א׳
א׳הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה. וְטֻמְאַת מַגָּע וְאֹהֶל מְפֹרָשִׁין בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט יא) "הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּמֵת לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם וְטָמֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים". וְנֶאֱמַר (במדבר יט יד) "כָּל הַבָּא אֶל הָאֹהֶל וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בָּאֹהֶל יִטְמָא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים":
1A human corpse imparts ritual impurity that persists for a minimum of seven days when it is touched or carried or when one is under the same structure (ohel). The impurity imparted by touching a corpse or being under the same structure is explicitly mentioned in the Torah, as Numbers 19:11 states: "One who touches a corpse of any human being will be impure for seven days" and ibid.:14 states: "Anyone who enters the tent and anything in the tent will be impure for seven days.
ב׳טֻמְאַת מַשָּׂא מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה. וְקַל וָחֹמֶר הַדְּבָרִים אִם נְבֵלָה שֶׁהִיא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב וְאֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֹהֶל מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יא כח) "וְהַנּשֵֹׁא אֶת נִבְלָתָם" הַמֵּת לֹא כָּל שֶׁכֵּן. וּמַה נְּבֵלָה שֶׁמַּגָּעָהּ טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב מַשָּׂאָהּ טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב אַף הַמֵּת שֶׁמַּגָּעוֹ טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה מַשָּׂאוֹ טֻמְאַת שִׁבְעָה. אֵין טֻמְאַת מַשָּׂא בְּמֵת מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים אֶלָּא דִּין תּוֹרָה. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁשָּׁתַק מִמֶּנָּה הַכָּתוּב כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁשָּׁתַק מֵאִסּוּר הַבַּת לְפִי שֶׁאָסַר בְּפֵרוּשׁ אֲפִלּוּ בַּת הַבַּת. וְשָׁתַק מֵאִסּוּר אֲכִילַת בָּשָׂר בְּחָלָב לְפִי שֶׁאָסַר בְּפֵרוּשׁ אֲפִלּוּ בִּשּׁוּלוֹ. כָּךְ שָׁתַק מִטֻּמְאַת מַשָּׂא בְּמֵת לְפִי שֶׁטִּמֵּא בְּפֵרוּשׁ אֲפִלּוּ טֻמְאַת אָהֳלוֹ כָּל שֶׁכֵּן מַשָּׂאוֹ:
2The impurity stemming from carrying a human corpse is derived from the Oral Tradition. It is based on an inference from a lesser matter to a more severe one. If the carcass of animal makes a person impure only until the evening, but does not cause a person to incur ritual impurity when under the same shelter, and yet causes him to incur impurity when carrying it, as Leviticus 11:40 states: "One who carries their carcasses," how much more so should this apply with regard to a human corpse. And the process of reasoning continues: if touching an animal carcass causes one to become impure until the evening and carrying it causes a person to be impure until the evening, so too, since touching a corpse causes a person to be impure for seven days, it should cause him to be impure for seven days if he carries it. The impurity resulting from carrying a corpse is not considered of Rabbinic origin, but is instead, a Scriptural Law. It appears to me that Scripture remained silent concerning this type of impurity in the same way that it remained silent concerning the prohibition against relations with one's daughter, because it explicitly forbade relations with the daughter of one's daughter. And it remained silent concerning the prohibition against partaking of meat cooked with milk, because it explicitly forbade cooking it. Similarly, Scripture did not mention the impurity incurred by carrying a human corpse because it explicitly mentioned that one who was under the same shelter as a corpse incurs impurity. Thus one can infer that this certainly applies to one who carries it.
ג׳טֻמְאַת מַגָּע הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם בֵּין בְּמֵת בֵּין בִּשְׁאָר הַמְטַמְּאִים הוּא שֶׁנָּגַע הָאָדָם בִּבְשָׂרוֹ בַּטֻּמְאָה עַצְמָהּ. בֵּין בְּיָדוֹ בֵּין בְּרַגְלוֹ בֵּין בִּשְׁאָר בְּשָׂרוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה נִטְמָא. וְכֵן נִרְאֶה לִי שֶׁאִם נָגַע בְּצִפָּרְנָיו אוֹ בְּשִׁנָּיו נִטְמָא כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֵם מְחֻבָּרִים לַגּוּף הֲרֵי הֵם כְּגוּף. אֲבָל אִם תָּחַב אָדָם טֻמְאָה בְּכוּשׁ וְהִכְנִיסָהּ לְתוֹךְ גְּרוֹנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם טָהוֹר וְלֹא נָגְעָה בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ. אוֹ שֶׁהִכְנִיסָהּ לְתוֹךְ מְעִי שֶׁל אִשָּׁה מִלְּמַטָּה וְלֹא נָגְעָה בִּבְשָׂרָהּ. לֹא נִטְמָא הַבּוֹלֵעַ מִשּׁוּם מַגָּע זֶה שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נָגְעָה בִּבְשָׂרוֹ. שֶׁנְּגִיעַת פְּנִים אֵינָהּ נְגִיעָה:
3The impurity incurred by touching mentioned in all situations, whether involving a human corpse or another source of impurity, is brought about by a person touching the source of impurity itself. Whether he touches it with his flesh, his hand, his foot, or any other portion of his body, even with his tongue, he becomes impure. Similarly, it appears to me that if a person touches a source of impurity with his nails or with his teeth, he becomes impure. The rationale is since they are connected to the body, they are considered as the body itself. If, however, a person took a source of impurity, skewered it with a weaving needle, and inserted it into the throat of a person who is ritually pure without it touching his tongue or inserted it within the womb of a woman from below without touching her flesh, the person who swallowed the source of impurity does not become impure because his inner organs came in contact with the source of impurity. The rationale is that contact between a source of impurity and one's inner organs is not considered as touch.
