1)

(a)This Perek deals with lists of objects that are divided into three categories - Tamei Midras, Tamei Meis (Maga ... ) and Tahor.

(b)An object is Tamei Midras - if a. it is made to sit on, to stand on or to lie on, and b. if one cannot need not say to the person who is sitting, sytanding and lying on it 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' (Get off it and let us use it what it is made for'.

(c)The Mishnah lists three kinds of shields. T'ris ha'Kafuf (a bent shield, that covers the body on three sides) is used - to protect the soldiers from arrows in wartime.

(d)And it is subject to Tum'as Midras - because the soldiers also use it to lie on at night time.

(e)Whatever is subject to Tum'as Midras - is automatically subject to Tum'as Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2)

(a)Kumpon is - an area (Eimek ha'Melech) where soldiers learn the art of self-defense using a small round shield, by means of tournaments involving sword-fights on horseback).

(b)T'ris she'Mesachkin bo be'Kumpon is - subject to Tum'as Meis ...

(c)... and Tum'as Sheretz, Neveilah and other Tum'os except for Tum'as Midras (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(d)The third shield is described as Ditzas ha'Arvi'yin - which is a small toy shield used by Arab children.

(e)It is Tahor - because it is only a toy, and serves no other purpose.

3)

(a)Now the Tana lists three kinds of wagons (which are subject to the same three categories as those in the previous list), ke'Katedra, ke'Mitah, ve'shel Avanim (see Tos. Yom-Tov). Agalah ha'Asuyah ...

1. ... ke'Katedra - is a wagon in the shape of a woman's sedan-chair that is normally fitted into a wagon (as we learned in the first Perek).

2. ... ke'Mitah' is - a long wagon in which one normally transports goods ...

(b)... which is not Tamei Midras - because of the principle Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu (it is not made to sit or to lie in, and if someone does so he will be asked to get out, to allow the wagon to be used what it is made for.

(c)Agalah shel Avanim is - a wagon, which is used to transport large stones ...

(d)... is Tahor - because the gaps between its bars are larger than the size of pomegranates.

4)

(a)And now the Tana lists three kinds of Areivah (a large dish). The first two categories listed by the Tana both hold between two Lugin (half a Kav) and nine Kabin, only - whereas one of them is split (Tamei Midras), the other one is complete (Tamei Meis).

(b)The reason that ...

1. ... the complete one is not Tamei Midras is - because, since it is basically ised for kneading, we will apply the principle 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' (as we just explained).

2. ... the one that is split is - because it is no longer fit for kneading.

(c)The kind of dish that is Tahor - is one that holds forty Sa'ah ...

(d)... because it is too large to move when it is full (and the Torah compares [wooden and] leather vessels to sacks, which can be transported both when they are empty and when they are full.

5)

(a)The Tana's next list resembles the previous one. The kind of (wooden) box that he places under the category of ...

1. ... Tamei Midras is - one whose opening is at the side (since someone who is sitting on it can remain seated even whilst the box is being used).

2. ... Tamei Meis is - one whose opening is on top (and to whom one therefore says 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu!').

3. ... Tehorah mi'Kelum is - one that holds more than forty Sa'ah.

(b)In the latter case, assuming it is made to sit or to lie on - the box will be subject to Tum'as Midras (irrespective of its size) and therefore to Tum'as Meis as well (as we explained earlier [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

6)

(a)Now the Mishnah presents a list of three Tarbusin (leather chests), of Saparin - blood-letters, to eat on and for olives.

(b)... and it is Tamei Midras - because it is made to sit or to lie on it during the blood-letting procedure (Tos. Yom-Tov. See also Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)The one for eating is not Tamei Midras - because it is meant to place the food on exclusively the principle 'Amod ve'Na'aseh Melachteinu' will apply here too).

