A box whose opening is at its side is susceptible to both <em>midras</em> impurity and corpse impurity. Rabbi Yose said: When does this apply? When it is less than ten <em>tefachim</em> in height or when it does not have a rim one <em>tefach</em> deep. If it was damaged above, it is still susceptible to corpse impurity. If it was damaged below: Rabbi Meir declares it susceptible to impurity. But the Sages declare it pure, because if its primary function is annulled, the secondary one is also annulled.
Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
שפתחה מצדה (that was damaged from its side) – When it was damaged from above, it was not impure by treading, for if he sat upon it and comes to use it, they say to him: “Stand and let us do our work.” But when it was damaged from the side, it is possible to use it even though he sits upon it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
A box whose opening is at the side is susceptible to both midras uncleanness and corpse uncleanness. Today's mishnah discusses a box whose opening is at the side. Since this box can be sat upon it is susceptible to midras uncleanness. It is also susceptible to other types of impurity, including corpse impurity.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
בזמן שאינה גבוהה עשרה טפחים – when it is ten [handbreadths] high, it is not appropriate for sitting all that much.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
Rabbi Yose said: When does this apply? When it is less than ten handbreadths in height or when it does not have a rim one handbreadth deep. Rabbi Yose says that it is susceptible to midras impurity only if it is less than ten handbreadths high or does not have a rim of at least a handbreadth. A high box with a rim will not be sat upon, and therefore it is not susceptible to midras. But a low box might be sat upon, with or without a rim.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
או שאין לה לזבז (or when it does not have a vertical rim/edge – buy which a flat vessel is made into a vessel-like receptacle) – when it has a vertical rim which damages the person who sits upon it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
If it was damaged above it is still susceptible to corpse uncleanness. If it was damaged above, it cannot be sat upon so it is no longer susceptible to midras. But it is still usable as a box, so it is susceptible to corpse uncleanness.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
נפתחה מלמטן – at its rim/bottom. It is not appropriate for use, but is appropriate for sitting.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
If it was damaged below: Rabbi Meir rules that it is susceptible to uncleanness. But the sages rule that it is clean because if the primary function ceases the secondary one also ceases. If it is damaged below, it can be sat upon, but it cannot be used for storage, which is its main purpose. Rabbi Meir rules that since it can still be sat upon, it is susceptible to midras impurity. The sages disagree. They hold that if a vessel cannot be used in its primary function, in this case storing, it is not susceptible due to its secondary function, sitting. Therefore, the box is completely clean.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
מפני שבטל העקר (because the primary purpose was annulled) – the primary purpose of the box is that its made to support its rim what one places within it, and through that, it is called a vessel. But because its rim was damaged and it was nullified, also its walls from above are nullified and it no longer receives any form of defilement. And the Halakha is according to the Sages.