ד׳קְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַמַּכָּה הֲרֵי הוּא כְּעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר לְעִנְיַן מַגַּע טֻמְאוֹת. וּכְשׁוּת שֶׁעַל הַקָּטָן אֵינָהּ כְּעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר. כֵּיצַד. מִי שֶׁנָּגְעָה טֻמְאָה בִּקְרוּם מַכָּתוֹ נִטְמָא כְּאִלּוּ נָגְעָה בְּעוֹרוֹ. נָגְעָה בְּשֵׂעָר הַדַּק שֶׁעַל בְּשַׂר הַקָּטָן לֹא נִטְמָא. וְכֵן אָדָם טָמֵא שֶׁהָיְתָה בּוֹ מַכָּה וְנָגַע הַטָּהוֹר בִּקְרוּם מַכַּת הַטָּמֵא נִטְמָא. אִם הָיָה קָטָן טָמֵא וְנָגַע הַטָּהוֹר בַּכְּשׁוּת שֶׁלּוֹ לֹא נִטְמָא בֵּין בְּטֻמְאַת מֵת בֵּין בִּשְׁאָר טֻמְאוֹת. וְכֵן לִכְלוּכֵי צוֹאָה אוֹ טִיט וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין חוֹצְצִין עַל הַגּוּף וְכֵן גִּלְדֵי צוֹאָה מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁחוֹצְצִין עַל הַגּוּף אֵינָם כְּעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר לֹא לְטַמֵּא וְלֹא לְהִתְטַמֵּא:
4A scab over a bruise is considered as skin with regard to touching sources of impurity. The underdeveloped body hair of a child, by contrast, is not considered as skin.What is implied? If a source of impurity touches a person on the scab over a bruise, he is impure; it is as if it touched his flesh. Conversely, if it touched the thin hair on the body of a child, he does not become impure.Similarly, if an impure person has a bruise and a pure person touched the scab on the bruise, he becomes ritually impure. If a minor was impure and a pure person touched the underdeveloped hair on his body, he does not become impure. This applies both with regard to impurity stemming from a human corpse or other types of impurity.Similarly, blotches of filth, mud, or similar things that are not considered as intervening substances or dried pieces of filth and things that are considered as intervening substances are not considered as flesh, neither to impart ritual impurity to others, nor to contract ritual impurity.
ה׳כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָדָם מִתְטַמֵּא בִּנְגִיעָתוֹ בְּטֻמְאָה כָּךְ הַכֵּלִים מִתְטַמְּאִים בִּנְגִיעַת הַטֻּמְאָה בָּהֶן. חוּץ מִכְּלִי חֶרֶס שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְטַמֵּא אֶלָּא מֵאֲוִירוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּהִלְכוֹת כֵּלִים. [וְזֶהוּ כְּלָל גָּדוֹל בַּטֻּמְאָה. כָּל הַמְטַמֵּא אָדָם בְּמַגָּע מְטַמֵּא כֵּלִים. וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא אָדָם בְּמַגָּע אֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא כֵּלִים. וְאֵין אָדָם וְכֵלִים מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה אֶלָּא מֵאַב הַטֻּמְאָה]:
5Just as a person becomes impure when he comes into contact with a source of impurity, so too, keilim become impure when a source of impurity touches them with the exception of an earthenware utensil that incurs ritual impurity only when a source of impurity enters its inner space, as will be explained in Hilchot Keilim.This is an inclusive general principle that applies with regard to ritual impurity: Whatever causes a person to contract ritual impurity when touching him, causes keilim to contract ritual impurity. Whatever does not cause a person to contract ritual impurity when touching him, does not cause keilim to contract ritual impurity. A person and keilim contract ritual impurity only from a primary source of ritual impurity.
ו׳טֻמְאַת מַשָּׂא הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם בֵּין בְּמֵת בֵּין בִּשְׁאָר כָּל הַמְטַמְּאִים בְּמַשָּׂא. הוּא שֶׁיִּשָּׂא הָאָדָם הַטֻּמְאָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע בָּהּ. אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵינָהּ אֶבֶן הוֹאִיל וְנָשָׂא נִטְמָא. וְאֶחָד הַנּוֹשֵׂא עַל רֹאשׁוֹ אוֹ עַל יָדוֹ אוֹ עַל שְׁאָר גּוּפוֹ. וְאֶחָד הַנּוֹשֵׂא הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנְּשָׂאָהּ אַחֵר וְהִנִּיחָהּ לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה הוֹאִיל וְנִשֵּׂאת עָלָיו מִכָּל מָקוֹם נִטְמָא וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה תְּלוּיָה בְּחוּט אוֹ בִּשְׂעָרוֹ וְתָלָה הַחוּט בְּיָדוֹ וְהִגְבִּיהַּ הַטֻּמְאָה כָּל שֶׁהוּא הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹשֵׂא וְנִטְמָא:
6The impurity incurred by carrying mentioned in all situations - whether involving a human corpse or another object that conveys impurity by carrying - is brought about by a person carrying a source of impurity even though he did not touch it. Even if there is a stone between the person and the source of impurity, since he carried it, he becomes impure.The above applies whether he carries it on his head, his hand, or another portion of his body. And it applies whether the person lifted up the source of impurity himself or another person lifted it up and put it on him; since he carried it on his person in any way, he becomes impure. Even if the source of impurity was hanging on a string or a hair and he hung the string from his hand and lifted the source of impurity to the slightest degree, he is considered to have carried it and he becomes impure.
ז׳מֵסִיט בִּכְלַל נוֹשֵׂא הוּא. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁמְּטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא מְטַמֵּא בְּהֶסֵּט. כֵּיצַד. קוֹרָה שֶׁהִיא מֻנַּחַת עַל הַכֹּתֶל וְעַל צִדָּהּ מֵת אוֹ נְבֵלָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. וּבָא הַטָּהוֹר לִקְצֵה הַקּוֹרָה הַשֵּׁנִי וְהֵנִידוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֵנִיד אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה שֶׁבַּקָּצֶה הַשֵּׁנִי טָמֵא מִשּׁוּם נוֹשֵׂא. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אִם מָשַׁךְ אֶת הַקָּצֶה הַשֵּׁנִי כְּנֶגֶד הָאָרֶץ עַד שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ הַטֻּמְאָה אוֹ שֶׁגָּרַר הַטֻּמְאָה עַל הָאָרֶץ. שֶׁזֶּה נוֹשֵׂא וַדַּאי. וְזֶה וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ הִיא טֻמְאַת הֶסֵּט הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם:
7Moving an article is considered as carrying it. Any article that imparts impurity when it is carried imparts impurity when moved.What is implied? There was a beam resting on a wall and on its side was a human corpse, an animal carcass, or the like. A pure person came to the other end of the beam and moved it. Since he moved the impurity at the other end of the beam, he becomes impure for carrying the source of impurity. Needless to say, this applies if he pulled the other end of the beam toward the earth until the source of impurity was lifted up or he dragged it on the ground, for this is certainly considered as carrying. The above situation and anything similar refers to the activity of moving that imparts ritual impurity, as mentioned in all instances.
