמֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת אֵינָן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה:
All metal keilim are not susceptible to ritual impurity until the tasks involved in fashioning them are totally completed and they are no further tasks to be performed with them at all. Unfinished metal keilim, by contrast, are not susceptible to impurity at all.
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן גָּלְמֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת כָּל שֶׁעָתִיד לָשׁוּף אוֹתוֹ אוֹ לְשַׁבֵּץ אוֹ לִגְרֹר אוֹ לְכַרְכֵּב אוֹ לְהַקִּישׁ בְּקֻרְנָס. אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מְחֻסַּר אֹזֶן אוֹ אֹגֶן. הֲרֵי זֶה אֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה עַד שֶׁיְּתַקְּנֶנּוּ וִייַפֵּהוּ וְלֹא תִּשָּׁאֵר בּוֹ מְלָאכָה כְּלָל. כֵּיצַד. הַסַּיִף אֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה עַד שֶׁיְּשׁוּפֶנּוּ. וְהַסַּכִּין עַד שֶׁיַּשְׁחִיזֶנָּה. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּמַעֲשִׂים אֵלּוּ. לְפִיכָךְ הָעוֹשֶׂה כֵּלִים מִן הָעֶשֶׁת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל אוֹ מִן הַחֲרָרָה שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת וּמִן הַסּוֹבֵב שֶׁל גַּלְגַּל וּמִן הַטַּסִּין וּמִן הַצִּפּוּיִין וּמִכַּנֵּי הַכֵּלִים וּמֵאֹגְנֵי הַכֵּלִים וּמֵאָזְנֵי הַכֵּלִים וּמִן הַשְּׁחוּלָה וּמִן הַגְּרוֹדֶת הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ טְהוֹרִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּל אֵלּוּ שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ גָּלְמֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת הֵן. אֲבָל הָעוֹשֶׂה כְּלִי מִשִּׁבְרֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת וּמִן הַכֵּלִים שֶׁנִּשְׁחֲקוּ מֵרֹב הַזְּמַן וּמִן הַמַּסְמְרוֹת שֶׁיָּדוּעַ שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ מִן הַכֵּלִים הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָם גּוֹלָמִים. אֲבָל מַסְמְרוֹת שֶׁאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם נַעֲשׂוּ מִן הַכֵּלִים אוֹ מִן הָעֶשֶׁת הֲרֵי הֵן טְהוֹרִין אֲפִלּוּ הִתְקִין אוֹתָם לִכְלִי אֵינָם מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה:
The following are unfinished metal utensils: anything that will be smoothed with a file, have its surfaced leveled, have its uneven points scraped away, be polished, be pounded with a hammer, or is lacking a handle or a rim. Such a utensil is not susceptible to impurity until it was finished and beautified to the extent that no work is required for it at all. What is implied? A sword does not contract impurity until it has been smoothed, nor a knife until it has been sharpened. Similar concepts apply with regard to other comparable acts. Accordingly, when one makes utensils from a block of iron ore, a bar of metal, or the iron surface of a wheel, from plates, from the coverings of utensils, from the base of utensils, from the rims of utensils, from the handles of utensils, from metal scrap removed from utensils or pieces cut away from utensils, they are pure. For all of these are considered as unfinished metal utensils. If, however, one fashions a utensil from broken metal utensils or from utensils that have worn out over the course of time, or from nails that were made from utensils, these are susceptible to impurity, because they are not in an unfinished state. If, however, it is not known whether nails were made from utensils or from blocks of iron ore, they are pure. Even if they were formed into a k'li, they are not susceptible to impurity.
כְּלִי מַתָּכוֹת שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחֻסָּר אֶלָּא כִּסּוּי מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה שֶׁאֵין הַכִּסּוּי חָשׁוּב מִגּוּף הַכְּלִי:
When a metal k'li is only lacking a cover, it is susceptible to ritual impurity. For the cover is not considered as part of the k'li itself.
