Commentary for Shabbat 31:1

לא ליטמו מגבן אלמה תנן. כלי חרס וכלי נתר טומאתן שוה מיטמאין ומטמאין מאויריהן ומיטמאין מאחוריהן ואין מיטמאין מגביהן ושבירתן מטהרתן כלי נתר וכלי חרס הוא דטומאתן שוה אבל מידי אחרינא לא אמרי כיון. דכי נשתברו יש להם תקנה שוינהו ככלי מתכות

let them not become unclean through their [flat or convex] backs.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If an unclean object touches them on the back, which is flat or convex, they should not become unclean, in accordance with the Mishnah quoted. ');">¹</span> Why did we learn, Earthen vessels and nether vessels<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: a kind of white earth; Jast.: a vessel made of alum crystals. ');">²</span> are alike in regard to their uncleanness: they become defiled and defile [other objects] through their air space;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If an unclean object is suspended in the hollow of one of these vessels, even if it does not touch its side, it becomes unclean. Again, if a clean object is suspended in the hollow of an unclean vessel, though it does not actually touch it, it too becomes unclean. ');">³</span>

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