As Rabbi Meir used to say, if it is the normal way to count [an object, individually], then it renders everything as holy [and thereby forbidden]. But the Sages say that only six things render everything as holy; while Rabbi Akiva says there are seven. They are: nuts with brittle shells, and Badan pomegranates, and sealed jars, and beet shoots, and cabbage heads, and Greek gourds. Rabbi Akiva says, also loaves of bread of homeowners. That which is fit for the [laws of] <i>Orlah</i> is <i>Orlah</i>. That which is fit for [the laws of] <i> Kilayim</i> of the vineyard is <i> Kilayim</i> of the vineyard.
Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
שדרכו למנות – for a person does not sell them other than by number, because of their importance.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
Introduction
In this mishnah we finally hear the basis for the disagreement between Rabbi Meir and the other sages.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
פרך ובדן – these are names of places. But I heard that the nuts of Perekh are nuts whose husks/rinds are soft and peeled.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
For Rabbi Meir used to say: anything that is normally [sold] by counting causes [a mixture] to become consecrated [in even the smallest amount]. According to Rabbi Meir anything that is sold by being counted out at the marketplace (as opposed to being sold by weight or volume) is an important item and therefore it prohibits a mixture no matter how little of the prohibited item is in the mixture. This would explain why bundles of orlah fenugreek cause a mixture to be prohibited no matter how small the ratio of prohibited fenugreek to permitted fenugreek. The word “consecrated” in this mishnah is used synonymously with “prohibit” because oftentimes things that are “consecrated” become prohibited from use. This was the same verb used in mishnah three.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
חלפי תרדין – leaves from the side of the species of beet.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
But the sages say only six things consecrate [a mixture in even the smallest amount], and Rabbi Akiba says seven [things]. The sages agree that some items cause mixtures to be prohibited in even the smallest ratios. However, they limit this to only six items, to which Rabbi Akiva adds a seventh. These items seem to have been more valuable than general items that are sold by count, such as bundles of fenugreek. Since these items are of great significance, the laws are stricter with regard to them.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
קלסי כרוב – cabbage stalks in the Land of Israel which are large and good.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
And these are they: Nuts with soft shells; badan pomegranates; stopped-up casks; beet shoots; cabbage-heads; Greek pumpkins. This is a list of the six items. The stopped up casks contain orlah wine.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
של בעה"ב – which are large but of small bakers.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
Rabbi Akiba says: also loaves [baked by] a householder. Rabbi Akiva adds in bread baked by a householder which is more valuable than bread baked by a professional baker.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
הראוי לערלה – such as nuts and pomegranates and closed (earthen) wine jugs.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Orlah
To those to which orlah applies [they prohibit the mixture] as orlah, [to those of which] kilayim of the vineyard apply [they prohibit the mixture as] kilayim of the vineyard. Orlah applies to only some of the above items, namely pomegranates, nuts, and wine. So if the mixture contains even the smallest amount of one of these items and it is orlah, the whole mixture is prohibited. Kilayim in the vineyard applies to the other items in the list, so if one of them is kilayim and it becomes mixed in with other permitted items it prohibits the mixture even if it is only a very small amount.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Orlah
הראוי לכלאי הכרם – such as beet shoots and cabbage stalks and Greek gourds, but the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Meir nor according to Rabbi Akiva.