(d)The third Tarbus is used - to squeeze olives on it. It is not Tamei - because it is not considered Tashmish Adam [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

7)

(a)The Tana's next list concerns three bases (vessels with a base, which sometimes have short walls [Tiferes Yisrael]). The base of a bed is obviously Tamei Midras, as is one that is in front of Sofrim, which is Tamei Midras - because the Sofer sits on it whilst he writes.

(b)He concludes shel D'lufki Teme'ah Tamei Meis, ve'shel Migdal Tahor mi'Kelum.

1. D'luf'ki is - a wooden container that contains bottles and jars, and other items of food and drink.

2. Migdal' is - a cupboard ...

(c)... which is Tahor - because it is not a K'li (as its shape attests).

8)

(a)Now the Mishnah discusses three kinds of ledgers. The first is ha'Apipurin (in which one writes in the dust that one scatters on it). It is subject to Tum'as Midras - because, due to its extremely large dimensions, the writer can sit in it whilst writing (see also Tos. Yom-Tov & Mishnah Ach'ronah).

(b)The second is one that is (made of wood and that) has a Beis Kibul Sha'avah (a receptacle for wax), which is subject to Tum'as Meis, not Tum'as Midras - because it is not large enough to sit on.

(c)The Mishnah defines the third ledger as Chalakah - a smooth writing pad (made of wood), on which one writes with pen and ink ...

(d)... which the Tana declares Tahor - since it does have a receptacle.

9)

(a)The next list comprises three beds. A regular bed that is made to lie on - is subject to Midras.

(b)A glassmaker's (professional) bed is - Tamei Meis.

(c)ve'shel Saragin Tehorah mi'Kelum. This refers either to beds of wagon-makers - or of hair-net manufacturers ...

(d)... which are Tahor - because they serve the manufactured article and not the person.

10)

(a)The first of the three Mishpalos - large crates to transport manure ... to the fields, is shel Zevel and the second, shel Teven.

(b)The first one is Tamei Midras and the second one only Tamei Meis - because whereas the former is fit to sit in (see also Tos. Yom-Tov), the latter is not.

(c)The third crate is called Puchlatz shel Gamal - which is a large network-like crate made of ropes with large holes.

(d)It is Tahor - because a. the holes are so large that it will not even hold straw, and b. the ropes are too hard to sit on (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

11)

(a)The Mishnah now lists three kinds of Mapatzim. - mats made of rushes, fibers from date-palms, reeds, rubber and suchlike.

(b)A Mapatz that is made to lie on is subject to Tum'as Midras (see Tos. Yom-Tov), one of dyers is subject to Tum'as Meis, and one of the winepress is Tahor. The latter two are used - for placing the garments on them (see Tos. R. Akiva Eiger and Tiferes Yisrael) and for covering the grapes and the olives, respectively (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

12)

(a)And now the Tana lists three kinds of Chamasos - flasks, and three kinds of Turm'lin - shepherds' satchels (both made of leather).

(b)They are both subject to Midras if they hold not less than the Shi'ur (mentioned in Perek 20). The Shi'ur of a Cheimes is seven Kabin - that of a Turmal, five.

(c)Either of the above that holds less than the Shi'ur (which are too small to sit on) - is subject to Tum'as Meis.

(d)And in order to be Tahor - it must be made of fish-skin (which, like the skin of all creatures that come from the ocean, is not subject to Tum'ah, as we learned in the seventeenth Perek).

13)

(a)Two of the three skins listed by the Tana are a carpet - which is made to sit on, and Tachrich ha'Keilim - to wrap around Keilim (such as knives, scissors and needles) to protect them.

(b)The first is therefore subject - to Tum'as Midras, the second - to Tum'as Meis.

(c)In order to be Tahor, a skin would need to be designated - to cut from it straps and shoes.

(d)It is not subject to Tum'ah - because the leather still requires shaping.

14)

(a)Sheets that are made to lie on are Tamei Midras. In order to be Tamei Meis - a sheet must be used as a curtain ...

(b)... because the Shamash sometimes wraps it round himself to keep warm (though he does not sit on it).

(c)Whereas a sheet of pictures - used by an embroiderer as a sample to copy from, is Tahor.

