1)

(a)The hole made by a large awl (M'lo Makde'ach [see Meleches Shlomoh]) - is the same size as an Italian Pundiyon (a small coin), a Neronian Sela and the standard hole in the yoke of an ox [see Bartenura, Keilim 17:12]).

(b)A Ma'or (an aperture for light or air) that is ...

1. ... at least this size - is the minimum size that will allow Tum'ah to pass through to the other size.

2. ... two finger- breadths high and a thumb-breadth wide - is the minimum size that Sheyarei Ma'or will allow Tum'ah through.

(c)Sheyarei ha'Ma'or is - a window that one began stopping-up, but did not manage to complete (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2)

(a)The Shi'ur given by the Mishnah give for a Ma'or that is caused by water constantly flowing against it or that has been formed by Sheratzim is - the size of the fist (M'lo Egrof) ...

(b)... of a particularly burly man by the name of ben Avti'ach, whose fist was as large as a regular head (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The reason that the Shi'ur for such a Ma'or is different than that of the previous one is - because it is not man-made.

3)

(a)The other example the Tana gives for the latter category (of a Ma'or that is not man-made) is - one that the salty quality of the earth has caused through erosion, which results in an aperture appearing on its own.

(b)The Shi'ur of the latter, should the owner decide to use it ...

1. ... for storage is - Pose'ach Tefach.

2. ... for light or air is - M'lo Makde'ach.

4)

(a)Both Serigos and Refafos are lattice-work fences. The former however - is built in a storehouse, the latter - in a summer-hut.

(b)According to Beis Shamai, if the holes in either add up to the size hole that is made by a large awl, they will not prevent Tum'ah from passing from one side to the other. Whereas according to Beis Hillel - that is the size that a single hole must be to transmit Tum'ah.

(c)The Tana Kama maintains that all of the Shi'urim to date apply both as regards bring Tum'ah from one side to the other (as we just explained) and as regards letting out Tum'ah - which means that a hole this size, allows the Tum'ah to depart through it, and prevents Keilim in other rooms in the house from becoming Tamei.

(d)According to R. Shimon however, to bring the Tum'ah in or to let it out, one requires - a Pose'ach Tefach (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

5)

(a)The Shi'ur the Mishnah gives for Chalon she'Hi la'Avir (which is synonymous with Ma'or) - is M'lo Makde'ach (as we learned earlier).

(b)In the event that the owner decides to build ...

1. ... an additional room on the other side of the window - the Tana gives the Shi'ur to transmit Tum'ah as a Pose'ach Tefach.

2. ... build the ceiling (of that room [Tos. Yom-Tov]) in the middle of the window (so that half the window is below the ceiling and half, above) - he gives it as Pose'ach Tefach (to the window below the level of the ceiling), and the size hole that is made by a large awl above it.

6)

(a)R. Akiva gives the Shi'ur of a hole in the middle of a door as M'lo Egrof (see Tos. Yom-Tov). Not M'lo Makde'ach - because it is not meant for light or for air (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)R. Tarfon gives the Shi'ur as - Posed'ach Tefach.

(c)The Mishnah gives the Shi'ur with regard to ...

1. ... a hole that the carpenter leaves near the bottom of the door or near the top as - a M'lo Egrof, as he does in the case of ...

2. ... someone who closes the door but leaves it partially ajar or if the wind blows the door open.

(d)R. Tarfon concedes to R. Akiva in this latter ruling, even with regard to the hole at the top or the bottom of the door (which the carpenter constructed) - because whereas a hole at the top or the bottom of the door is the result of a lack of materials (and it is as if it happened automatically), a hole in the middle of the door the carpenter leaves intentionally (in order to pass things through).

7)

(a)According to Beis Shamai, the Shi'ur of an aperture (with regard to Tum'ah) if it is meant to place in it (see Tos. Yom-Tov) a weaver's stick, a sword (Asp'si) or a lamp is a Kolshehu (see Tos. Yom-Tov). Asp'si (the Greek word for a sword) refers to - a weaving implement in the shape of a sword (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)According to Beis Hillel - the Shi'ur is a Pose'ach Tefach ...

(c)... and the same applies to an aperture that is meant to look through or for general use is - also a Pose'ach Tefach (even according to Beis Shamai [see Tiferes Yisrael]).

8)

(a)When the Tana says that less than a k'Zayis Basar detracts from a Tefach if there is Rova Atzamos there, he means that - a piece of meat less than a k'Zayis lying inside a hole measuring a Pose'ach Tefach prevents the Rova ha'Kav of bones of a Meis on one side from rendering Tamei, Keilim that are on lying on the other side.

(b)If it is ...

1. ... a k'Zayis Basar, rather than less, that is lying in the hole - then it will itself become Tamei, in which case it will not prevent the Tum'ah from passing through, and the same will apply if it is ...

2. ... a k'Zayis Basar min ha'Meis on the other side, (rather than Rova Atzamos) or less than a Rova Atzamos (rather than less than a k'Zayis Basar), because then the two pieces of Basar (or the two sets of Atzamos) will combine to transmit the Tum'ah.

