Niddah 97

Chapter 97

א ואיבעית אימא רבי שמעון ולאחר הפרק ולית ליה חזקה דרבא
1 And if you prefer I might say: R. Simeon, and [the reference is to evidence] after the period,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And even then women's evidence is accepted only in so far as to impose restrictions (denial of the right of mi'un). It is not accepted, however, for the purpose of relaxing the law (allowing the performance of halizah). ');"><sup>1</sup></span> for he does not uphold the principle of Raba's presumption.
ב מפני שאמרו אפשר כו' הא תו למה לי הא תנא ליה רישא
2 BECAUSE THEY MAINTAIN: IT IS POSSIBLE etc. What need again was there for this statement, seeing that it was already taught in the earlier clause? And were you to reply: Because it was desired to lay down an anonymous statement<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which, as a rule, is the accepted law. ');"><sup>2</sup></span> in agreement with the Rabbis [it could be objected:] Is not this obvious, since in a dispute between an individual authority and a number of authorities the <i>halachah</i> is in agreement with the majority? — It might have been presumed that R. Meir's reason is more acceptable because Scriptural texts<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From Ezekiel XVI and XXIII (supra 48a). ');"><sup>3</sup></span> provide support for his view, hence we were informed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By the anonymous statement, BECAUSE THEY MAINTAIN etc. (cf. prev. n. but one). ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ג וכי תימא משום דקא בעי למסתמה כרבנן פשיטא יחיד ורבים הלכה כרבים
3 [that the <i>halachah</i> is in agreement with the view of the Rabbis]. And if you prefer I might reply: Because it was desired to state,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the next Mishnah. ');"><sup>5</sup></span> 'Similarly'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Introducing similar cases where one process follows or is the result of another though the reverse is impossible. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ד מהו דתימא מסתברא טעמא דר"מ דקא מסייע ליה קראי קמ"ל ואיבעית אימא משום דקא בעי למתני כיוצא בו
4 <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. SIMILARLY<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. prev. n. ');"><sup>7</sup></span> ANY [HOLE IN] AN EARTHEN VESSEL THAT LETS IN A LIQUID<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which the vessel stands, ');"><sup>8</sup></span> WILL<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the liquid was within the vessel. ');"><sup>9</sup></span> LET IT OUT,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A lesser hole in fact being required for the latter process than for the former. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ה <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> כיוצא בו כל כלי חרס שהוא מכניס מוציא ויש שמוציא ואינו מכניס
5 BUT THERE MAY BE ONE THAT WILL LET IT OUT AND WILL NOT LET IT IN.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. prev. n. mut. mut. The legal purpose of this statement is discussed in the Gemara infra. ');"><sup>11</sup></span> ANY LIMB<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. a redundant finger. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ו כל אבר שיש בו צפורן יש בו עצם ויש שיש בו עצם ואין בו צפורן
6 THAT GROWS A NAIL HAS ALSO A BONE IN IT<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And is, therefore, regarded as a proper limb which (cf. supra 43b) conveys uncleanness by overshadowing even though it is smaller than the minimum prescribed for the flesh of a corpse. ');"><sup>13</sup></span>
ז כל המטמא מדרס מטמא טמא מת ויש שמטמא טמא מת ואינו מטמא מדרס
7 BUT THERE MAY BE ONE THAT HAS A BONE IN IT BUT GROWS NO NAIL.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In such a case, if the limb is a redundant one, the conveyance of uncleanness (cf. prev. n.) is subject to the prescribed minimum. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
ח <big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מכניס פסול למי חטאת ופסול משום גסטרא מוציא כשר למי חטאת ופסול משום גסטרא
8 WHATEVER CONTRACTS MIDRAS-UNCLEANNESS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of a zab, to be a 'father of uncleanness (v. Glos.). ');"><sup>15</sup></span>
ט אמר רב אסי שונין כלי חרס שיעורו בכונס משקה ולא אמרו מוציא משקה אלא לענין גסטרא בלבד מאי טעמא אמר מר זוטרא בריה דרב נחמן לפי שאין אומרים הבא גסטרא לגסטרא
9 ALSO CONTRACTS CORPSE-UNCLEANNESS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the same grade (cf. prev. n.) since whatever object is suitable as midras for a zab has the status of a 'vessel' and is, therefore, subject to corpse-uncleanness also. ');"><sup>16</sup></span> BUT THERE ARE SUCH AS CONTRACT CORPSE UNCLEANNESS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having the status of a vessel in respect of susceptibility to all forms of uncleanness including that of 'father of uncleanness' if it came in contact with a corpse. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> AND DO NOT CONTRACT MIDRAS-UNCLEANNESS.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. to become a 'father of uncleanness' through the midras of a zab. This is further discussed infra in the Gemara. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. A vessel with a hole THAT LETS IN A LIQUID is unfit for the water of purification<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which (cf. Num. XIX, 17) must be consecrated in a sound vessel. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> and is [even more so] unfit<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To contract uncleanness. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
י תנו רבנן כיצד בודקין כלי חרס לידע אם ניקב בכונס משקה אם לאו יביא עריבה מלאה מים ונותן קדרה לתוכה אם כנסה בידוע שכונס משקה ואם לאו בידוע שמוציא משקה
10 as a defective vessel;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Defective vessels which are still suitable for certain uses are, under given conditions, susceptible to uncleanness (cf. Hul. 54b) but when they have a hole of the nature mentioned they lose even the status of a defective vessel and, like broken sherds, are immune from all forms of uncleanness. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> one with a hole THAT WILL LET IT OUT<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But will not let it in, sc. a smaller hole. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> is fit for the water of purification<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Such a small hole being disregarded in the case of an otherwise sound vessel. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> but unfit as a defective vessel.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being already defective the smallest hole deprives it altogether of its status (cf prev. n. but two). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> R. Assi stated, It was learnt,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shonin Sc. as an oral tradition handed down to Moses from Sinai (Rashi). ');"><sup>25</sup></span> The minimum size [of a hole to render] an earthen vessel [unfit for the consecration of the water of purification] is one that will let a liquid in;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If the hole is smaller the vessel retains in all respects the status of a sound one (cf. Shab. 95b.). ');"><sup>26</sup></span> and one that will let a liquid out<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But will not let it in, sc. a smaller hole. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> was mentioned only in respect of a defective vessel.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being already defective the smallest hole deprives it altogether of its status (cf prev. n. but two). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> What is the reason?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the last ruling. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> — Mar Zutra son of R. Nahman replied: Because people do not say,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When there is a leak in a defective vessel. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> 'Bring a defective vessel for another defective vessel'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the former should receive the leakage from the latter. A defective vessel may be so used under an otherwise sound one, since the latter is not discarded on account of a very small hole. When such a hole, however, occurs in a defective vessel it is completely discarded and, therefore, loses its status (cf. supra n. 10). ');"><sup>29</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: How is an earthen vessel to be tested in order to ascertain whether its perforation is big enough to admit a liquid or not? One brings a tub full of water and puts the pot<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That is to be tested. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> into it. If it absorbs any of the liquid, it may be taken for granted that it lets liquids in; and if not, it may be taken for granted that it only lets liquids out.