ח׳הַנּוֹשֵׂא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים נִטְמָא שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַנְּגִיעָה שָׁם נְגִיעָה הַנּוֹשֵׂא שָׁם נוֹשֵׂא הוּא. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נִבְלַע הַטֻּמְאָה בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָיו שֶׁמֵּאַחַר שֶׁהִגִּיעָה לְתוֹךְ בִּטְנוֹ אֵינוֹ לֹא נוֹגֵעַ וְלֹא נוֹשֵׂא. וְאִם טָבַל טָהוֹר וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַטֻּמְאָה בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָיו:
8When a person carries a source of impurity in a hidden part of his body, he becomes impure. Even though touching such portions of the body is not considered as touch, carrying an article there is considered as carrying unless the source of impurity is swallowed up in the person's digestive system. Once a source of impurity reaches a person's stomach, it is not considered as if he touched or carried it. If such a person immerses in a mikveh he regains purity, even though the source of impurity is in his digestive system.
ט׳אֵין מִתְטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא אֶלָּא הָאָדָם בִּלְבַד לֹא הַכֵּלִים. כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה מֻנָּח עַל יָדוֹ עֲשָׂרָה כֵּלִים זֶה עַל גַּבֵּי זֶה וְהַנְּבֵלָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ בַּכְּלִי הָעֶלְיוֹן הָאָדָם טָמֵא מִשּׁוּם נוֹשֵׂא נְבֵלָה וְהַכֵּלִים שֶׁעַל יָדוֹ כֻּלָּן טְהוֹרִים חוּץ מִכְּלִי הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁנָּגְעָה בּוֹ הַטֻּמְאָה. וְכֵן כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:
9Only a human being becomes impure for carrying a source of impurity, not keilim.What is implied? Ten containers were placed on a person's hand, one on top of the other, and the carcass of an animal or another source of impurity was placed in the uppermost container. The person is considered impure, because he carried the carcass of an animal. The containers on his hand, by contrast, are all pure except for the uppermost one which was touched by the source of impurity. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
י׳טֻמְאַת אֹהֶל אֵינָהּ בִּשְׁאָר טֻמְאוֹת אֶלָּא בְּמֵת בִּלְבַד. וּבֵין שֶׁהֶאֱהִיל הָאָדָם אוֹ הַכְּלִי אֲפִלּוּ מַחַט שֶׁהֶאֱהִילָה עַל הַמֵּת אוֹ שֶׁהֶאֱהִיל הַמֵּת עַל הָאָדָם אוֹ עַל הַכֵּלִים אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הַמֵּת עִם הָאָדָם אוֹ עִם הַכֵּלִים תַּחַת אֹהֶל אֶחָד הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ טְמֵאִים:
10The ritual impurity of ohel does not apply with regard to other sources of impurity, only with regard to a human corpse. Whether a person and/or a k'li, even a needle, was extended over a corpse, a corpse was extended over a person and/or a k'li, or a corpse and a person and/or a k'li were under one shelter, they are impure.
י״אוְטֻמְאַת אֹהֶל הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם הוּא שֶׁתְּטָמֵּא אוֹתָהּ טֻמְאָה הָאָדָם אוֹ הַכֵּלִים בְּאַחַת מִשָּׁלֹשׁ דְּרָכִים אֵלּוּ. אֶחָד הַבָּא כֻּלּוֹ לְאֹהֶל הַמֵּת אוֹ הַבָּא מִקְצָתוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה נִטְמָא בְּאֹהֶל אֲפִלּוּ הִכְנִיס יָדוֹ אוֹ רָאשֵׁי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו אוֹ חָטְמוֹ לְאֹהֶל הַמֵּת הֲרֵי זֶה נִטְמָא כֻּלּוֹ. נָגַע בַּמַּשְׁקוֹף וְצֵרֵף יָדוֹ עִם הַמַּשְׁקוֹף נִטְמָא כְּאִלּוּ בָּא מִקְצָתוֹ. נָגַע בָּאַסְקֻפָּה מִטֶּפַח וּלְמַטָּה קָרוֹב לָאָרֶץ טָהוֹר. וּמִטֶּפַח וּלְמַעְלָה טָמֵא. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁדָּבָר זֶה מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם:
11The impurity of ohel mentioned in all places refers to impurity imparted by a source of impurity to a person or keilim in one of these three ways.Whether a person enters entirely to the shelter where a corpse is located or part of his body enters, he becomes impure because of the ohel. Even if he inserted merely his hand, his fingertips, or his nose into the shelter where a corpse is located, his entire person becomes impure. If he joined his hand to the lintel of the doorway of such a shelter, he becomes impure as if part of his body entered. If he touched the doorframe from a handbreadth and below above the ground, he is pure. From a handbreadth and above, he is impure. It appears to me that this impurity is of Rabbinic origin.
י״באֶחָד הַמֵּת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ מִן הָעַכּוּ"ם מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא:
12Corpses of both Jews and gentiles impart impurity through touch or through carrying.
י״גוְאֵין הָעַכּוּ"ם מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל וְדָבָר זֶה קַבָּלָה הוּא וַהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּמִלְחֶמֶת מִדְיָן (במדבר לא יט) "כּל נֹגֵעַ בֶּחָלָל" וְלֹא הַזְכִּיר שָׁם אֹהֶל. וְכֵן הָעַכּוּ"ם אֵינוֹ נַעֲשֶׂה טְמֵא מֵת אֶלָּא עַכּוּ"ם שֶׁנָּגַע בְּמֵת אוֹ נְשָׂאוֹ אוֹ הֶאֱהִיל עָלָיו הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמִי שֶׁלֹּא נָגַע. הָא לְמָה זֶה דּוֹמֶה לִבְהֵמָה שֶׁנָּגְעָה בְּמֵת אוֹ הֶאֱהִילָה עַל הַמֵּת. וְלֹא בְּטֻמְאַת הַמֵּת בִּלְבַד אֶלָּא בְּכָל הַטֻּמְאוֹת כֻּלָּן אֵין הָעַכּוּ"ם וְלֹא הַבְּהֵמָה מִתְטַמְּאִין בָּהֶן:
13The corpse of a gentile does not impart ritual impurity through ohel. This matter was conveyed by the Oral Tradition. With regard to the war with Midian, Numbers 31:19 states: "All who touch a corpse...", but does not mention an ohel.Similarly, a gentile does not contract the impurity connected with a corpse. Instead, if a gentile touches a corpse, carries it, or stands over it, it is as if he did not touch it. To what can the matter be compared? To an animal that touched a corpse or stood over a corpse.Not only the impurity imparted by a human corpse, but all types of impurity do not cause gentiles and animals to become impure.
