1)

(a)The first of the six categories of Mikvah is Mei Geva'im (based on the Pasuk in Yeshayah "Mayim mi'Geva'im") - a collection of less than forty Sa'ah of natural water (that is not Mayim She'uvim [see also Tos. Yom-Tov] and) that is gathered in a pit.

(b)Someone who drinks from it becomes Tamei - if someone Tamei drank from it before him ...

(c)... because we are afraid that, whilst the Tamei person was drinking, a drop of water fell back into the pit and the Tahor person drank that drop (see Tiferes Yisrael 2),

2)

(a)He becomes Tamei - to the extent that he renders Pasul Terumah that he subsequently touches.

(b)Even though he did not drink a Revi'is, he becomes Tamei - because we suspect that the drop touched a Revi'is of water in his mouth (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 've'Shasah'), which became Tamei and made him Tamei.

(c)The drop of water (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 've'Shasah') did not become Tahor through Hashakah - because Hashakah only works in a Mikvah of forty Sa'ah.

(d)The water in the pit did not become Tamei as soon as the Tamei person touched it - because it was Bateil to the pit (Mechubar le'Karka), and only became Tamei after it was detached from the ground.

3)

(a)If, after a Tamei person drank from the Mei Geva ...

1. ... someone drew from the remaining water with a Tahor vessel - the vessel becomes Tamei from the drop (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

2. ... a loaf of bread fell into the pit, and the owner withdrew it - the loaf remains Tahor, because, since, he does not want the water, the drop of spit is Bateil to the rest of the water, which is itself not Chashuv (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The loaf will become Tamei however - if the owner washes it whilst it is still in the pit ...

(c)... because by doing so, he renders the water Chashuv. Consequently, the moment he withdraws the loaf, the drop is Metamei the rest of the water, which is Metamei the loaf.

4)

(a)The Tana now rules that if, after someone draws water from the pit with a Tamei vessel ...

1. ... a Tahor person drinks from the remaining water in the pit - the water in the pit is Tamei, and the same applies if ...

2. ... someone draws from the remaining water with a Tahor vessel.

(b)If a loaf of Terumah falls into the pit ...

1. ... and he washes it, it becomes Tamei, but ...

2. ... if he did not - it remains Tahor.

(c)Rebbi sees fit to insert this Mishnah here to teach us that - contact with a K'li Tamei has the same Din as with a Tamei person (see Tiferes Yisrael).

5)

(a)The Mishnah now repeats all three earlier rulings, but in a case where Tamei water falls into the pit containing Mei Geva'im - to teach us that Mei Geva'im is Mekabel Tum'ah even from Tamei liquid that falls into it (see commentaries on the Mishnah).

(b)In a case where a loaf of Terumah falls into the water - R. Shimon rules that it becomes Tamei, irrespective of whether one washes it or not ...

(c)... because, he suspects that, the rest of the water on the loaf dries up, the last drop on the loaf is the Tamei one (in which case it is no longer Bateil).

(d)In fact - R. Shimon disagrees with all three ruling of the Tana Kama.

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

6)

(a)The Tana now rule in a case where ...

1. ... a corpse falls into the pit or where a Tamei person steps into it that - the water in the pit remains Tahor, and the same will apply if ...

2. ... a Tahor person drinks from the water.

(b)The Tana extends the Din of Mei Geva'im to Mei Boros, Mei Shichin - trenches Mei Me'aros and Mei Tamtzi'os she'Pasku. Boros are regular, round pits. The definition of ...

1. ... Shichin is - trenches ...

2. ... Me'aros is - caves (square pits that are covered and that have a roof and an entrance) ...

3. ... Mei Tamtzi'os she'Pasku is - rain water that flowed down a mountain-slope and that gathered at the foot of the mountain after the rain stopped.

(c)As long as the water has not yet stopped flowing (even if the rainfall has) - it does not have the Din of Mei Geva'im, and the drop under discussion becomes Bateil in the water.