(c)The size bone that is needed to prevent the Tum'ah of a k'Zayis Basar from penetrating the other side is - less than that of a barley-grain ...

(d)... because if the bone is the size of a barley of more - then it will itself become Tamei, in which case it will not prevent the Tum'ah from passing through (as we just explained with regard to k'Zayis Basar).

9)

(a)The Mishnah now rules that each item in the list including Pachos mi'k'Zayis min ha'Meis, Pachos mi'k'Zayis min ha'Neveilah and Pachos mi'k'Adashah min ha'Sheretz' - detracts from the Pose'ach Tefach of a hole, on one side of which is a k'Zayis Basar or Rova Atzamos.

(b)Having already taught us Pachos mi'k'Zayis min ha'Meis, the Tana nevertheless finds it necessary to repeat it - to include (besides a k'Zayis Basar and Rova Atzamos) anything that is Metamei be'Ohel, such as a Revi'is of blood or a large spoonful of dust from a Meis (as we learned in the second Perek [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

10)

(a)The list continues with less than a k'Beitzah of food, growing corn (see 13a) and Kachi she'Yesh Bah Mamash. The significance of less than a k'Beitzah of food is that - it is neither Metamei others nor is it subject to Tum'ah itself (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)Kachi she'Yesh bah Mamash basically means - thick cobwebs.

(c)Alternatively, it might mean - a thick cobweb of the type that is found inside a cane (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

11)

(a)The last items on this latter list are Nivlas Of ha'Tahor and Nivlas Of Tamei. The former will prevent the Tum'ah from passing through - provided one does not have the express intention of transforming it into a food.

(b)Assuming there was a Machshavah, a Shi'ur k'Beitzah is required for it not to prevent the Tum'ah from passing through.

(c)The latter, on the other hand, will prevent the Tum'ah from passing through even if there was a Machshavah - if it did not become Huchshar Lekabeil Tum'ah.

(d)And it will prevent the Tum'ah from passing through, even if it was Muchshar Lekabeil Tum'ah - if there was no Machshavah.

(e)Hechsher Lekabeil Tum'ah means that - it had contact with water or one of the other six liquids specified by Chazal (wine, blood, olive-oil, milk, dew and honey).

12)

(a)The Mishnah now lists the things that do not detract from a hole measuring Pose'ach Tefach. The first of these is a k'Zayis Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov). For less than ...

1. ... a Rova ha'Kav of bones not to prevent the Tum'ah from passing through to the other side - there must be more bones of a Meis on the one side of the hole.

2. ... a k'Zayis Basar (see Tos. Yom-Tov) not to prevent the Tum'ah from passing through to the other side - there must be more Basar Meis on the one side of the hole (as we learned in 8b).

(b)The Shi'ur required by the Tana for the Tum'ah to pass through, if the article lying in the hole is a piece of ...

1. ... Meis is - a k'Zayis.

2. ... Neveilah is - a k'Zayis.

3. ... Sheretz is - a k'Adashah (the size of a lentil).

4. ... food is - a k'Beitzah.

13)

(a)We reconcile our Mishnah, which includes corn in the current list, with the previous Mishnah, which listed corn among those things that do prevent the Tum'ah from passing through - by establishing the latter Mishnah where it took root in the actual window (in which case it stands to be removed), whereas the earlier Mishnah speaks where it took root a slight distance away.

(b)When the Tana includes ...

1. ... cobwebs in this list, he is referring to - thin cobwebs (or of the thin type that do not grow inside canes).

2. ... Nivlas ha'Of ha'Tahor, he is referring to - where the owner had the express intention of transforming it into a food.

3. ... Nivlas ha'Of ha'Tamei he is referring to - one which he both had the intention of transforming into a food and which is Muchshar Lekabeil Tum'ah.

(c)The Tana inserts the Sh'si or the Areiv of the weaving-loom in this list, even though neither of them falls under the category of Beged - because the Torah declares it Tamei regarding Tum'as Nega'im.

14)

(a)R. Meir also includes a brick made from the earth of a Beis ha'Peras (where a grave was dug up). According to the Chachamim however - the brick will diminish the Tefach space, preventing the Keilim on the other side from becoming Tamei.

(b)The basis of their Machlokes is - whether a brick that is manufactured from the earth of Beis ha'Peras is included in the Tum'ah which Chazal decreed on the actual earth.

(c)The Chachamim concede to R. Meir that - a clod of (unformed) earth from a Beis ha'Peras is Tamei.

(d)The Shi'ur that is required for the latter not to prevent the Tum'ah from passing through is - the equivalent of Pikah Gedaloh shel Saka'im (the large coil used by sackmakers), which is synonymous with the standard seal on sacks.

15)

(a)The Tana concludes with the principle ...

1. ... ha'Tahor Mema'et - to include Keilim that are not subject to Tum'ah and a k'Beitzah of food that is not yet Muchshar Lekabeil Tum'ah ...

2. ... ha'Tamei Eino Mema'et - to include Keilim and clothes that are subject to Tum'ah.