י״דוּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁיְּהוּ הָעַכּוּ"ם כְּזָבִין לְכָל דִּבְרֵיהֶן. וְאֵין לְךָ בְּכָל מִינֵי נֶפֶשׁ מַה שֶּׁמִּתְטַמֵּא וְהוּא חַי אוֹ מְטַמֵּא וְהוּא חַי חוּץ מִן הָאָדָם בִּלְבַד. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. אֶחָד גָּדוֹל וְאֶחָד קָטָן מִתְטַמְּאִין בְּכָל הַטֻּמְאוֹת אֲפִלּוּ בְּטֻמְאַת הַמֵּת. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ (במדבר יט כ) "אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִטְמָא" אֶחָד הָאִישׁ וְאֶחָד הַקָּטָן שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר שָׁם (במדבר יט יח) "וְעַל כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ שָׁם". אֲפִלּוּ קָטָן בֶּן יוֹמוֹ שֶׁנָּגַע אוֹ נָשָׂא אוֹ הֶאֱהִיל עַל הַמֵּת נִטְמָא וַהֲרֵי הוּא טְמֵא מֵת. וְהוּא שֶׁנּוֹלַד לְתִשְׁעָה. אֲבָל בֶּן שְׁמוֹנָה הֲרֵי הוּא כְּאֶבֶן וְאֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה:
14According to Rabbinic Law, gentiles are considered as zavim, According to Scriptural Law, there is no type of living being that contracts ritual impurity while alive or imparts ritual impurity while alive, except a human, and even then, only when he is Jewish.Both a Jewish adult and a minor can contract all forms of ritual impurity, even the impurity stemming from a corpse, concerning which Numbers 19:20 states: "A man who shall become impure." Nevertheless, both an adult and a minor can contract this impurity, for ibid.:18 states: "for all the souls that were there." Even a newborn infant that touched, carried, or extended a limb over a corpse becomes impure and he is considered impure because of contact with a human corpse.The above applies provided the baby was born after a nine month pregnancy. If he is born after an eight month pregnancy, he is considered as a stone and he does not contract ritual impurity.
ט״והַמֵּת אֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא עַד שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשׁוֹ אֲפִלּוּ מְגֻיָּד אוֹ גּוֹסֵס. אֲפִלּוּ נִשְׁחֲטוּ בּוֹ שְׁנֵי הַסִּימָנִים אֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא עַד שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט יג) "בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת". נִשְׁבְּרָה מִפְרַקְתּוֹ וְרֹב בְּשָׂרָהּ עִמָּהּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּקְרַע כְּדָג מִגַּבּוֹ אוֹ שֶׁהֻתַּז רֹאשׁוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנֶּחְלַק לִשְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים בְּבִטְנוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מְטַמֵּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן הוּא מְרַפְרֵף בְּאֶחָד מֵאֵיבָרָיו:
15A corpse does not impart ritual impurity until the person actually dies. Even if one's veins have been cut, or he is in his death-throes, even if his two vital signs have been slit, he does not impart ritual impurity until his soul expires, as ibid.:13 states: "The soul of a man who dies...."If his backbone is broken together with most of the surrounding flesh, he was torn apart like a fish from his back, he was decapitated, or he was cut in half from his stomach, he imparts impurity, even though some of his limbs are still making convulsive movements.
ב׳
א׳הַנֵּפֶל אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נִתְקַשְּׁרוּ אֵיבָרָיו בְּגִידִין מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל כְּאָדָם גָּדוֹל שֶׁמֵּת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט יא) "הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּמֵת לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם". וְכֵן כְּזַיִת מִבְּשַׂר הַמֵּת בֵּין לַח בֵּין יָבֵשׁ כְּחֶרֶשׂ מְטַמֵּא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם. וְהַנֶּצֶל בַּבָּשָׂר מְטַמֵּא בִּכְזַיִת. אֵיזֶהוּ נֶצֶל זֶה הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁנִּמּוֹחַ וְנַעֲשֶׂה לֵחָה סְרוּחָה. וְהוּא שֶׁתִּקְרשׁ אוֹתָהּ הַלֵּחָה הַנִּמְצֵאת מִן הַמֵּת שֶׁאִם קָרְשָׁה בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא מִבְּשָׂרוֹ וְאִם לֹא קָרְשָׁה אֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה שֶׁמָּא כִּיחוֹ וְנִיעוֹ הוּא:
1A stillborn fetus, even though it is underdeveloped and its limbs have not been firmly connected with their sinews, imparts ritual impurity when it is touched, carried, or when one is under the same structure as it, like the corpse of an adult that has died, as implied by Numbers 19:11: "One who touches a corpse of the soul of any man."Similarly, an olive-sized measure from the flesh of a corpse imparts impurity like an entire corpse, whether it still retains its moisture or it has become dry like a shard. Netzal is like flesh and imparts impurity when an olive-sized portion is present.What is meant by the term netzal? Flesh that has decomposed and turned into a putrid liquid mass, provided that the liquid mass that resulted from the corpse coagulates. For if it coagulates, it is apparent that it comes from the flesh of the corpse. If it does not coagulate, it does not impart impurity, for perhaps it is from the deceased's phlegm or other body fluids.
ב׳אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַשִּׁעוּרִין כֻּלָּם הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי הֵן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים תְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּזַיִת וּלְפִיכָךְ שִׁעוּר טֻמְאַת בְּשָׂרוֹ כְּזַיִת:
2Even though these measures were all conveyed as halachot to Moses at Sinai, our Sages said: At the onset of his conception, man's body is the size of an olive. Therefore the measure for which his flesh imparts ritual impurity is the size of an olive.
