Kelim 27

הַבֶּגֶד מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם חֲמִשָּׁה שֵׁמוֹת. הַשַּׂק, מִשּׁוּם אַרְבָּעָה. הָעוֹר, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלֹשָׁה. הָעֵץ, מִשּׁוּם שְׁנַיִם. וּכְלִי חֶרֶס, מִשּׁוּם אֶחָד. כְּלִי חֶרֶס מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם כְּלִי קִבּוּל. כֹּל שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תוֹךְ בִּכְלֵי חֶרֶס, אֵין לוֹ אֲחוֹרָיִם. מוּסָף עָלָיו הָעֵץ, שֶׁהוּא מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם מוֹשָׁב. וְכֵן טַבְלָא שֶׁאֵין לָהּ לִזְבֵּז, בִּכְלֵי עֵץ, טְמֵאָה, וּבִכְלֵי חֶרֶס, טְהוֹרָה. מוּסָף עָלָיו הָעוֹר, שֶׁהוּא מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם אֹהָלִים. מוּסָף עָלָיו הַשַּׂק, שֶׁהוּא מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם אָרִיג. מוּסָף עָלָיו הַבֶּגֶד, שֶׁהוּא מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ:

Clothing may be rendered impure due to five different reasons; sack-cloth [may be rentered impure] due to four; leather due to three; wood due to two; and an earthenware vessel due to one. An earthenware vessel may be rendered impure [only] due to [being] a receptacle. Regarding earthenware vessels, any that has no inside, has no outside [which can be rendered impure]. Wood, in addition to this, can also be rendered impure due to [being] a seat. Similarly, regarding a tablet which has no rim, if it is a wooden vessel it is [susceptible to being rendered] impure; and if it is an earthenware vessel it is pure. Leather, in addition to this, may be rendered impure due to tents [if it forms an enclosure over certain impure things]. Sack-cloth, in addition to this, may be rendered impure due to [being] a woven work. Clothing, in addition to this, may be rendered impure due to [being] a three by three [fingerbreadths piece of fabric].

הַבֶּגֶד מִטַּמֵּא מִשּׁוּם שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה, לְמִדְרָס, וּמִשּׁוּם שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ לִטְמֵא מֵת. הַשַּׂק אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה, הָעוֹר חֲמִשָּׁה עַל חֲמִשָּׁה, מַפָּץ שִׁשָּׁה עַל שִׁשָּׁה, שָׁוִין לְמִדְרָס וְלִטְמֵא מֵת. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, הַשַּׂק שְׁיָרָיו אַרְבָּעָה, וּתְחִלָּתוֹ מִשֶּׁיִּגָּמֵר:

Clothing may be rendered impure as a [piece which is] three by three [handbreadths] with <i>midras</i> impurity [a type of impurity due to being sat on by certain impure individuals, rendering something an Origin of impurity], and at three by three [fingerbreadths] with corpse impurity. Sack-cloth [may be rendered impure] at four by four [handbreadths]; Leather, five by five; matting, six by six; these are all equally [susceptible to being rendered impure] with <i>midras</i> and corpse impurity. Rabbi Meir says: regarding sack-cloth, its scraps [may be rendered impure] at four [by four handbreadths], but initially [it can be rendered impure only] once it is completed.

הָעוֹשֶׂה שְׁנַיִם מִן הַבֶּגֶד וְאֶחָד מִן הַשַּׂק, שְׁלָשְׁתָּן מִן הַשַּׂק וְאֶחָד מִן הָעוֹר, אַרְבָּעָה מִן הָעוֹר וְאֶחָד מִן הַמַּפָּץ, טָהוֹר. חֲמִשָּׁה מִן הַמַּפָּץ וְאֶחָד מִן הָעוֹר, אַרְבָּעָה מִן הָעוֹר וְאֶחָד מִן הַשַּׂק, שְׁלֹשָׁה מִן הַשַּׂק וְאֶחָד מִן הַבֶּגֶד, טָמֵא. זֶה הַכְּלָל, כֹּל שֶׁחִבֵּר לוֹ מִן הֶחָמוּר מִמֶּנּוּ, טָמֵא. מִן הַקַּל מִמֶּנּוּ, טָהוֹר:

One who makes a piece of material from two [handbreadths] of cloth and one [handbreadth] of sack-cloth, or three of sack-cloth and one of leather, or four of leather and one of matting, it is pure [insusceptible to impurity]. If [one made something] of five [handbreadths] of matting and one of leather, or four of leather and one of sack-cloth, or three of sack-cloth and one of cloth, it is [susceptible to being rendered] impure. This is the general rule: anything to which one attached something of a higher level of stringency is [susceptible to being remdered] impure; [anything to which one attached something] of a lesser level of stringency is pure.