מַחַט שֶׁלֹּא נִקְּבָהּ אֶלָּא שָׁפָהּ וְתִקְּנָהּ לְכָךְ מִתְּחִלָּתָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין בָּהּ אֶת הַקּוֹץ. אֲבָל אִם עָתִיד לְנַקְּבָהּ הֲרֵי הִיא כִּשְׁאָר גָּלְמֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת וְאֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה:
When a needle was made without a hole, but instead was smoothed and prepared for use in such a state at the outset, it is susceptible to impurity, because it can be used to remove a splinter. If, ultimately, however, one intends to make a hole in it, it is like other unfinished metal utensils and is not susceptible to impurity.
מֵאַחַר שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁגָּלְמֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת טְהוֹרִים וְגָלְמֵי כְּלֵי עֵץ טְמֵאִים. וּפְשׁוּטֵי כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת טְמֵאִים וּפְשׁוּטֵי כְּלֵי עֵץ טְהוֹרִים דִּין תּוֹרָה. נִמְצָא הַטָּמֵא בִּכְלֵי עֵץ טָהוֹר בִּכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת טָמֵא בִּכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת טָהוֹר בִּכְלֵי עֵץ:
We have explained that, according to Scriptural Law, unfinished metal keilim are pure and unfinished wooden keilim are impure and conversely, flat metal keilim are impure and flat wooden keilim are pure. Thus keilim that are impure when made from wood are pure when made from metal. And keilim that are impure when made from metal are pure when made from wood.
כָּל כְּלֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה כְּגוֹן הַסַּיִף וְהָרֹמַח וְהַכּוֹבַע וְהַשִּׁרְיוֹן וְהַמַּגָּפַיִם וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה. וְכָל תַּכְשִׁיטֵי הָאָדָם כְּגוֹן הַקַּטָלָה וְהַנְּזָמִים וְהַטַּבָּעוֹת בֵּין שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן חוֹתָם בֵּין שֶׁאֵין עֲלֵיהֶם חוֹתָם וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה. אֲפִלּוּ דִּינָר שֶׁנִּפְסַל וְהִתְקִינוֹ לִתְלוֹתוֹ בְּצַוַּאר קְטַנָּה מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה. וְכֵן קָמֵעַ שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת מִתְטַמֵּא כְּכָל תַּכְשִׁיט אָדָם:
All articles of war, e.g., a sword, a spear, a helmet, armor, soldiers' boots, and the like are susceptible to ritual impurity. All ornaments for humans, e.g., a necklace, earrings, rings - whether with a seal or without a seal - or the like, are susceptible to ritual impurity. Even if a dinar was disqualified for use and it was adapted to be hung from the neck of a girl, it is susceptible to impurity. Similarly, a metal amulet is susceptible to impurity like other jewelry for humans.
כָּל תַּכְשִׁיטֵי הַבְּהֵמָה וְהַכֵּלִים כְּגוֹן הַטַּבָּעוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לְצַוַּאר הַבְּהֵמָה וּלְאָזְנֵי הַכֵּלִים טְהוֹרִין וְאֵינָן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן. חוּץ מִזּוֹג שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה וְכֵלִים הַמַּשְׁמִיעַ קוֹל לָאָדָם. כֵּיצַד. הָעוֹשֶׂה זוֹגִין לְמַכְתֶּשֶׁת וְלַעֲרִיסָה לְמִטְפְּחוֹת סְפָרִים וְתִינוֹקוֹת טְהוֹרִים. עָשָׂה לָהֶן עִנְבּוֹלִין מְקַבְּלִים טֻמְאָה הוֹאִיל וְנַעֲשׂוּ לְהַשְׁמִיעַ קוֹל לָאָדָם הֲרֵי הֵן כְּתַכְשִׁיטֵי אָדָם. וַאֲפִלּוּ נִטְּלוּ עִנְבּוֹלֵיהֶן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא רָאוּי לְהַקִּישׁוֹ עַל הַחֶרֶס:
All ornaments used for animals and keilim, by contrast - e.g., the rings made for the neck of an animal and for the handles of keilim are pure and are not susceptible to impurity independently with the exception of the bell of an animal or a k'li that creates a sound desired by humans. What is implied? When one makes bells for a spice mill, a cradle, book-covers, and children's diapers, they are pure. If one made clappers for them, they are susceptible to impurity. Since they were made to create a sound for a person, they are considered as ornaments for humans. Even if the clapper was removed afterwards, they are still susceptible to impurity, because it is still fit to generate a sound by banging it on a shard.