ג׳אֵיבָר שֶׁנֶּחְתַּךְ מִן הָאָדָם הַחַי הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל אֲפִלּוּ אֵיבָר קָטָן שֶׁל קָטָן בֶּן יוֹמוֹ שֶׁהָאֵיבָרִים אֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט טז) "כּל אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה בַּחֲלַל חֶרֶב" וְהַדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁדִּין חֲלַל חֶרֶב כְּדִין חֲלַל אֶבֶן אוֹ חֲלַל שְׁאָר דְּבָרִים מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁלֹּא בָּא זֶה אֶלָּא לְטַמֵּא נוֹגֵעַ בְּאֵיבָר שֶׁפְּלָטַתּוּ הַחֶרֶב. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים כְּשֶׁהָיָה הָאֵיבָר שָׁלֵם כִּבְרִיָּתוֹ בָּשָׂר וְגִידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט טז) "אוֹ בְעֶצֶם אָדָם" עֶצֶם שֶׁהוּא כְּאָדָם מַה אָדָם בָּשָׂר וְגִידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת אַף אֵיבָר מִן הַחַי עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כִּבְרִיָּתוֹ בָּשָׂר וְגִידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת. אֲבָל הַכֻּלְיָא וְהַלָּשׁוֹן וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן אֵיבָר בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן הוֹאִיל וְאֵין בָּהֶן עֶצֶם הֲרֵי הֵן כִּשְׁאָר הַבָּשָׂר. חָסַר מִן הָעֶצֶם שֶׁל אֵיבָר כָּל שֶׁהוּא הֲרֵי הָאֵיבָר כֻּלּוֹ טָהוֹר. חָסַר מִבְּשָׂרוֹ אִם נִשְׁאַר עָלָיו בָּשָׂר שֶׁרָאוּי לַעֲלוֹת בּוֹ אֲרוּכָה בְּחַי וְיִתְרַפֵּא וְיִשָּׁלֵם. הֲרֵי זֶה מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל. וְאִם לָאו מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל. וּבָשָׂר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַחַי טָהוֹר. וְכֵן עֶצֶם בְּלֹא בָּשָׂר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַחַי טָהוֹר:
3A limb that was cut off from a living person is considered as an entire corpse and imparts impurity when it is touched, carried, or one is under the same structure. This applies even to a limb of a newborn infant, for there is no minimum measure that applies with regard to complete limbs. This is derived from Numbers 19:16 which states: "Anyone who touches a corpse slain by the sword... on the open field." It is a known matter that the laws applying to one slain by the sword are the same as one slain by a stone or through other means. According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that the verse comes only to deem a limb severed by a sword as impure.When does the above apply? When the limb was intact as it was when it came into being with flesh, sinews, and bones, as the abovementioned verse states: "Or the bone of a man." Implied is that the bone must be like a man, i.e., a human corpse. Just as a human corpse has flesh, sinews, and bones, so too, a limb from a living person must be intact as it was when it came into being and have flesh, sinews, and bones. In contrast, a kidney and a tongue, and the like, even though they are considered as complete organs, since they do not contain bones, they are considered as the remainder of a person's flesh.If even the slightest amount of bone was missing from a limb severed from a living person, the entire limb is pure. The following rules apply if some of its flesh was missing: If there remained enough flesh on it that, were the person to be alive, his flesh would regenerate, be healed, and return to a state of wholeness, the limb imparts impurity when it is touched, carried, or when one is under the same structure. If not, it imparts impurity when it is touched, carried, but not when one is under the same structure.Flesh that is separated from a living person is ritually pure. Similarly, a bone without flesh that is separated from a living person is ritually pure.
ד׳אֵיבָר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל כְּמֵת וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שָׁלֵם כִּבְרִיָּתוֹ בָּשָׂר וְגִידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת. חָסַר עַצְמוֹ אִם נִשְׁאַר עָלָיו בָּשָׂר כְּזַיִת מְטַמֵּא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם. חָסַר הַבָּשָׂר וְלֹא חָסַר הָעֶצֶם אִם נִשְׁאַר עָלָיו כְּדֵי לַעֲלוֹת אֲרוּכָה בְּחַי מְטַמֵּא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם וְאִם לָאו הֲרֵי הוּא כִּשְׁאָר עַצְמוֹת הַמֵּתִים שֶׁאֵין עֲלֵיהֶן הַבָּשָׂר:
4When a limb is separated from a corpse, it imparts impurity as a corpse does when it is touched, carried, or when one is under the same structure, provided it is intact as it was when it came into being with flesh, sinews, and bones.If a portion of the bone was lacking, when there is at least an olive-sized portion of flesh on it, it imparts impurity like an entire corpse. The following rules apply if some of the flesh was lacking, but none of the bone. If there remained enough flesh on it that, were the person to be alive, his flesh would regenerate, it imparts impurity like an entire corpse. If not, it is like other bones of a corpse on which there is no flesh.
ה׳מֹחַ שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הָעֶצֶם הֲרֵי הוּא מַעֲלֶה אֲרוּכָה מִבַּחוּץ. לְפִיכָךְ קוּלִית הַמֵּת וְהוּא עֶצֶם הַסָּתוּם מִשְּׁנֵי קְצוֹתָיו אִם יֵשׁ בְּתוֹכָהּ מֹחַ כְּדֵי לַעֲלוֹת אֲרוּכָה הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם. הָיָה בָּהּ מֹחַ הַמִּתְנַדְנֵד אִם יֵשׁ בּוֹ כְּזַיִת הֲרֵי זֶה מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָעֶצֶם סָתוּם מִכָּל צְדָדָיו טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר שֶׁהַמֹּחַ כְּבָשָׂר לְכָל דָּבָר:
5The marrow of a bone causes flesh to regenerate on the bone's surface. Therefore if the hipbone of a corpse, a bone that is closed on both of its sides, has sufficient marrow to cause the flesh to regenerate, it is considered as an entire corpse.The following laws apply if a bone has marrow that has dried out and rattles within. If there is an olive-sized portion of marrow, the bone imparts impurity when one is under the same shelter. Even though the bone is closed on all sides, the impurity breaks through and ascends and breaks through and descends, as will be explained. For the marrow is considered like flesh in all contexts.
ו׳הָאֵיבָר וְהַבָּשָׂר הַמְדֻלְדָּלִים בָּאָדָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין יְכוֹלִין לַחְזֹר וְלִחְיוֹת טְהוֹרִים. מֵת הָאָדָם הֲרֵי הַבָּשָׂר טָהוֹר וְהָאֵיבָר מְטַמֵּא מִשּׁוּם אֵיבָר מִן הַחַי וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא מִשּׁוּם אֵיבָר מִן הַמֵּת. מַה בֵּין אֵיבָר מִן הַחַי לְאֵיבָר מִן הַמֵּת. אֵיבָר מִן הַחַי בָּשָׂר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ וְעֶצֶם הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ טְהוֹרִים וְאֵיבָר מִן הַמֵּת בָּשָׂר הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ וְעֶצֶם הַפּוֹרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ כִּמְפֹרָשִׁים מִן הַמֵּת הַשָּׁלֵם וּמְטַמְּאִין בְּשִׁעוּרָן:
6The following laws apply when there is a limb and/or flesh limply hanging from a person. Even though they cannot be restored to their natural state and vitality, they are pure. If the person dies, the flesh is pure and the limb imparts ritual impurity according to the laws pertaining to a limb severed from a living body and not according to the laws pertaining to a limb severed from a corpse.What are the differences between the laws pertaining to a limb severed from a living body and the laws pertaining to a limb severed from a corpse? Flesh and bones that become separated from a limb severed from a living person are pure. Flesh and bones that become separated from a limb severed from a corpse are considered as if they were separate from an entire corpse and impart impurity according to the appropriate measures.
