1)

(a)Wooden vessels need to break in half, says the Mishnah, in order to become Tahor ...

(b)... except for a table, an extra large serving-dish and the chair of a Balabos (all of which comprise individual sections, and) which remain Tamei, since each section is a K'li on its own.

(c)Rebbi Yehudah adds Mageis and Kod ha'Bavli - which are two kinds of wooden dishes (see also Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)He considers them Tamei even if they break in half - because each half is still usable on its own.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

2)

(a)The Tana Kama declares a wooden bed or cot, subject to Tum'ah - from the moment that it is sand-papered (see Tos. Yom-Tov) -

(b)... unless the owner decides not to sand-paper them, in which case they are subject to Tum'ah immediately.

(c)R. Meir maintains that - they are Tamei already from the time that he attaches four ropes along the length of the bed (see Tiferes Yisrael, Bo'az).

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

3)

(a)Before a completed wickerwork basket becomes subject to Tum'ah - one still needs to form a rim around its top edge and snip off the protruding ends.

(b)Similar baskets made from date-palm branches are subject to Tum'ah even though the inside ends have not been cut - since people tend to use them like that (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Reed baskets differ from wickerwork ones in that - in addition to forming a rim and snipping off the ends one also needs to fix a piece of string by which to hang them on a nail, before they will become subject to Tum'ah.

(d)The Mishnah compares Beis ha'Leginim and Beis ha'Kosos, (which hold jugs and cups respectively) - to baskets made from date-palm branches (which do not require the ends to be snipped off).

4)

(a)The Mishnah gives as the final stage in the production of small funnels (or sieves [Kenonin] and baskets (Kelasos [See also Tiferes Yisrael]) arranging a rim and snipping off the protruding ends. The function of ...

1. ... small Kenanin (which are made of date-palm branches) is - to sift legumes from the chaff.

2. ... Kelasos is - to store needles and the like.

(b)The Tana gives the Shi'ur for large Kenonin and baskets (Sugin) as from when one has arranged two Durim - two interwoven hoops rising from the base and upwards, along the width of the basket (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)Whereas for the sea (base) of a large flour-sifter (Nafah), a large sieve and the base (or the cups [see Tos. Yom-Tov]) of a pair of scales, which are all made using the same method of wickerwork as - one Dur along the width of the basket.

5)

(a)The Mishnah gives the minimum Shi'ur for becoming subject to Tum'ah in the production of a Kupah (a tall basket) as two Tzefiros - which are rings starting from the base and upward (only whereas Durim comprise one long willow-twig which one weaves round and round the basket, moving progressively upwards, each Tzefirah consists of a complete ring [Tiferes Yisrael]).

(b)And the Shi'ur the Tana gives for an Arak (which is more shallow than a Kupah) is - one Tzefirah, which is fitted identically.

(c)It is made out of - cork.

(d)The difference in shape between a Kupah and an Arak is that - whereas the former is tall and round, the latter is low and oblong (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

6)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses leather vessels. According to the Tana Kama, besides a rim and the ends snipped off (see Tos. Yom-Tov), a leather satchel (Turmeil) - requires loops (which house the strap that fastens its top) to be fitted, in order to be subject to Tum'ah.

(b)A shepherd uses a Turmeil - to store his food and other personal items.

(c)R. Yehudah maintains that it is subject to Tum'ah - already from the time that one attaches its handles to pull it open (see Tiferes Yisrael).

7)

(a)The Tana Kama gives the Shi'ur of a Skurtaya - an apron that is worn by tanners as mi'she'Yachsom vi'Yekanev ve'Ya'aseh es Tzitzasah.

(b)Tzitzasah are - threads on the corners, with which to fasten the apron.

(c)According to the Rambam, S'kurtaya is a leather cloth on which one eats, in which case Tzitzasah is - an ornamental piece of metal that is fitted to it (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)According to R. Yehudah, the criterion to be considered complete is 'Tab'osehah' (its rings) - metal rings attached to the apron, to which the strings are tied.

8)

(a)The Tana Kama gives the Shi'ur of K'tavulya as mi'she'Yachsom vi'Yekanev. One spreads a K'tavulya - on a bed (or a table, Tiferes Yisrael [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(b)The above are subject to Tum'ah, despite the fact that they are P'shutei K'lei Or (which the Torah precludes from Tum'ah [like 'P'shutei K'lei Eitz]) - because the Rabbanan decreed Tum'ah on them, like they did with certain wooden vessels.

