1)

(a)On the one hand - the Mishnah declares Taba'as Adam Tamei, whilst on the other - it declares Taba'as Beheimah ve'Keilim, Tahor.

(b)'Taba'as Keilim' refers to - a ring that is attached to a belt or to which one fixes shoulder straps.

(c)The basis of this distinction is - the fact that when the Pasuk includes ornamental rings worn by people (as we learned earlier), it does not incorporate Taba'os Beheimah and Taba'os Keilim (see Tos. Yom Tov).

(d)Other rings belong to the category - of Taba'os ve'Behimah vKeilim.

2)

(a)The Mishnah declares Koras ha'Chitzim, Tamei. Besides a quiver - this might be referring to a practice target.

(b)The Tana also rules that ...

1. ... Koras ha'Asirim (the beam that prevents a prisoner from removing his feet from the stocks) is - Tahor, whereas ...

2. ... a Kolar (a prisoner's collar) is - Tamei.

(c)The reason for this distinction is - because whereas the latter moves around with the wearer, the former does not.

3)

(a)The Mishnah declares ...

1. ... Tamei a Shalsheles she'Yesh bah Ne'ilah - a chain with a lock that is used to attach to a horse's foot.

2. ... Tahor a ha'Asuyah li'Kefisah' - an ornamental chain that is placed round the neck of a pet monkey or of a puppy-dog.

(b)The reason for the difference is - because, whereas the former is a Keili, the latter is merely an ornament and (as we explained) Ein Tachshit li'Behemah.

4)

(a)In similar vein, the Mishnah declares Tahor a Shalsheles shel Ba'alei Batim. A 'Shalsheles shel ...

1. ... Tamei a Shalsheles shel Sitonos - a merchant's chain (which is attached, one end to the merchandise on sale, the other end, to a ring in the door prevent it from being stolen]).

2. ... Tahor a Shalsheles shel Ba'alei-Batim - a chain that the owner attaches to certain objects.

(b)Here too (as in the previous pair of cases) - the former is a K'li, whereas the latter is merely an ornament.

(c)R. Yossi disagrees with the latter ruling. In his opinion - only a chain consisting of one link is Tahor.

(d)Even that one link he will declare subject to Tum'ah however - if it is attached to a Chilazon (a piece of metal ion the shape of the Chilazon, a sort of worm from which one extracts Techeiles) to its top.

5)

(a)The Tana now discusses K'nei Moznayim shel Serokos.

1. Moznayim shel Serokos is - the wooden scales used by wool and linen-combers with a weight at one end and a chain at the other to which there are attached a series of hooks which hook into the bags of wool or linen and hold them fast.

2. The Kaneh is - the horizontal arm from which the weight and the chain are suspended, and ...

(b)... it is subject to Tum'ah - because of the metal hooks ...

(c)... without which it would be Tahor - like all Peshutei Klei Etz' (straight wooden vessels).

(d)An equivalent weighing machine of Ba'alei-Batim is Tamei - provided it is fitted with metal, since, unlike that of a merchant, this is not generally the case.

6)

(a)The Tana considers Tahor the UnK'lin shel Katafin - metal hooks that are fitted to the two ends of a porter's stick that is held on the shoulders, one in front of him and one, behind him.

(b)On the other hand, he rules that - UnK'lin shel Ruchlin (peddlar's hooks) are Tamei ...

(c)... because they are made in the form of a receptacle, whereas those of the porter's stick are not (and we shall see shortly why they are Tahor, even though they are made of metal).

(d)According to R. Yehudah, the front one only is subject to Tum'ah, but not the back one - since he does not use it, and it is there only to keep the stick level (to prevent the load from slipping off the front).

(e)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

7)

(a)The Tana declares Tamei the metal hooks of a Dargesh (a small bed), but Tahor, those of NaK'litin - a two-poster bed.

(b)The former are used - to attach to them the bed-posts, via the straps that are affixed to them, the latter to hold the pole that runs from one post to the other (in the event that they are not split) over which the material is draped.

(c)We shall see shortly, the reason for this distinction.

(d)The metal hooks of a small box are Tamei - but those of a large fishing net are Tahor.

8)

(a)The Mishnah declares Tamei hooks that are attached to the table (on which they would suspend cups and napkins ... ), but those on a wooden lamp (on which one suspends crucibles of oil ...) - Tahor.