ז׳וּבֵין אֵיבָר מִן הַחַי בֵּין אֵיבָר מִן הַמֵּת אֵין לָהֶן שִׁעוּר. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים מָאתַיִם שְׁמוֹנָה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֵיבָרִים יֵשׁ בָּאִישׁ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן בָּשָׂר וְגִידִים וְעֶצֶם וְאֵין הַשִּׁנַּיִם מִן הַמִּנְיָן. וּבְאִשָּׁה מָאתַיִם וְאֶחָד וַחֲמִשִּׁים. כָּל אֵיבָר מֵהֶן שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ כִּבְרִיָּתוֹ בֵּין מִן הַחַי בֵּין מִן הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל חוּץ מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה אֵיבָרִים יְתֵרוֹת שֶׁבָּאִשָּׁה שֶׁאֵינָן מְטַמְּאִין בְּאֹהֶל. וְכֵן אֶצְבַּע יְתֵרָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ עֶצֶם וְאֵין בָּהּ צִפֹּרֶן אִם נִסְפֶּרֶת עַל גַּב הַיָּד עוֹלָה לְמִנְיַן רֹב הָאֵיבָרִים וְאִם אֵינָהּ נִסְפֶּרֶת עַל גַּב הַיָּד מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וְאֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֹהֶל וְטֻמְאָתָהּ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. וְאִם הָיָה בָּהּ צִפֹּרֶן הֲרֵי הִיא כִּשְׁאָר הָאֵיבָרִים. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה גָּזְרוּ טֻמְאָה עַל אֶצְבַּע שֶׁאֵינָהּ נִסְפֶּרֶת גְּזֵרָה מִשּׁוּם הַנִּסְפֶּרֶת. וְלָמָּה לֹא טִמְּאוּהָ בְּאֹהֶל עָשׂוּ לָהּ הֶכֵּר כְּדֵי לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁטֻּמְאָתָהּ מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם מִשּׁוּם גְּזֵרָה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׂרְפוּ עַל טֻמְאָתָהּ תְּרוּמָה וְקָדָשִׁים:
7There is no minimum measure for either a limb severed from a living body or a limb severed from a corpse.A man has 248 limbs, every one of them comprising flesh, sinews, and bones. The teeth are not included in this number. There are 251 in a woman.Any limb that became separated while intact as it was when it came into being, whether it was separated while the person was alive or after his death imparts impurity when it is touched, carried, or one is under the same structure with the exception of the three extra limbs possessed by a woman. The latter do not convey impurity when one is under the same structure.Similarly, an extra finger that has a bone, but does not have a nail, can be counted as part of the sum of the majority of a person's limbs if it is counted on his hand together with his other fingers. If it is not counted on his hand together with his other fingers, it can, nevertheless, impart impurity when it is touched or carried. It does not, however, impart impurity when one is under the same shelter. The impurity it imparts is of Rabbinic origin. If it has a nail, it is considered as other limbs.Why did the Sages rule that a finger that is not counted should impart impurity? This decree was a safeguard lest the impurity that could be imparted by one that is counted would be ignored. Why did they rule that it does not impart impurity when under the same shelter? They established a point of distinction to make it known that the impurity it imparts originates in a Rabbinic decree so that terumah and sacrificial meat will not be burnt because of this type of impurity.
ח׳עַצְמוֹת הַמֵּת שֶׁאֵין עֲלֵיהֶם בָּשָׂר אִם נִכֶּרֶת בָּהֶן צוּרַת עֲצָמוֹת הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מְטַמְּאִין בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם שֶׁאֲנִי קוֹרֵא בָּהֶם (במדבר יט טז) "עֶצֶם אָדָם". וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הָעֲצָמוֹת שֶׁהֵן מְטַמְּאִין כְּמֵת. הַשִּׁדְרָה וְהַגֻּלְגּלֶת וְרֹב בִּנְיָנוֹ וְרֹב מִנְיָנוֹ. הַשִּׁדְרָה כֵּיצַד. שִׁדְרָה שֶׁהִיא שְׁלֵמָה הֲרֵי הִיא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם וְאִם חָסְרָה אֲפִלּוּ חֻלְיָא אַחַת מִשְּׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה חֻלְיוֹת הֲרֵי הִיא כִּשְׁאָר הָעֲצָמוֹת. הַגֻּלְגּלֶת כֵּיצַד. גֻּלְגּלֶת שֶׁהִיא שְׁלֵמָה הֲרֵי הִיא כְּמֵת וְאִם חָסְרָה כְּסֶלַע הֲרֵי הִיא כִּשְׁאָר הָעֲצָמוֹת. הָיוּ בָּהּ נְקָבִים קְטַנִּים כֻּלָּם מִצְטָרְפִין לִכְסֶלַע. כָּל בִּנְיָנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם הוּא שְׁתֵּי הַשּׁוֹקַיִם וְהַיְרֵכַיִם וְהַצְּלָעוֹת וְהַשִּׁדְרָה. וְרֹב בִּנְיָנוֹ שֶׁל מֵת הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שְׁתֵּי שׁוֹקָיו וְיָרֵךְ אַחַת אִם חָסֵר רֹב בִּנְיָנוֹ כָּל שֶׁהוּא הֲרֵי הֵן כִּשְׁאָר הָעֲצָמוֹת. רֹב מִנְיָנוֹ כֵּיצַד. רֹב מִנְיַן עֲצָמוֹת כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ קכ"ה עֶצֶם הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כְּמֵת שָׁלֵם. הָיוּ קכ"ד הֲרֵי הֵן כִּשְׁאָר הָעֲצָמוֹת. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם זֶה יָתֵר בְּאֵיבָרָיו אוֹ חָסֵר בְּאֵיבָרָיו אֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין בּוֹ אֶלָּא עַל מִנְיַן רֹב כָּל אָדָם אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה אֶצְבַּע שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ צִפֹּרֶן אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה נִסְפֶּרֶת עַל גַּב הַיָּד שֶׁהִיא עוֹלָה לְמִנְיָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:
8If there is no flesh on the bones of a corpse, they impart impurity like an entire corpse when they are touched or carried or when one is under the same structure, provided it is apparent that they have the form of bones, for one can still refer to them as "the bones of a man." These are the bones that impart the ritual impurity of a corpse: the backbone, the skull, the majority of the body's structure, and the majority of the number of bones in the body.What is meant by the backbone causing impurity? When the backbone is intact, it is considered as an entire corpse. If even one of the eighteen vertebrae is missing, they are considered as other bones.What is meant by the skull causing impurity? When the skull is intact, it is considered as an entire corpse. If it is missing a portion as large as a sela, it is considered as other bones. If it has small holes, their area is added together to see if it compromises that of a sela.The entire structure of a man is: the two shins, the hips, the ribs, and the backbone. The majority of the structure of a corpse is considered as an entire corpse. What is implied? For example, if his two shins and one hip are present, it is as if the entire corpse was present. If even the slightest amount is missing from "the majority of the structure," the bones are considered as other bones.What is meant by the majority of the number of the bones? The majority of the number of bones, e.g., 125 bones. If there are 124, they are considered as other bones. Even though this particular person had extra limbs or fewer limbs, this figure is calculated according to the number of bones of the majority of people unless the extra limb is a finger that has a nail or which is counted on his hand together with his other fingers. Such a finger is counted in the sum of a person's bones, as stated.
