What is the significance of the fact that the Eifer ha'Parah is Metaher?
Rashi (citing R. Moshe ha'Darshan): This is like Yisrael who became Tahor via the ashes of the Parah Adumah (Sh'mos 32:20). 1
The Pasuk does not say that that was Metaher, but Rashi there says that he intended to test them like Sotos. I.e. those who lived were innocent. (PF)
?ve?Chol asher Yiga bo ha?Tamei Yitma?. Who is ?ha?Tamei referring to?
Rashi (in Avodah Zarah, 37b: It refers to the person who touched the Meis.
What is "ve'Chol asher Yiga bo Yitma" coming to teach us?
Rashi: It teaches us that if Reuven touches Shimon who touched a Meis ? he becomes an Av ha'Tum'ah, 1 to be Metamei people and Keilim that touch him. 2
Rosh: It teaches us that anything that an Av ha'Tum'ah touches becomes Tamei. (Refer to 19:22:151:1).
Targum Yonasan and Sifri: "... asher Yiga" implies that a Meis is Metamei by touching but not by moving (like a Zav).
Rashi and Rashbam: Because the Meis itself is Avi Avos ha'Tum'ah. Rashi in Chulin, 121a adds that it is only Adam and Keilim that become an Av ha'Tum'ah through touching a Meis, but not food and drink, which are not subject to Taharah through Tevilah.
Rashi (in Chulin, 121a): Because if he was a Rishon le'Tum'ah, he would only be Metamei food and drink, but not Adam and Keilim. Refer also to 19:22:151:1.
Why is the Parah Metamei all those who deal with it?
Rashi (citing R. Moshe ha'Darshan): It is like the Golden Calf, which rendered Tamei all those who had contact with it. 1
Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 17): Because it is done outside the Machaneh (where anyone may go), if it were not Metamei, everyone would take some of the ashes.
Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 17, citing R. Shmuel): It comes to atone for the golden calf. It is Metaher the Tamei, just like fire purifies gold with impurities. It is Metamei the Tahor, just like fire makes foam gold without impurities.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
What is "ve'ha'Nefesh ha'Noga'as Titma ad ha'Erev"referring to?
Rashi (in Chulin, 121a) and Rashbam: It is referring to someone who touches the person who touched the Meis, and who now becomes a Rishon to be Tamei until nightfall. 1
Rashi (Ibid.): Because the person (or Keilim other than K'lei Cheres) who touched the Meis became an Av ha'Tum'ah , which renders Tamei Adam and Keilim, as well as Ochel and Mashkeh ? for one day. Food, beverages and K'lei Cheres however, which are not subject to Tevilah in a Mikvah, became only a Rishon le'Tum'ah, which only renders Tamei Ochel u'Mashkeh, bur not Adam ve'Keilim ? See Rashi.
What if the person touched, not a person who touched the Meis, but a Keli or food and drink?
Rashi (in Chulin, 121a: It is only Adam and Keilim (that are not K?lei Cheres) ? which are subject to Tevilah - that render Adam and Keilim Tamei. Food and drink and earthenware vessels - which are not subject to Tevilah ? render Tamei only food and drink. 1
See Rashi, ibid. DH ?Zera?im?.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "ve'Chol asher Yiga?" one who touches a Meis becomes Tamei. But the end of the Pasuk already teaches us this?
Riva: He means that if P'loni touches someone who is now touching a Meis, also P'loni is Tum'as Shiv'ah (S'tam Tum'as Meis). The Seifa teaches us that if P'loni touches someone who touched a Meis and separated, P'loni is Tamei Tum'as Erev.
Rosh: Anything that a Tamei (Av ha'Tum'ah) touches, it becomes Tamei. Above, it says one who touches a Meis becomes Tamei Tum'as Shiv'ah. A Nefesh 1 who touched such a person after he separated, is Tamei Tum'as Erev.
But if a K'li touches such a person after he separated, it becomes Tum'ah Shiv'ah (Ohalos 1:3 ? PF).