זוֹג הֶעָשׂוּי לְאָדָם. אִם נַעֲשָׂה לְקָטָן אֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה אֶלָּא בַּעִנְבּוֹל שֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי לְקוֹל נַעֲשָׂה. נַעֲשָׂה לְגָדוֹל הֲרֵי זֶה תַּכְשִׁיט וּמְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ עִנְבּוֹל:
The following rules apply when a bell was made for a person. If it was made for a minor, it is not susceptible to impurity unless it has its clapper, because it was meant to produce a sound. If it was made for an adult, it is considered as an ornament and is susceptible to impurity even though it does not have a clapper.
כָּל הַפַּרְצוּפוֹת מְקַבְּלוֹת טֻמְאָה. וְכָל הַחוֹתָמוֹת טְהוֹרִין. חוּץ מֵחוֹתָם שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת שֶׁבּוֹ חוֹתְמִין בִּלְבַד. וְכָל הַטַּבָּעוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת חוּץ מִטַּבַּעַת אֶצְבַּע. אֲבָל טַבַּעַת שֶׁחוֹגֵר בּוֹ אֶת מָתְנָיו שֶׁקּוֹשְׁרָהּ בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו טְהוֹרָה. טַבַּעַת הַשֵּׁיר שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה הוֹאִיל וְהָאָדָם מוֹשֵׁךְ בָּהּ אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה. וְכֵן מַקֵּל שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת הוֹאִיל וְאָדָם רוֹדֶה אוֹתָהּ בּוֹ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה:
All masks are susceptible to impurity. All seals are pure with the exception of a metal seal that is used to imprint a seal. All rings are pure except the rings worn on a finger. In contrast, the ring used to gird one's loins or one that is tied between one's shoulders is pure. A ring used as an animal collar is susceptible to impurity, because a person uses it to pull the animal. Similarly, a staff made of metal used to control an animal is susceptible to impurity.
כָּל הַכֵּלִים יוֹרְדִים לְטֻמְאָה בְּמַחְשָׁבָה וְאֵין עוֹלִין מִידֵי טֻמְאָה אֶלָּא בְּשִׁנּוּי מַעֲשֶׂה. וְהַמַּעֲשֶׂה מְבַטֵּל מִיַּד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וּמִיַּד הַמַּחְשָׁבָה. וְהַמַּחְשָׁבָה אֵינָהּ מְבַטֶּלֶת לֹא מִיַּד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וְלֹא מִיַּד הַמַּחְשָׁבָה. כֵּיצַד. טַבַּעַת בְּהֵמָה אוֹ כֵּלִים שֶׁחָשַׁב עָלֶיהָ לְהַחְזִירָהּ טַבַּעַת אָדָם הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה בְּמַחְשָׁבָה זוֹ וּכְאִלּוּ נַעֲשֵׂית לְאָדָם מִתְּחִלַּת עֲשִׂיָּתָהּ. חָזַר וְחִשֵּׁב עָלֶיהָ לְהַנִּיחָהּ טַבַּעַת בְּהֵמָה כְּשֶׁהָיָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִתְקַשֵּׁט בָּהּ הָאָדָם הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה שֶׁאֵין הַמַּחְשָׁבָה מְבַטֶּלֶת מִיַּד הַמַּחְשָׁבָה עַד שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בַּגּוּף כְּגוֹן שֶׁיָּשׁוּף אוֹתָהּ אוֹ יִתְקָעָהּ בְּמַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה. הָיְתָה הַטַּבַּעַת לָאָדָם וְחִשֵּׁב עָלֶיהָ לִבְהֵמָה עֲדַיִן הִיא מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה שֶׁאֵין הַכֵּלִים עוֹלִין מִידֵי טֻמְאָתָן בְּמַחְשָׁבָה. עָשָׂה בָּהּ מַעֲשֶׂה וְשִׁנָּה לִבְהֵמָה אֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת טֻמְאָה שֶׁהַמַּעֲשֶׂה מְבַטֵּל מִיַּד הַמַּעֲשֶׂה:
All keilim can become susceptible to impurity through thought, but do not lose that susceptibility unless a deed is performed to change their function. A deed negates the influence of a previous deed or thought, but thought does not negate the influence of a previous thought or deed. What is implied? A ring used for an animal or a k'li that one thought to use as a ring for a person. That thought itself causes a change in the ring's status and makes it subject to ritual impurity, as if originally it was made with the intent of being used for a human. If, afterwards, one reconsidered and thought to leave it as a ring for an animal as it was, it remains susceptible to impurity, even though a person never used it as an ornament. For one thought does not negate the effect of another thought unless one performs a deed in the actual physical substance of the entity, for example, to polish it or to adjust it as is done for an animal. If there was a ring used for humans and one thought to use it for an animal, it is still susceptible to impurity as it was originally, for a k'li's susceptibility to impurity cannot be nullified by thought. If one performed a deed, changing it into an animal's ring, it is not susceptible to impurity, for deed can negate the influence of a previous deed.
חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן יֵשׁ לָהֶן מַעֲשֶׂה וְאֵין לָהֶן מַחֲשָׁבָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ לְמַעְלָה בְּעִנְיַן הֶכְשֵׁר אֳכָלִין:
The deeds of a deafmute, a mentally or emotionally compromised individual, or a minor are significant. Their thoughts are not significant, as explained above with regard to making foods susceptible to impurity.
זוֹג שֶׁל דֶּלֶת שֶׁחִשֵּׁב עָלֶיהָ לִבְהֵמָה מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה. וְשֶׁל בְּהֵמָה שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּהוּ לַדֶּלֶת אֲפִלּוּ חִבְּרוֹ בַּקַּרְקַע וַאֲפִלּוּ קְבָעוֹ בְּמַסְמֵר מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה כְּשֶׁהָיָה עַד שֶׁיְּשַׁנֶּה בּוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוּפוֹ:
When one thought of using a bell used for a door for an animal, it is susceptible to impurity. When one made the bell of an animal suitable for a door, even if he attached it to the ground and even when he attached it with a nail, it remains susceptible to impurity until one performs a deed affecting the substance of the bell itself.
אֻמָּן שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה וּמַנִּיחַ זוֹגִין לִבְהֵמָה וְלִדְלָתוֹת אִם רֹב הֶעָשׂוּי לְדָבָר שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה הֲרֵי הַכּל מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה עַד שֶׁיַּפְרִישׁ מִקְצָתָן לְדָבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה. וְאִם רֹב הֶעָשׂוּי לְדָבָר שֶׁאֵין מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה הֲרֵי הַכּל טָהוֹר עַד שֶׁיַּפְרִישׁ מִקְצָתָן לְדָבָר הַמְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה:
The following laws apply when a craftsman makes - and carries a stock - of bells for both animals and doors. If the majority of his stock is made for entities that cause them to be susceptible to impurity, the entire stock is considered as susceptible to ritual impurity unless he sets aside a portion specifically for entities that do not cause them to be susceptible to impurity. If the majority is made for entities that do not cause them to be susceptible to impurity, the entire stock is not considered as susceptible to ritual impurity unless he sets aside a portion of the stock specifically for entities that cause them to be susceptible to impurity.
זוֹגִין הַנִּמְצָאִין בְּכָל מָקוֹם מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה חוּץ מֵהַנִּמְצָאִים בַּכְּרַכִּים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרֻבָּן לִדְלָתוֹת:
Wherever bells are found, they are susceptible to impurity, except in large cities, for there the majority are made for doors.
אָמַר לְאֻמָּן עֲשֵׂה לִי שְׁנֵי זוֹגִים אֶחָד לְדֶלֶת וְאֶחָד לִבְהֵמָה. עֲשֵׂה לִי שְׁתֵּי מַחְצְלָאוֹת אַחַת לִשְׁכִיבָה וְאַחַת לְאֹהָלִים. עֲשֵׂה לִי שְׁנֵי סְדִינִים אֶחָד לְצוּרוֹת וְאֶחָד לְאֹהָלִים. שְׁנֵיהֶן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה עַד שֶׁיְּפָרֵשׁ וְיֹאמַר זֶה לְכָךְ וְזֶה לְכָךְ:
If a person tells a craftsman: "Make me two bells, one for a door and one for an animal," "...two mats, one to lie on and one to use in constructing a tent," "...two sheets, one for designs and one for a curtain for a tent," they both are susceptible to impurity unless he explicitly states: "This is for this purpose and this is for the other. "