ט׳שְׁאָר עַצְמוֹת הַמֵּת שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן רֹב מִנְיַן וְלֹא רֹב בִּנְיָן וְלֹא שִׁדְרָה שְׁלֵמָה וְלֹא גֻּלְגּלֶת שְׁלֵמָה אִם הָיָה בָּהֶן רֹבַע הַקַּב הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מְטַמְּאִים כְּמֵת בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל. הָיוּ פָּחוֹת מֵרֹבַע אֲפִלּוּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל:
9The following laws apply to the remaining bones of a corpse when among them, there is not the majority of the number, nor the majority of the structure of the corpse, and not an intact backbone, nor an intact skull. If there are a fourth of a kab of bones, they impart impurity like an entire corpse when they are touched or carried or one is under the same structure. If there are less than a fourth of a kab - this applies even to a bone merely the size of a barley-corn - they impart impurity when they are touched or carried. They do not, however, impart impurity through being under the same structure.
י׳הָיָה עֶצֶם אֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ יֵשׁ בּוֹ רֹבַע הֲרֵי זֶה מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל. טֻמְאַת עֶצֶם אֶחָד הֲלָכָה מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט יח) "כָּל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּעֶצֶם" לָמְדוּ מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֲפִלּוּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא. וּלְפִי שֶׁטֻּמְאָתוֹ הֲלָכָה הֲרֵי הוּא דִּין תּוֹרָה וְלֹא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים:
10If there is one bone, even if it is a fourth of a kab in size, it imparts impurity when it is touched or carried. It does not, however, impart impurity through being under the same structure.The impurity imparted by one bone is a halachah conveyed by the Oral Tradition. Numbers 19:18 states: "And all who touch the bone." The Oral Tradition teaches that even a bone the size of a barley-corn imparts impurity when it is touched or carried. Since this impurity is taught as halachah by the Oral Tradition, it is considered as Scriptural Law and not as a Rabbinic decree.
י״אמֵת שֶׁהִרְקִיבוּ עַצְמוֹתָיו בַּקֶּבֶר וְנַעֲשׂוּ רֶקֶב. מְלֹא חָפְנַיִם מֵאוֹתוֹ רֶקֶב מְטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל כְּמֵת וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע לְפִי שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִגַּע בְּכֻלּוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינוֹ גּוּף אֶחָד. וַאֲפִלּוּ גִּבְּלוֹ בְּמַיִם אֵינוֹ חִבּוּר:
11When the bones of a corpse decompose in the grave and become a rekev, two handfuls of that rekev impart impurity when that quantity is carried or it is located under the same structure as a person or object. It does not, however, impart impurity when it is touched, because it is impossible to touch it in its entirety, because it is not a whole entity. Even if it was mixed with water, the different portions are not considered as joined together.
י״בדַּם הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא כְּמֵת בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא וּבְאֹהֶל. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט יג) "בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם" וְנֶאֱמַר (דברים יב כג) "כִּי הַדָּם הוּא הַנָּפֶשׁ". וְכַמָּה שִׁעוּרוֹ רְבִיעִית. אֲפִלּוּ תַּמְצִית הַדָּם כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ אַדְמוּמִית מְטַמֵּא בְּאֹהֶל הַמֵּת:
12The blood of a corpse imparts impurity like the corpse itself when it is touched, carried, or one is under the same structure, for Numbers 19:13 speaks of: "the soul of man" and Deuteronomy 12:23 states: "the blood is the soul."What is the measure of blood that imparts impurity? A revi'it. Even the liquid left after blood coagulates imparts impurity when one is under the same structure, as a corpse does, as long as it is red in color.
י״גדַּם הַחַי אֲפִלּוּ דַּם נְחִירָה הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהוּא חַי. נִתְעָרֵב הַדָּם שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה עִם הַדָּם שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ אַחַר שֶׁמֵּת וְכָל הַתַּעֲרוֹבוֹת רְבִיעִית וְאֵין יָדוּעַ כַּמָּה יָצָא מֵחַיִּים וְכַמָּה יָצָא אַחַר מִיתָה. אֲפִלּוּ חֲצִי רְבִיעִית מֵחַיִּים וְחֶצְיָהּ אַחַר מִיתָה הֲרֵי זֶה נִקְרָא דַּם תְּבוּסָה וּמְטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא וּבְמַגָּע וּבְאֹהֶל. אֶלָּא שֶׁטֻּמְאָתוֹ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים:
13Blood from a living person, even if it is the blood that flows out when the person is stabbed in the throat, is pure as long as the person is alive. If the blood which flows from his body at the end, i.e., before his death, becomes mixed with the blood which flows from his body after he died and the entire mixture is a revi'it, and it is not known how much flowed out while he was alive and how much flowed out after his death, even if half a revi'it flowed out while he was alive and half after his death, this is referred to as "weltering blood." It imparts impurity when it is touched, carried, or when one is under the same structure. This impurity is, however, of Rabbinic origin.