(c)According to R. Yehudah, in addition to mi'she'Yachsom vi'Yekanev - they also require the strings that are sewn on to it, which enable it to be rolled up and tied up when transporting from one place to another (Tiferes Yisrael).

9)

(a)The Tana Kama also gives the Shi'ur Tum'ah to a leather Kar - a cushion, and Keses - a matress [see also Tos. Yom-Tov and Tiferes Yisrael]) as mi'she'Yachsom vi'Yekanev.

(b)According to R. Yehudah, it is already (see Tiferes Yisrael) when they have been stitched and less than five Tefachim remain deliberately un-stitched - in order to insert the stuffing into the cushion and the mattress.

10)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a variety of boxes made of branches or leaves. A box made of willow branches (P'tilyah) is Tamei, whereas one that is made out of thorns (Chasina) is Tahor (see Tos. Yom-Tov). A P'tilyah is - for storing figs, and a Chasina - for holding cement (ibid.).

(b)Small basket-shaped covers (Signayos) are sometimes Tahor, and sometimes Tamei, depending on what they are made out of. They cover - fruit.

(c)In order to be ...

1. ... Tahor - they must be made out of leaves, rendering the vessel only temporary.

2. ... subject to Tum'ah - they must be made out of the broad fronds that cover a date-palm (see Mishnah Achronah).

(d)A K'li made out of date-palm leaves (Chosal [see Tos. Yom-Tov]) is Tamei as long as one can put things - (moist dates to ripen) in and take them out.

(e)As long as one can put things in and take them out comes to preclude - a Chosal from which cannot remove the dates without tearing the K'li open (rendering it temporary).

11)

(a)The Mishnah now rules that the glove worn by ...

1. ... winnowers, travelers and flax-makers - is subject to Tum'ah.

2. ... painters and blacksmiths - is Tahor.

(b)The gloves of ...

1. ... travelers - are used either to hold their traveling stick or to grab offensive thorns and thistles and push them out of the way, and of ...

2. ... flax-makers - to hold the stick with which one beats the flax (Tiferes Yisrael) or to prevent the thorns that grow with the flax from pricking one's hands (that will render them Tamei [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

12)

(a)R. Yossi includes in the latter group - the glove of someone who grinds beans (to make bean-stew).

(b)The Tana explains that - a glove that is meant to hold the object (turning it into a receptacle) is Tamei, whereas if it is an anti-sweat measure, it is Tahor.

(c)'Mipnei ha'Ze'ah' can either mean - to prevent the hand from sweating, or to prevent the perspiration on one's hands from reaching the object that one is holding.

13)

(a)Next, the Mishnah discusses Malkot shel Bakar ve'ha'Chasim she'lah (the piece of leather that one places on a cow's eyes and the Chasim, a bee-board and a fan. A ...

1. ... Malkot shel Bakar is - a piece of leather that is placed over the eyes of the ox as it walks round the threshing-floor threshing the corn, to prevent it from looking to the side (see also Tos.Yom-Tov).

2. ... Chasim is a muzzle - that is attached round the ox's mouth as it threshes (even though the Torah forbids this).

3. ... bee-board is - a board containing animal dung, which one sets underneath a bee-hive and burns, so that the smoke chases the bees away, enabling one to take the honey.

(b)The Tana declares these four items Tahor (see Tos.Yom-Tov).

14)

(a)The Tana declares Tamei the detachable lid of a jewelry-box (even though it belongs to the category of P'shutei K'lei Eitz) - because it is used even when the jewelry-box itself is not in use (to place the contents of the box on it, since its surface is flat [Tiferes Yisrael]) ...

(b)... whereas the lid of a box in which one keeps clothes, the lid of a crate and the lid of a basket are Tahor.

15)

(a)Included in the list that follows is a carpenter's Machbesh, a leather sheet that one places underneath a crate (ha'Keses) and its Kimron. The function of ...

1. ... a carpenter's Machbesh (press) is - to straighten wood that has bent.

