1)

(a)The Mishnah discusses a Sandal Imki (made in Imki), a Kis shel Shenatzos, according to R. Yehudah, also a Kefifah Mitzris, and according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, also a Sandal Ladiki (made in Ladiki). A ...

1. ... Kis shel Shenatzos is - a purse with one set of straps to pull it closed and another set to pull it open.

2. ... Kefifah Mitzris - a basket made out of plaited split palm-branches.

(b)What they all have in common is that - the straps (as we explained) which do not need tying.

(c)The Tana Kama now rules that - they are all subject to both Tum'ah and Taharah, without the participation of an expert ...

(d)... because, one the straps are threaded through the loops (see Tos. Yom-Tov), they can easily be pulled tight or loosened by anybody.

2)

(a)R. Yossi argues that all stringed Keilim adopt a status of Tum'ah and Taharah without the participation of an expert, and what Chazal must have meant when they listed these Keilim is that - since anybody can easily pull them taut, they remain subject to Tum'ah, even when they are loose, and vice-versa (see Tos Yom-Tov).

(b)The only item in the list with which he agrees is Kefifah Mitzris, where he agrees with R. Yehudah - because once the straps are pulled loose, even an expert cannot return them (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)The Halachah is - like R. Yossi.

3)

(a)The Tana rules that a Kis shel Shenatzos whose straps have been removed - remains subject to Tum'ah.

(b)According to R. Yossi, this is meant literally, whereas according to the Rabbanan, it must mean that - although they have been removed from the loops, they are still attached to the purse.

(c)For the purse to become Tahor - one must stretch it until it becomes flat.

(d)The flattened purse will be subject to Tum'ah once again (even whist it is still flat) - if one stitches a piece of leather in the middle (in the form of a patch) ...

(e)... because then, it retains its identity as a receptacle.

4)

(a)The Mishnah rules that a purse inside a purse, in a case where one of them becomes Tamei - the other one does not.

(b)And the Tana rules that a flattened purse that was used specifically to hold a pearl, once the pearl has been removed - it remains subject to Tumah.

(c)According to R. Eliezer, the same will apply if the purse was used to hold money. The Chachamim maintain that - it will then become Tahor.

(d)The Chachamim are more stringent with regard to a purse that held a jewel than one that held money - because it is used less, in which case, the jewel forms a sort of cavity (turning it into a K'li, like the flat piece of leather with a patch that we just cited), unlike that of money which, due its regular use, is constantly untied.

(e)The Halachah is like the Chachamim.

5)

(a)The Tana declares Tahor Kaf Loktei Kotzim - a piece of leather which the thorn-pickers tie to their hands when they collect thorns.

(b)The Mishnah declares it Tahor - because it is not made to hold the thorns (but rather to protect the hands [see also Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael]).

(c)A Zon is a sort of belt, and a Berachyar, a knee-pad, both of which The Tana considers subject to Tum'ah - since they are both made to contain (the latter, a worker's knees, the former actually has a receptacle carved into it [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

6)

(a)Sharvulim, he says, are Tamei, and P'raklimin (or P'rakminin), Tahor. Sharvulim are - tight, leather sleeves that prevent workers regular wide sleeves from interfering with their work (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)P'raklimin are - leather bands that one ties round one's forehead as a protection (presumably against the sun).

7)

(a)According to the Mishnah, the only Beis-Atzba'os - leather gloves that are Tamei are those worn by Kayatzin.

(b)Besides people who pick thorns, Kayatzin are - people who pick summer-fruits (as we learned a little earlier).

(c)The Beis-Etzba'os are Tamei - only if the fingers are used to hold cherries (which tend to grow wild in the forest, and which the Kayatzin sometimes oick and place inside them ...

(d)... and they will become Tahor once again - once they can no longer hold the majority of the cherry.

8)

(a)The Tana rules that if one of the straps of a Sandal tears and is repaired, it remains subject to Tamei Midras. In a case where the second one tears and is repaired, he rules - it becomes Tahor from Midras ...

(b)... but remains Tamei Maga Midras.

(c)Despite the fact that the first one was already repaired by the time the second one tore, it is nevertheless Tahor from Midras - since the repair is considered Panim Chadashos, a new entity that was not there when the sandal originally became Tamei Midras.

(d)And in a case where the second strap tears before one has had a chance to repair the first one the Mishnah rules that - the sandal is Tahor (since the shoe is no longer wearable).

9)

(a)The Tana now discusses the heel of a sandal that breaks, or the Chotem (the nose) that is removed or that splits into two. Chotem is - the front part of the shoe (that covers the toes).

(b)He rules that - they both become Tahor, though they remain subject to Tum'ah from now on.

(c)The Mishnah declares a Solyam - a flat sandal which has no Eikev and no Chotem that breaks Tahor in any case.

10)

(a)A Min'al as made of soft leather, and with side flaps with laces, just like sandal and a longer Chotem (that covers more of the front of the foot). But it has no heels.

(b)The Mishnah declares a torn Min'al, Tahor - provided it does not hold the majority of the wearer's foot.

(c)R. Eliezer declares Tahor a shoe that is on the Imum - a shoe-form (as we learned in Perek 23).

(d)According to the Chachamim - it is subject to Tum'ah ...

(e)... because they consider it Nigm'rah Melachto (finished), whereas, according to R. Eliezer, it is not Nigm'rah Melachto until it has been removed from the shoe-form.

11)

(a)The Tana Kama rules that almost all leather flasks that spring a hole that is subsequently tied - are Tahor, because the owner will invariably untie the knot.

(b)The one exception to the rule is - where they are tied with an Arabian knot, which is extremely difficult to untie.

(c)R. Meir agrees with the Tana Kama's basic ruling - provided the knot was made as a temporary knot, but not if it was made as a permanent one.