י״דהָרוּג שֶׁהָיָה מֻטָּל עַל הַמִּטָּה וְדָמוֹ מְנַטֵּף כְּשֶׁהוּא חַי וְיוֹרֵד לְגֻמָּא וּמֵת וַהֲרֵי הַדָּם מְנַטֵּף אַחַר מוֹתוֹ וְיוֹרֵד לְאוֹתָהּ גֻּמָּא. הֲרֵי כָּל הַדָּם שֶׁבָּהּ טָהוֹר שֶׁטִּפָּה טִפָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה בָּטְלָה כְּדָם שֶׁיָּצָא מֵחַיִּים. יָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ רְבִיעִית דָּם בִּלְבַד וְסָפֵק כֻּלָּהּ מֵחַיִּים סָפֵק כֻּלָּהּ לְאַחַר מִיתָה הֲרֵי זוֹ סְפֵק טְמֵאָה כִּשְׁאָר הַסְּפֵקוֹת וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בָּהּ בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד טָמֵא בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים טָהוֹר כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בִּמְקוֹמוֹ:
14The following laws apply when the corpse of a person who was slain was lying on a bed. His blood had been dripping from his body while he was alive and descending into a hole. At one point, he died. After he died, the blood continued dripping and descending into that hole. All of the blood is pure. For the drops of blood are nullified one by one, as they become mixed with the blood that flowed from his body during his lifetime.If only a revi'it of blood flowed out from the person's body and there is a doubt whether it all flowed out during the person's life or afterwards, this is a questionable situation of ritual impurity like other questionable situations. One who touches it in a private domain is impure. In a public domain, he is pure, as will be explained in the appropriate place.
ט״והַקֶּבֶר כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַטֻּמְאָה בְּתוֹכוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְאֹהֶל כְּמֵת דִּין תּוֹרָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יט טז) "אוֹ בְמֵת אוֹ בְעֶצֶם אָדָם אוֹ בְקָבֶר". וְאֶחָד הַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּגַגּוֹ שֶׁל קֶבֶר אוֹ הַנּוֹגֵעַ בִּכְתָלָיו. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּנוּי וְסָתוּם וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִהְיֶה כֻּלּוֹ מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְאֹהֶל. אֲבָל הַמַּעֲמִיד כֵּלִים אוֹ אֲבָנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן בְּצִדֵּי הַמֵּת וְכִסָּה עָלָיו מִלְּמַעְלָה בְּכֵלִים אוֹ בַּאֲבָנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן זֶה הַכִּסּוּי הַמֻּטָּל מִלְּמַעְלָה נִקְרָא גּוֹלֵל וְאֵלּוּ הַצְּדָדִין הַמַּעֲמִידִין אֶת הַגּוֹלֵל שֶׁהוּא נִשְׁעָן עֲלֵיהֶן נִקְרָאִין דּוֹפֵק. וּשְׁנֵיהֶם הַגּוֹלֵל אוֹ הַדּוֹפֵק מְטַמְּאִין בְּמַגָּע וּבְאֹהֶל כְּקֶבֶר וְטֻמְאָתָן מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים וְאֵינָן מְטַמְּאִין בְּמַשָּׂא. לְפִיכָךְ אִם גָּרַר הַגּוֹלֵל בַּחֲבָלִים עַד שֶׁכִּסָּה בּוֹ אֶת הַמֵּת. אוֹ גְּרָרוֹ אוֹ שְׁמָטוֹ מֵעַל הַמֵּת. אוֹ שֶׁגָּרַר הַדּוֹפֵק עַד שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד עָלָיו הַגּוֹלֵל אוֹ שְׁמָטוֹ בַּחֲבָלִים מִתַּחַת הַגּוֹלֵל הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר. וּדְבָרִים שֶׁסּוֹמְכִין אֶת הַדּוֹפֵק וְהֵם הַנִּקְרָאִין דּוֹפֵק דּוֹפְקִין הֲרֵי הֵן טְהוֹרִין:
15According to Scriptural Law, as long as the source of impurity is in a grave, the grave imparts impurity when it is touched or when one is under the same structure, as a corpse does, for Numbers 19:16 mentions touching "a corpse, the bone of a man, or a grave." A person is impure whether he touches the covering of a grave or its sides, provided it is built and totally enclosed. Afterwards, in such a situation, the grave imparts impurity in its entirety when it is touched or when one is under the same structure.If, however, one places keilim, stones, or the like at the side of a corpse and covers the corpse with keilim, stones, or the like, the covering that shelters the corpse from above is called a gollel. And the objects at the side that support the gollel and upon which it rests are called a dofek. Both of them, the gollel and the dofek impart impurity when they are touched or when one is under the same structure, as is true with regard to a grave. The impurity they impart is of Rabbinic origin. They do not impart impurity when carried. Accordingly, if one drags a gollel with ropes until it covers a corpse or drags it or pulls it away from being above a corpse, or one dragged a dofek until he positioned the gollel above it or pulled it by ropes from under the dofek, the person is pure.Entities that support the dofek are called dofek dofekkim and they are pure.
ט״זשָׂדֶה שֶׁנֶּחְרַשׁ בָּהּ קֶבֶר וְאָבְדוּ עַצְמוֹת הַמֵּת בַּעֲפָרָהּ הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת בֵּית הַפְּרָס. וַעֲפָרָהּ מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא שֶׁמָּא יֵשׁ בָּהּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה. וְאֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֹהֶל. וְכֵן כָּל אַרְצוֹת הָעַכּוּ"ם עֲפָרָן מְטַמֵּא בְּמַגָּע וּבְמַשָּׂא מִפְּנֵי הָעֲצָמוֹת שֶׁאֵין נִזְהָרִין בָּהֶן. וְטֻמְאַת בֵּית הַפְּרָס וְאֶרֶץ הָעַכּוּ"ם מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר:
16When a field containing a grave was plowed and the bones of the corpse were lost in its earth, this is called a beit hapras. Its earth imparts impurity when it is touched or carried, for perhaps it contains a bone the size of a barley corn, but it does not impart impurity when one is under the same structure.Similarly, the earth in the entire Diaspora imparts impurity when it is touched or carried, because of the possibility of the presence of bones, for they are not careful about burying them. The impurity of a beit hapras and the earth of the Diaspora is of Rabbinic origin, as will be explained.