2. ... a Keses and its Kimron is - a piece of leather that one places underneath wooden crates to prevent them from rotting, and on top a box-like cover (see Tos. Yom-Tov [shaped like a hood]), respectively.

(b)Next in the list are Anglin shel Seifer, Beis ha'Neger, Beis ha'Man'ul, Beis ha'Mezuzah, Tik Nevalin and Tik Kinoros - which are all kinds of bags or containers (all made of leather, except for Beis ha'Mezuzah).

(c)

1. Anglin shel Seifer is - a scroll cover (see the Tos. Yom-Tov's last note in the Perek).

2. Beis ha'Neger - the cover of a door-peg.

3. Beis ha'Man'ul - a bolt-cover.

4. Beis ha'Mezuzah - a metal (see Tos. Yom-Tov) Mezuzah-cover.

5. ... Tik Nevalin and Tik Kinoros - are the covers of lutes and harps, respectively.

16)

(a)The next four items on the list are ...

1. ... Eimum shel Godlei Mitznafos - a form in the shape of a human head on which one shapes hats.

2. ... Markof (see Tos. Yom-Tov) shel Zamar (besides a musical instrument made of wood) - a wooden horse on which jesters ride.

3. ... Revi'is shel Alayis - two pieces of wood that the women who sing dirges at funerals bang together to accompany their singing (See also Tiferes Yisrael).

4. ... G'nognis he'Ani - a poor man's satchel.

(b)The final three items in the list are S'muchos ha'Mitah, T'fus shel Tefilah, Eimum shel Oseh Susos (chains). S'muchos ha'Mitah are bed supports that prevent the bed from falling apart, 'T'fus shel Tefilah' - the leather form on which Tefilin are manufactured.

(c)Eimum shel Oseh Sagos is the form on which one manufactures chains. Others have the text ... Oseh Susos - a wooden form on which clothes are woven (a sort of weaving-loom.

17)

(a)To explain why the items in the current list are Tahor (even though the lid of the jewelry-box is Tamei), R. Yossi presents the principle that - any (wooden) vessel that serves a serving vessel (such as lids) is only Tamei if it functions even when the main vessel itself is not in use (as we will now explain), whilst those in the above list do not (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)bi'Sha'as Melachah ve'she'Lo be'Sha'as Melachah means that - it remains on the K'li even when it is empty, in which case it becomes like part of the K'li.

(c)R. Yossi's principle only applies - to wooden (or leather) Keilim which are not receptacles. Those that are, are subject to Tum'ah in any case.

18)

(a)The Mishnah now presents a list of various kinds of leather Tikim (bags or sheathes), starting with the sheath of a sword, a knife or a Pigyon - a double-bladed sword, women's scissors (made of one piece of metal, as we learned above at the beginning of Perek 13) and scissors.

(b)The Tana rules that - all the items on this list are subject to Tum'ah.

(c)Included in the list are Tik Mikchol and Tik Beis Mikchol (implements used in connection with painting the eyes), a Tik for a pen and a T'runtik. A ...

1. ... Mikchol is - the K'li with which one paints one's eyes, whereas the Beis-Mikchol is the Tik in which it is kept.

2. ... T'runtek - (the acronym for 'T'rein Tik', two Tikim), is a hold-all with individual compartments, such as that used by doctors, one for their pen, one for their knife and one for their scissors.

(d)And the current list ends with Tik Tavla u'Sekurteya, Beis ha'Chitzim, Beis ha'Pegoshos. A Tavla is - a plain board, and a Sekurteya - a special board used by the astronomers, with pictures of the phases of the sun, the stars and the planets.

(e)Chitzim are - ordinary size arrows, and Pegoshos - large-size ones.

19)

(a)And finally, a list of Tikim that are not so clear-cut. The Tik of a Simpunya (which is Tamei - when its opening is at the top (see Tiferes Yisrael), and Tahor - when it is at the side

(b)... because whenever the opening is at the side, it is not considered a bag, but a cover.

(c)Rebbi Yehudah declares the Tik of a flute, Tahor, too - because its opening is at the side (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)The Mishnah declares the cover of a club (Alah [see also Tiferes Yisrael]), a bow and a spear - Tahor ...

(e)... because whatever is defined as a bag is Tamei, as merely a cover, is Tahor.