(b)The principle that governs all these latter rulings is that - whatever is attached to something that is subject to Tum'ah, is Tamei; if it is not, the attachment is not Tamei either.

(c)The wooden lamp is Tahor - because the Mishnah is speaking about a lamp without the (detachable lamp-holders).

(d)The Tana finally rules that any of the above metal hooks that are detached - are not subject to Tum'ah...

(e)... since they do not have independent names.

9)

(a)R. Gamliel and the Chachamim argue over the lid of a metal Teni (see Tiferes Yisrael) that holds three Kabin (half a Sa'ah [see Tos. Yom Tov]). A 'Teni' is used - to store scrap metal and broken metal vessels.

(b)R. Gamliel holds that it is subject to Tum'ah - because it has a Beis Kibul (it is a receptacle).

(c)The Chachamim disagree with him - because they do not consider the lid of a vessel a K'li as long as it does not have an independent use.

(d)The Chachamim concede however, that the lid of a doctor's Teni is subject to Tum'ah - because the doctors put drugs and spices into it.

10)

(a)The door of a regular cupboard is Tahor, because the cupboard is not subject to Tum'ah. The door of a doctor's cupboard is Tamei however - because he puts plasters and hangs scissors on it (see also Tiferes Yisrael, Boaz).

(b)The Tana declares Tamei, Yituchin (metal tongs) - which are used to hold the container in which silver has been melted whilst pouring it into another vessel ...

(c)... whereas Perachin (metal tongs that are fixed to a Kirah and which hold the pot in the air [see Tos. Yom Tov]) - are Tahor (because they are considered attached to the ground).

(d)He also rules that ...

1. ... a bent hook (Akrav ... ) that is affixed to the board of an oil-press (see Tos. Yom-Yov) - is Tamei, whereas ...

2. ... a hook in the wall of the oil-press - is Tahor (for the same reason as the Perachin).

11)

(a)The Tana Kama declares Tamei a Masmer shel Gara, but a Masmer shel Even ha'Sha'os. Tahor (because it is attached to the ground [see Tiferes Yisrael]). A Gara might be a blood-letter so-called - because he diminishes the blood ...

(b)... in which case the Masmer is - the sharp pin-like implement with which he pierces the skin to extract the blood.

(c)Alternatively, a Masmer shel Gara refers to the Masmer of a blacksmith - a triangle-shaped piece of metal which is placed on the anvil, and on which he subsequently lays metal implements that have just come out of the furnace and which he then proceeds to knock with a hammer, to remove some of the excess metal (which is why it is called Gara).

(d)A Masmer shel Even ha'Sha'os is - one of the metal nails of a stone sun-dial, which are stuck into the marks that distinguish the hours of the day (see also Tos. Yom Tov), and ...

(e)... which is Tahor - because it is attached to the ground (Tiferes Yisrael).

12)

(a)R. Tzadok disagrees with the Tana Kama's ruling regarding the Masmer shel Even ha'Sha'os - because sometimes it is removed and used independently (Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)The Tana declares Tamei, a weaver's nail - a large square-shaped metal bar on which one fits and activates the spool of yarn (see also Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)R. Tzadok maintains that Aron shel Gerusos (a wooden cupboard in which one places beans after they have been ground (Gerisin shel Pul) - because it is a K'li, which is sometimes moved to go to market, but the Chachamim - consider it a K'li which is made to remain in its place until its wheels are put in place (see Tos. Yom Tov).

(d)The Mishnah rules that - the metal wheels on which the cupboard is placed are Tamei (see Tos. Yom Tov).

13)

(a)A 'Masmer ...

1. ... she'Hiskino Lih'yos Pose'ach v'No'el bo' is - a bent nail (see Tiferes Yisrael) that is used to bolt and unbolt a door.

2. ... he'Asuy li'Shemirah is - a nail that is placed at a strategic point on the floor in front of the door, whose removal from that spot indicates that someone entered the room.

(b)The Mishnah - declares the former, Tamei (see Tiferes Yisrael); the latter, Tahor.

(c)R. Akiva declares Tamei, a nail that has been designated to open barrels. The Chachamim rule - that it is Tahor as long as it was not been heated in the furnace specifically for that purpose (see Tos. Yom Tov).

14)

(a)The Tana Kama and R. Tzadok also dispute the (large) banker's Masmer that is fixed to a bar in front of him ('Masmer shel Shulchani'), on to which he opens the shutters (to use as a table). The Tana Kama declares it Tahor - because it is fixed to the ground; whereas R. Tzadok considers it Tamei, because it is sometimes moved (see also Mishnah Acharonah).

