Commentary for Zevachim 43:16

לא (לקדוש) דקדיש וקדישי מעליותא היא והא תנא רבי שמואל מים שאין להם שם לווי

And Rab Judah B'Shila said in R'Assi's name in R'Johanan's name: Up to the greater part thereof.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Any liquid other than water can sometimes make up the quantity and sometimes not. Thus: if the mikweh contains thirty nine se'ahs and another is added of a different liquid, it is not valid. But if it contains forty, and then a different liquid is added and a se'ah of water is removed, it remains fit. For it was fit without the added se'ah, and this se'ah becomes null (loses its identity) in the rest, and so the mikweh remains fit. Rab Judah says that it remains fit even if in this way one removes up to (but not including) the greater part of the water. But if one has a rebi'ith of water, adds a little of another liquid, and then removes the same quantity, it is not fit, because a rebi'ith is too little for the other liquid to lose its identity in it.');">²⁰</span> R'Papa said: If one cut out a rebi'ith therein, one may bathe needles and hooks,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If one cuts out a little hollow in the side of a full-sized mikweh and the water flows into it, you may purify these small objects in it, even though it is not freely joined to the larger mikweh.');">²¹</span> since it is derived from a valid mikweh.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'Since it comes from the fitness of a mikweh'.');">²²</span> R'Jeremiah said in the name of Resh Lakish: The water of a mikweh is fit for the water of the laver.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the former is not 'living' (i.e. running) water, it may be drawn into the laver.');">²³</span> Are we to say that it [the water of the laver] need not be 'living' water? Surely it was taught: [But its inwards an its legs shall he wash] with water,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. I, 9.');">²⁴</span> but not with wine; 'with water,' but not with a mixture;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Two parts water and one part wine.');">²⁵</span> 'with water' includes any water,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even non-running.');">²⁶</span> and all the more [does it include] the water of the laver. Now what does 'and all the more the water of the laver' imply? Surely that it is 'living' water?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For that is apparently its only superiority, and so the passage does not refer to the actual water of the laver, but means any living water.');">²⁷</span> - No: it means, which is holy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e all the more is the water of the laver (actual) fit, seeing that it is holy.');">²⁸</span> Is then its holiness an advantage? Surely the school of Samuel taught: [Only] water which has no special name [is fit],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely not.');">⁹</span>

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