Barley and spelt which are not peeled, crowfoot root, asafoetida, and silphium, Rabbi Yehuda says: also black beans, are pure [even after coming into contact] with an Origin of impurity; and it is needless to say [that this is the case] regarding a <i>tevul yom</i>, according to Rabbi Meir. And the Sages say: they are pure [if they came into contact] with a <i>tevul yom</i>, but they are impure with all [other] impurities. Barley and spelt which are peeled, and wheat regardless of whether it is peeled or not, cumin, and sesame, and pepper, Rabbi Yehuda says: also white beans, are impure regarding a <i>tevul yom</i>; and it is needless to say [that this is the case] regarding all [other] impurities.
Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
השעורה והכוסמת – at the time that they are not peeled/husked are not considered human food, for human beings do not eat them with their husks, and something that is not human food is not susceptible to receive ritual defilement.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Tevul Yom
Unshelled barley or spelt, root of crowfoot, asafoetida, silrhium--Rabbi Judah says: even black beans remain clean even [when coming into contact] with a ‘father of uncleanness’, and there is no need to say [if touched] by a tevul yom, the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say: they are clean if touched by a tevul yom, but unclean [when touched] by other sources of impurity. This section lists pieces of grains or other foods that are not considered to be part of loaf of bread if found mixed up in there. If the loaf is terumah, and a tevul yom or a person with another type of impurity touches them but not the loaf, the loaf remains pure. In other words, these things won't be eaten with the loaf so they are not part of the loaf. I admit that I don't know what some of these things are. But from what we can learn from this mishnah, they are not food commonly consumed. The other sages are lenient when it comes to a tevul yom, for he is not truly impure. However, they rule stringently when it comes to people who are actually impure. If such a person touches these things, he defiles the entire loaf of terumah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
התיאה (root of crowfoot) – the root of assa foetida, an umbelliferous plant used, as a resin or in leaves for a spine and for medicinal purposes.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Tevul Yom
Shelled barley or spelt, or wheat whether shelled or unshelled, or black cumin, or sesame or pepper Rabbi Judah says: also white beans become unclean even when touched by a tevul yom, and there is no need to say [when they have come into contact] with other sources of impurity. This list contrasts with that in section one. These foods will be eaten with the loaf. Therefore if even a tevul yom touches them, the rest of the loaf is defiled. We can see that these foods were considered more edible shelled barley or spelt, wheat, spices. Interesting that Rabbi Judah thinks black beans are less edible than white beans. Bean racism?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
והחלתית – in Arabic, such is its name חלתית/assa foetida. And we call it SEFIDITA in the foreign language.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
והאלום (Silphium, a kind of assa foetida or Laserpitium) – they said about it that it is a root, a species from the kinds of assa foetida. And all of these are not considered human food, but sometimes, they mix a little from them with the food.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
אף אפונים שחורים (even black chickpeas) – that are not other than for healing (i.e., medicinal purposes) and are not made for human food.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
טהורים בטבול יום - since he is pure from his defilement and is not wanting/requiring anything other than sunset, he does not invalidate with all of these if they are of priest’s due/heave-offering, but with other defilements they are considered food and receive defilement like the rest of foods. And the Halakha is according to the Sages.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
הקצח (black cumin) – a kind of black seed, and in the foreign language, NILO. And it is customary to place from it in bread.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Tevul Yom
והשמשום – this is its name in Arabic. And there is a lot of it in the Land of Israel, and they make sesame oil from it.