(d)Even if a majority of rain-water flowed into the pit before the Tamei person drank, and someone filled from it with a Tamei vessel or Tamei liquid fell into it - it has the Din of Mei Geva'im and is Tamei.

7)

(a)The final case cited by the Mishnah in the above list is - Mikva'os that contain less than forty Sa'ah of water (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Tana declares streams of water flowing down a mountain slope ...

1. ... whilst it is still raining - Tahor.

2. ... after the rain has stopped - Tahor (see Tos. Yom-Tov) provided they are far from the town and from the road, but Tamei if they are near ....

(c)... because we suspect that a Tamei person drank from them or that somebody drew water from them with a Tamei vessel.

(d)Even the streams that are far from the town are considered Tamei - as soon as the majorty of long-distance travelers have departed for their destinations ...

(e)... because a Tamei person may have drunk from them or someone may have drawn water from them with a Tamei vessel (see Tiferes Yisrael).

8)

(a)According to Beis Shamai, the two things that have to occur for Mei Geivim to become Tahor are that - 1. more rain-water falls into the pit than was there before; 2. the water must overflow.

(b)Beis Hillel and R. Shimon disagree with Beis Shamai. The sole criterion according to ...

1. ... Beis Hillel is that - more rain-water falls into the pit than was there before.

2. ... R. Shimon that - the water must overflow.

(c)The Mishnah concludes that the above Mei Geva'im (see Tiferes Yisrael) are eligible for Chalah and for - using for Netilas Yadayim.

(d)le'Chalah means - to use for kneading dough from which Chalah will be taken or for cooking it (but not to actually knead the Chalah [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

9)

(a)The second category of Mikvah is Mei Tamtzi'os she'Lo Pasku - a pit (containing less than forty Sa'ah) into which streams of water flowing down a mountain slope whilst it is still raining are flowing (see also Tiferes Yisrael [as we already discussed in Mishnah 4]).

(b)The Mishnah rules that, in a case where, after someone who is Tamei drank from it ...

1. ... a Tahor person drinks from it, or someone draws water from it with a Tahor vessel - the stream remains Tahor.

2. ... a Terumah loaf falls into it and someone washes it - the loaf remains Tahor, too ...

(c)And the same applies in any of the three parallel cases, but where, instead of a Tamei person first drinking from the water ...

1. ... someone first drew from it with a Tamei bucket or if ...

2. ... some Tamei water fell into the pit first.

(d)In the earlier cases, the Tana declared the water eligible for Chalah and Netilas Yadayim, Mei Tamtzi'os is eligible - even to cook Terumah (and Chalah) with.

(e)Mei Tamtzi'os she'Lo Pasku is considered a superior Mikvah to Mei Geva'im in that - Tamei water that falls into it becomes Bateil (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

10)

(a)The third category is a regular Mikvah containing forty Sa'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov), which is considered a Mikvah more than Mei Tamtzi'os she'Lo Pasku, in that it is eligible for Tevilas Adam (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - vessels and one's hands in it.

(b)Category number four of Mikvah is a Ma'ayan (a natural spring) from which little water gushes out, and which one supplements with a majority of Mayim She'uvim (drawn water). Toveling in a natural spring is more lenient than Toveling in a Mikvah inasmuch as - one may Tovel in it a. even whilst it is flowing, and b. even if it does not contain forty Sa'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

11)

(a)Category number five listed by the Mishnah is Mayim Mukin - flowing water which is either salty or hot (Tos. Yom-Yov).

(b)It is more lenient than the previous case of Ma'ayan ... in that - one my Tovel in it even if it does not contain forty Sa'ah.

(c)The sixth category of Mikvah listed by the Mishnah is - Mayim Chayim (pure spring water that flows).

12)

(a)Mayim Chayim has - three additional advantages over a regular Mikvah ...

(b)... a Zav is permitted to Tovel in it - it can be used to sprinkle on a Metzora, and it is eligible to be mixed with the ashes of the Parah Adumah.