הַמְקַצֵּעַ מִכֻּלָּם טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח, טָמֵא. מִשּׁוּלֵי הַקֻּפָּה טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח, טָמֵא. מִצְּדָדֵי הַקֻּפָּה, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מְטַהֵר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, הַמְקַצֵּעַ טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח בְּכָל מָקוֹם, טָמֵא:

If one cuts off [a piece of] one square handbreadth from each of these [materials, and then fashions them into a single piece], it is [susceptible to being rendered] impure. If [one cuts off a piece which is] one square handbreadth from the bottom of a basket, it is [susceptible to being rendered] impure. If from the sides of a basket, Rabbi Shimon considers it pure, and the Sages say: if one cuts off a square handbreadth from anywhere, it is [susceptible to being rendered] impure.

בְּלוֹיֵי נָפָה וּכְבָרָה שֶׁהִתְקִינָן לִישִׁיבָה, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מְטַמֵּא, וַחֲכָמִים מְטַהֲרִין עַד שֶׁיְּקַצֵּעַ. כִּסֵּא שֶׁל קָטָן שֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ רַגְלַיִם, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ גָבֹהַּ טֶפַח, טָמֵא. חָלוּק שֶׁל קָטָן, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, כָּל שֶׁהוּא. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בוֹ כַשִּׁעוּר, וְנִמְדָּד כָּפוּל:

Regarding worn-out pieces of a sifter or a sieve that one adapted for use as a seat, Rabbi Akiva consideres them [susceptible to being rendered] impure, and the Sages consider them pure until one trims them [for use as a seat]. A child's chair which has legs, even if it is less than a handbreadth high, is [susceptible to being rendered] impure. Regarding a child's robe, Rabbi Eliezer says: [it is susceptible to impurity] at any size; and the Sages say: only once it is of the prescribed measure; and it is measured doubled [i.e. folded] over [such that it must actually be twice the required measure].

אֵלּוּ נִמְדָּדִין כְּפוּלִין. אַמְפַּלְיָא, וּפְמוֹלִינְיָא, וּמִכְנָסַיִם, וְכוֹבַע, וְכִיס שֶׁל פֻּנְדִּיָּא. וּמַטְלִית שֶׁטְּלָיָהּ עַל הַשָּׂפָה, אִם פְּשׁוּטָה, נִמְדֶּדֶת פְּשׁוּטָה, וְאִם כְּפוּלָה, נִמְדֶּדֶת כְּפוּלָה:

The following are measured when doubled over: cloth slippers, and knee-breeches, and pants, and a hat, and a hollow [in a belt which functions as a] pouch. Regarding a piece of fabric which one sewed onto the hem [of the collar of a garment], if it is [sewn on] unfolded it is measured unfolded; and if doubled over it is measured doubled over.

הַבֶּגֶד שֶׁאָרַג בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְנִטְמָא מִדְרָס, וְהִשְׁלִים עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נָטַל חוּט אֶחָד מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ, טָהוֹר מִן הַמִּדְרָס, אֲבָל טָמֵא מַגַּע מִדְרָס. נָטַל חוּט אֶחָד מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִשְׁלִים עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד, טָמֵא מַגַּע מִדְרָס:

Regarding a piece of cloth which one wove to be three by three [handbreadths] which was rendered impure with <i>midras</i> impurity, and one then completed the whole garment upon it, if afterwards one then removed a thread from its initial portion, it is pure from <i>midras</i> impurity, but it is impure from contact with <i>midras</i> impurity. If one removed a thread from its initial portion and then afterwards completed the whole garment upon it, it is [still] impure from contact with <i>midras</i> impurity.

וְכֵן בֶּגֶד שֶׁאָרַג בּוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ, וְנִטְמָא טְמֵא מֵת, וְהִשְׁלִים עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נָטַל חוּט אֶחָד מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ, טָהוֹר מִטְּמֵא מֵת, אֲבָל טָמֵא מַגַּע טְמֵא מֵת. נָטַל חוּט אֶחָד מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִשְׁלִים עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד, טָהוֹר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ, שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁנִּתְמַעֵט, טָהוֹר. אֲבָל שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁנִּתְמַעֵט, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁטָּהוֹר מִמִּדְרָס, טָמֵא בְכָל הַטֻּמְאוֹת:

And likewise regarding a piece of cloth which one wove to be three by three [fingerbreadths] which contracted corpse impurity, and one then completed the whole garment upon it, and then afterwards removed a thread from its initial portion, it is pure of corpse impurity, but is still impure from contact with corpse impurity. If one removed a thread from its initial portion and then afterwards completed the whole garment upon it, it is pure; for They said: a [piece of cloth of] three by three [fingerbreadths] which was diminished is pure. But one of three by three [handbreadths] which was diminished, even though it is pure of <i>midras</i> impurity, is [susceptible to being] impure from all the [other] impurities.