(d)R. Yossi - declares the flask Tahor even if it is tied with an Arabian knot.

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

12)

(a)The Mishnah now lists various hides, beginning with one that the owner has designated as a carpet, S'kortaya - a thick hide worn by tanners whilst they are working. and a hide that is used as a mattress.

(b)The Tana rules that - they are subject to Tum'as Midras (we will see why shortly).

(c)There follow Or ha'Chamar, Or ha'Katan (from the word 'Kisna') Or ha'Kataf, Or ha'Rofei, Or ha'Arisah and Or ha'Leiv shel Katan. Or ...

1. ... ha'Chamar is - a leather cloth worn by the donkey-driver on top of his clothes whilst he walks behind his donkey (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... ha'Katan is - a leather cloth which the flax-workers place over the front of their clothes, to prevent the shavings of flax from sticking to their clothes.

3. ... ha'Kataf is - a similar piece of leather worn by porters draped over their backs to protect their clothes from the load that they are carrying.

4. ... ha'Rofei is - a leather cloth that a doctor places in front of him, to prevent his clothes from becoming bloodied from the blood of the wounds.

5. ... ha'Arisah is - a similar leather cloth with which one covers a baby's cot.

6. ... ha'Leiv shel Katan is - a small piece of leather that one ties to a small child's heart, to protect it against the scratches of angry cats.

13)

(a)The last two cases on which there is no Machlokes are Or ha'Kar - the leather cloth that one uses to spread over a cushion, and Or ha'Keses - one that is used to spread over an mattress.

(b)All of the above are subject to Tum'as Midras even though they are not made primarily to sit or to lie on - because they are nevertheless used for that purpose whilst not in use for their primary function.

14)

(a)R. Eliezer adds to the list Or ha'Saruk - a piece of leather tied by the wool-combers around their loins whilst they are working and Or ha'Sorek - one that is worn by flax-combers.

(b)The Chachamim declare them subject to Tum'as Meis (but not to Tum'as Midras) ...

(c)... because they are not made to sit or to lie on.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

15)

(a)The Tana declares Av K'sus and Tachrich K'sus subject to Midras. Av K'sus and Av Argaman (over which Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel will shortly argue) might mean a felt which is woven into a garment and a purple-colored felt, respectively. Alternatively they mean - a piece of leather with which one covers clothes and purple wool, respectively.

(b)Tachrich K'sus is - a leather cloth in which one wraps clothes.

(c)Beis Shamai include Av Argaman and Tachrich Argaman in the above list. Tachrich Argaman is - a leather cloth in which one wraps purple wool.

(d)According to Beis Hillel - they are subject to Tum'as Meis, but not to Tum'as Midras.

16)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, a hide that is used to cover ...

1. ... Keilim - is Tahor ...

2. ... weights - subject to Tum'ah.

(b)The latter ruling appears to contradict the Mishnah in Perek Kol K'li Eitz, which declares Tahor whatever is made to cover Keilim - which we learn from the Pasuk in Shemini "ve'Chol asher Ye'aseh Melachah bahem" (and are not just used to cover Keilim).

(c)Chipuy Mishkolos are different - inasmuch as a. it actually contains the weights, and b. the weights themselves are not Keilim (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)R. Yossi - citing R. Chalafta (his father) does indeed declare the latter Tahor.

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

17)

(a)The Mishnah rules that - Machshavah only renders a new K'li subject to Tum'ah if it no further Melachah is required to complete it, but not if it is.

(b)The only exception to the rule is Utzba - a hide that is meant to cover a seat ...

(c)... which Machshavah will render subject to Tum'ah anyway, because people are not fussy about using it even if it is not properly shaped.

18)

(a)The Tana - declares subject to Tum'ah hides belonging to a Ba'al-ha'Bayis with his Machshavah, but not those belonging to a tanner.

(b)The ...

1. ... former are subject to Tum'ah via Machshavah - because his Machshavah is final.

2. ... latter are not - because the final status of the hides still depends on what the purchaser intends to do with them.

19)

(a)The Mishnah draws a similar distinction between hides of a Ganav (that he stole) and those of a Gazlan. A Ganav steals - on the quiet, a Gazlan - openly.

(b)The former - renders a stolen hide subject to Tum'ah with his Machshavah, the latter - doesn't ...

(c)... because - whereas the former acquires the stolen article through Yi'ush (the owner giving up hope of finding the Ganav and retrieving his article), the latter does not (because the owner is not Meya'esh).

(d)R. Shimon says - the other way round ...

(e)... because, in his opinion, it is by a Ganav, whose identity the owner does not know, that he is Meya'esh, but not by a Gazlan, whose identity he knows and whom he intends to take to court and is not therefore Meya'esh.

20)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a hide that is already Tamei Midras - such as a carpet, when the owner decides to cut into strips or to fashion into shoes.

(b)The hide will become Tahor, according to ...

1. ... R. Yehudah - as soon as he begins to cut it to shape.

2. ... the Chachamim - only when he reduces it from five Tefachim by five Tefachim (the minimum Shi'ur for leather that is subject to Tum'ah).

21)

(a)According to R. Elazar b'R. Tzadok the same Tamei Midras hide that the owner transforms into a cloth (for drying one's hands) - is also (see Tiferes Yisrael) Tamei, but ...

(b)... a Tamei Midras leather mattress that the owner transforms into a cloth - is Tahor (from Midras) ...

(c)... because whereas the cloth (which one sometimes sits on) is similar to the carpet, it is not similar to the mattress, and is therefore comparable to a broken K'li.

(d)We qualify the ruling Tehorah - by confining it to becoming Tahor retroactively. From now on however, it is subject to Tum'ah.