Commentary for Kelim 17:3
הַסַּלִּין שֶׁל פַּת, שִׁעוּרָן בְּכִכָּרוֹת שֶׁל פָּת. אֱפִיפְיָרוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה לָהֶן קָנִים מִלְּמַטָּן לְמַעְלָה לְחִזּוּק, טְהוֹרָה. עָשָׂה לָהּ גַּפַּיִם כָּל שֶׁהֵן, טְמֵאָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לְהִנָּטֵל בַּגַּפַּיִם, טְהוֹרָה:
Bread-baskets [become pure if] the size [of their hole is such] that loaves of bread [would fall through]. Papyrus frames into which he inserted reeds from the bottom upwards to strengthen them, are pure. If he made walls for them, they are susceptible to impurity. Rabbi Shimon says: if it cannot be lifted up by these walls it is pure.
Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
שיעורן בככרות של פת – the measure of their breakage through the removal of loaves of bread.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
Bread-baskets [become clean if] the size [of their hole is such] that loaves of bread [would fall through]. This section continues the list found in yesterday's mishnah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
אפיפיירות (frames for hangings – to which reeds were fastened from the bottom upwards – crosswise – for support) – a woven utensil made from reeds or vine-shoots.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
Papyrus frames through into which reeds were inserted from the bottom upwards to strengthen them, are clean. If he fixed walls to it, they are susceptible to impurity. Rabbi Shimon says: if it cannot be lifted up by these walls it is clean. These vessels were made of weak papyrus and then reeds were inserted into the frame in order to strengthen them. The vessel is still clean because it is not considered to have a receptacle. The reeds don't seem to have been strong enough to really make it useful. However, if he fixes walls for them, then they are susceptible to impurity because they are strong enough to be considered vessels. Rabbi Shimon says that the walls must be strong enough that the vessel can be lifted by them. Otherwise it is not considered a vessel and it is clean.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
שעשה לה קנים מלמטה למעלה – that their borders/rims were opened and they brought in reeds from the bottom to the top to strength the rims at the bottom of the vessel.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
גפים (handles) – that they attached as a rim. [It is] the Aramaic translation of ויחבק/and he embraced and throw arms around. Another explanation: arms/handles – that he made for them handles.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
אם אינה יכולה לינטל גפים – that when he holds the handles, the vessel does not go up with him (and it is not susceptible to receiving ritual defilement).
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