סָדִין שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא מִדְרָס, וַעֲשָׂאוֹ וִילוֹן, טָהוֹר מִן הַמִּדְרָס, אֲבָל טָמֵא מַגַּע מִדְרָס. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְכִי בְאֵיזֶה מִדְרָס נָגַע זֶה. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נָגַע בּוֹ הַזָּב, טָמֵא בְמַגַּע הַזָּב:

Regarding a sheet which contracted <i>midras</i> impurity, which one then fashioned into a curtain, it is pure from <i>midras</i> impurity, but is impure from contact with <i>midras</i> impurity. Rabbi Yose said, "And yet which <i>midras</i> impurity has touched it?! [Rather] only if a <i>zav</i> [a male with a genital discharge that renders him an Origin of impurity] touched it is it [rendered] impure from contact with a <i>zav</i>."

שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁנֶּחֱלַק, טָהוֹר מִן הַמִּדְרָס, אֲבָל טָמֵא מַגַּע מִדְרָס. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְכִי בְאֵיזֶה מִדְרָס נָגַע זֶה. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נָגַע בּוֹ הַזָּב, טָמֵא מַגַּע הַזָּב:

A [piece of cloth] three by three [handbreadths] which was divided, is pure from <i>midras</i> impurity, but is impure from contact with <i>midras</i> impurity. Rabbi Yose said, "And yet which <i>midras</i> impurity has touched it?! [Rather] only if a <i>zav</i> touched it is it [rendered] impure from contact with a <i>zav</i>."

שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה, בָּאַשְׁפּוֹת, בָּרִיא וְצוֹרֵר מֶלַח. בַּבַּיִת, אוֹ בָרִיא אוֹ צוֹרֵר מֶלַח. כַּמָּה מֶלַח יְהֵא צוֹרֵר, רֹבַע. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, בְּדַקָּה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, בְּגַסָּה. אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ מִתְכַּוְּנִים לְהָקֵל. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, שָׁוִים שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה בָאַשְׁפּוֹת לְשָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ בַּבָּיִת:

Regarding a [piece of cloth] three by three [handbreadths], if [it was found] in the trash heaps, [it is susceptible to retaining impurity only] if it is sound and capable of storing salt; if [it was found] in the house, [it is susceptible to impurity] if it is either sound or capable of storing salt. How much salt must it be capable of storing? A <i> rova</i> [a specific unit of volume, a quarter of a <i>kav</i>]. Rabbi Yehudah says: this is with regard to fine salt. And the Sages say: it is with regard to coarse salt. Both of their intentions were to rule leniently. Rabbi Shimon says: [pieces which are] three by three [handbreadths, which were found] in a trash heap, are [legally] equivalent to [pieces which are] three by three [fingerbreadths, which were found] in a house.

שְׁלֹשָׁה עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁנִּקְרַע, אִם נְתָנוֹ עַל הַכִּסֵּא וּבְשָׂרוֹ נוֹגֵעַ בַּכִּסֵּא, טָהוֹר, וְאִם לָאו, טָמֵא. שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁנִּמְהָה מִמֶּנָּה חוּט אֶחָד, אוֹ שֶׁנִּמְצָא בוֹ קֶשֶׁר, אוֹ שְׁנֵי חוּטִין מַתְאִימִין, טְהוֹרָה. שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁהִשְׁלִיכָהּ בָּאַשְׁפּוֹת, טְהוֹרָה. הֶחֱזִירָהּ, טְמֵאָה. לְעוֹלָם הַשְׁלָכָתָהּ מְטַהֲרַתָּה, וַחֲזָרָתָהּ מְטַמֵּאתָהּ, חוּץ מִשֶּׁל אַרְגָּמָן וְשֶׁל זְהוֹרִית טוֹבָה. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, אַף מַטְלִית חֲדָשָׁה כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, כֻּלָּן טְהוֹרִין, לֹא הֻזְכְּרוּ אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי הֲשָׁבַת אֲבֵדָה:

Regarding a [piece of cloth of] three by three [handbreadths] which was torn, if one places it on a chair and [when he sits down upon it] his skin touches the chair, it is pure; and if not, it is impure [i.e. it can retain impurity]. Regarding a [piece of cloth of] three by three [fingerbreadths], if one of its threads was worn away, or if a knot was found in it, or if two of its threads ran alongside each other [i.e. as an imperfection in its weave], it is pure. A [piece of cloth of] three by three [fingerbreadths] which was cast to the trash heap is pure. If one brought it back [from the trash], it is [once more susceptible to being rendered] impure. Its having been thrown away always renders it pure, and its being brought back renders it [susceptible to becoming] impure, except when it is of purple or fine crimson [which can still be rendered impure even after being cast into the trash]. Rabbi Eliezer says: the same applies also to a piece of new cloth. Rabbi Shimon says: all of these are pure; they were mentioned [as exceptions] only with regard to the returning of lost property.