(Beraisa): When is Rekev Tamei? If the Mes was buried without clothes in a marble casket, or on a stone floor;

If it was buried clothed, or in a wooden casket or on a brick floor, the Rekev is Tahor.

(Ula): Rekev is Tamei only if it came from flesh, sinews and bones.

Question (Rava - Beraisa): Rekev that comes from flesh is Tahor.

Inference: If it came from bones, even without flesh, it would be Tamei!

Answer: No. The Beraisa means that Rekev that comes from flesh is Tahor, unless there were bones with the flesh.

Question: There are no sinews!

Answer: Whenever there are flesh and bones, there are sinews.

(Rav Shemen bar Aba): Two Mesim buried together are Galgalin to each other (each counts as a foreign decaying matter which causes the Rekev of the other to be Tahor).

Question (R. Nasan b'Rebbi Oshaya - Beraisa): Rekev that comes from two Mesim is Tamei.

Answer (Rava): They were buried separately and decayed. They combined to form a spoon's worth of Rekev.

(Rabah bar bar Chanah): If the hair was cut and buried with the Mes, it is Galgalin to the Mes.

(Mishnah): Every part of a Mes is Tamei, except for the teeth, hair and nails; when they are attached, even these are Tamei.

Question (Chizkiyah): Are hair and nails of a Mes that are destined to be cut considered as if they are already cut, or are they considered to be attached? (This determines whether or not they are Tamei, or whether or not they are Galgalin to the Mes.)

Suggestion: We can infer the answer from Rabah bar bar Chanah.

They are Galgalin only because they were cut. If they were only destined to be cut, they would be considered attached!

Rejection: No. Rabah bar bar Chanah was sure that if they were cut, they are Galgalin. If they were only destined to be cut, he was unsure.

Question (R. Yirmiyah): Is Rekev of the heel Tamei?

Perhaps the law of Rekev does not apply to Rekev of the heel (since this area is dead even in a man's lifetime);

Or, perhaps there is no distinction!

Answer (R. Nasan b'Rebbi Oshaya - Beraisa): Rekev that comes from two Mesim is Tamei.

(We said that exactly one spoonful came from the Mesim combined.) If Rekev from the heel is Tahor, perhaps some of the spoonful came from the heel, and there is less than the quantity for Tum'ah!

Rejection: We never had a question if the entire body decayed, and the Rekev came only from the heel (this is surely Tamei).

Clarification of question: If only the heel and the surrounding area decomposed, is the Rekev Tamei?

This question is unresolved.

Question #1 (R. Yirmiyah): Is a fetus in the womb Galgalin to the mother?

Since we learned that a fetus is considered like a limb of the mother, it is like part of her body, and it is not Galgalin;

Or, perhaps since it was destined to leave, it is considered a separate matter!

Question #2: If you will say that a fetus is considered separate, is semen in the womb Galgalin?

Since the fetus (which will leave) was not yet formed, it is like part of her body?

Or, since it came from outside of her, is it not like part of her?

Question (Rav Papa): Is excrement inside of her Galgalin?

Do we say that since she cannot live without eating, it is like part of her?

Or, since it came from outside of her, is it not like part of her?

Question (Rav Acha brei d'Rav Ika): Is skin (Rashi - phlegm; Birkas Rosh - hair (not about to be cut)) Galgalin?

Question (Rav Huna bar Mano'ach): Are phlegm and mucus Galgalin?

Question (Rav Shmuel bar Acha): If all of these are Galgalin, in what case is Rekev Tamei?

Answer (Rav Papa): (Shortly before death), he drank water of (a spring between two particular) palm trees (which cleans all waste out of the body). The Mes was anointed with a salve (that removes hair) and cooked in hot water of Teveriyah.

(Abaye): If the Mes was ground up, it is not considered Rekev.

Question: If it was ground up and later decayed, what is the law?

If Rekev depends only on flesh, sinews and bones that decay, this is Rekev;

Or, perhaps the body must be in its normal state and then decay.

This question is unresolved.

(Ula bar Chanina - Beraisa): The following laws do not apply to an incomplete Mes:

Rekev;

Tefusah (if one moves a full Mes, he must take with it the dirt under it);

A burial site (if three full Mesim are found in close proximity, the area is established to be a burial site).

Question (Mishnah): Tum'ah of a Mes is stringent, for the following have Tum'as Ohel: (bones comprising) the majority (of the number of bones in the body, or of the stature) or a quarter Kav (about half a liter), or a spoon's worth of Rekev. None of these apply to a Chai (a live person).

Question: What is the case (that a Mes has Rekev, but a Chai does not)?

Suggestion: One limb decayed. Regarding a Mes, such Rekev is Tamei!

Answer: No, the Mishnah did not say that corresponding Rekev of a Mes is Tamei!

It says only that sometimes Rekev applies to a Mes, but it never applies to a Chai.

Question (Rava): If a limb decayed in a person's lifetime, and then he died, is the Rekev Tamei?

Does the tradition apply only to a Mes that decayed?

Or, since he is now dead, the law now applies?

Answer (Mishnah): Tum'ah of a Mes is stringent, for the following have Tum'as Ohel: (bones comprising) the majority or a quarter Kav, or a spoon's worth of Rekev. None of these apply to a Chai.

Inference: Rekev does not apply because he is alive, but after death, it applies!

Rejection: The Mishnah did not say that Rekev applies after he dies!

It says only that sometimes Rekev applies to a Mes, but it never applies to a Chai.