(b)The Tana informs us that the three cases over which R. Tzadok and the Chachamim argue are Masmer shel Shulchani, Aron shel Gerusos and Masmer shel Even ha'Sha'os to teach us - that R. Tzadok's reason (for ruling Tamei) in all three cases, is the same (namely, that it is sometimes moved (See Tiferes Yisrael and Meleches Shlomo).

15)

(a)Rabban Gamliel declares four things subject to Tum'ah, whilst the Rabbanan consider them Tahor. The first of these is the lid of a metal Teni of Ba'alei-Batim - a K'li that holds three Kabin in which Ba'alei store their pieces of scrap metal and broken metal vessels (as we learned in Mishnah 3).

(b)The second is the hook on the wall of the bath-house, on which a metal brush is hung. This is used - for scrubbing one's feet.

(c)Despite the fact that the hook is affixed to the wall, Rabban Gamliel declares it Tamei - because it is sometimes removed and used for other things (Tiferes Yisrael [see also Tos. Yom Tov]).

16)

(a)The third case over which they argue is Golmei K'lei Matchos (unfinished metal vessels which still need rubbing, scraping or fixing with a hammer), which Rabban Gamliel declares Tamei - because people tend to use them when they are Tamei (Tos. Yom-Yom).

(b)The fourth case is that of - an earthenware tray with a rim (see Tos. Yom Tov & Tiferes Yisrael) that is broken in half ...

(c)... provided the halves are equal (see Tos. Yom Tov & Tiferes Yisrael) - because if one of the pieces is larger than the other, the Chachamim will concede to R. Gamliel that one of the pieces will be Tamei.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

17)

(a)The Mishnah rules that a Dinar or a Sela that has ...

1. ... been taken out of circulation or that has...

2. ... become invalid due to a reduction in weight - is Tahor.

(b)A ...

1. ... Dinar is subject to Tum'ah however - once one has pierced a hole in it to use as a necklace for one's daughter.

2. ... Sela is subject to Tum'ah - once it has been adjusted (see Tos. Yom Tov) to use as a weight ...

(c)... against silver or gold, but not against meat, wine or anything sticky, as we learned in Bava Basra.

18)

(a)There are - four Dinrim ...

(b)... and two Shekel - in a Sela.

(c)One is permitted to retain a Sela that has lost weight - provided it weighs exactly two Dinrim (a Shekel [see Tos. Yom Tov]).

(d)In the event that it weighs ...

1. ... less than that or ...

2. ... more than a Shekel - the owner must cut it up (so that it no longer resembles a coin ...

(e)... because we are afraid that he will use it as a Sela or as a Shekel when purchasing or selling, thereby cheating the seller or the purchaser.

19)

(a)The Mishnah now lists various objects that are subject to Tum'ah. The first two are Ular and Kulmus. The former is a specific type of scissors; the latter - a Sofer's pen.

(b)An Ular is used - to cut the Kulmus.

20)

(a)The Tana adds to the list Metuteles, Mishkoles (a weight), Kurim (Kiron), Kan and Kana. Metuteles is a builder's implement - the weight at the end of a string to check the straightness of a wall.

(b)A Kiron is - the implement with which one feeds the olives into the olive-press (see Tos. Yom Tov [note that the Bartenura has the text Kiron in our Mishnah, and not Kurim]).

(c)Kan (also known as Amah) and Kana are both implements used in connection with ruling lines on parchment. The ...

1. ... Kan is - the ruler-like implement (which one uses to scratch the lines, whereas the ..

2. ... Kana is - the board on which the parchment rests whilst the cutting takes place (see also Tos. Yom Tov).

21)

(a)Even though all Golmei K'lei Etz (unlike Golmei K'lei Mateches) are Tamei, Golmei K'lei Eshkero'a (a species of cedar) is different - because it has a particularly tough bark which makes vessels that are manufactured from it unusable until the bark has been removed.

(b)The Tosefta replaces Eshkero'a with Pirsha - which is the same as Gofer-wood (which Noach used for his boat).

(c)To make vessels manufactured from it, usable - one needs to first boil it well.

(d)Rebbi Yehudah adds G'rufis shel Zayis (olive-branches) to Golmei K'lei Eshkero'a, which are Tahor - until the wood has been well-boiled.

(e)The Halachah is like - the Tana Kama.