15)

(a)The Mishnah lists three types of Mitp'chos - cloths.

(b)Mitp'chos-Yad are subject to Tum'as Midras - because one sometimes places them under the cushion on which one is sitting.

(c)Mitp'chos Saparim (barber's cloths) - are subject to Tum'as Meis (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

16)

(a)The third category of Mitpachas listed by the Tana was used by the Levi'im in the Beis-ha'Mikdash - to wrap round their instruments (on which they played during the Avodah) when not in use.

(b)Other musicians protect their instruments (whilst they are not in use) - with leather holders ...

(c)... which are also Tahor (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)Others have the text shel Tachrich - shrouds (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael)ve'shel Nivlei b'nei Levi'.

17)

(a)According to the Mishnah, there are three kinds of gloves (P'raklinin). The first is large and is used whilst hunting wild birds and small, wild animals (Tiferes Yisrael) - and is used for the hunting-falcon to perch on as the hunter sets out to hunt.

(b)And it is then Tamei Midras - since the hunter uses it to sit on whilst the falcon is catching the prey.

(c)The second kind of glove is used to catch locusts, and is not large enough to sit on. It is subject to Tum'as Meis - because one places the caught locusts inside it, giving it the Din of a receptacle.

(d)And the third is shel Kayatzin, which means that it is worn either whilst picking thorns - or whilst making dried figs or raisins in the field.

(e)Either way, it is Tahor - since it is only used for self-protection (Tiferes Yisrael).

18)

(a)The Mishnah discusses three different kinds of Sevachos - shawls that women wear to cover their hair.

(b)The Tana declares the Sevachah of a young woman - subject to Tum'as Midras, but that of an old woman - subject to Tum'as Meis (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Tosefta switches the two rulings (see Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(d)... because it is young women who are more particular about using their head-scarves for lying on, whereas the older ones are not so fussy.

19)

(a)The Sevachah of a Yotz'es la'Chutz is Tahor. If taken literally, it refers to the small head-covering that a woman who goes out into the street wears on top of her regular one (either for additional Tzeni'us or for ornamental purposes [Tiferes Yisrael]).

(b)It is is not subject to Midras - because it is too small to sit on.

(c)It might also refer to the small head cover worn by a prostitute (since Unklus' translation of "Zonah" is Nafkas B'ra ['Yotz'as la'Chutz] see also Tiferes Yisrael). Alternatively - it pertains, not to a woman who goes out, but to one that is torn and that allows most of the woman's hair to stick out.

20)

(a)The Tana now presents three kinds of boxes which are all Mehuhah (a term that is normally used in connection with clothes [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]), which...

1. ... generally means - worn-out clothes and full of holes.

2. ... means here that - he placed one box inside another (as a sort of patch).

(b)In the first case, he placed a broken box (with a hole) inside one that is whole. In the second case - he placed the smaller box inside the larger one (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Assuming that one of the boxes is Tamei, the Tana rules ...

1. ... in the first case that - we go after the one that is whole (the one that is broken adopts the same status as it).

2. ... in the second case - we go after the larger one.

(d)Whereas in the third case where the two boxes are equal - we go after the inside one.

21)

(a)The Shi'ur that will render one of the boxes Tamei is - if if the hole will let a pomegranate fall through.

(b)The current Mishnah differs from all the previous Mishnahs in the Perek - in deals with Tum'as Meis (exclusively).

22)

(a)The Mishnah now cites R. Shimon, who discusses the rounded metal cup (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Mishnah Achronah at the beginning of the Mishnah) of a pair of scales which has been used to patch the base of a kettle, and the She'eilah is, given that the patch is Tamei - whether it renders the kettle Tamei as well.

(b)The criterion in fact, is whether the patch is fixed on the inside - in which case the kettle becomes Tamei, or on the outside - and the kettle remains Tahor.

(c)If the patch is fixed on the side however - then, either way, the kettle is Tahor.

(d)The Halachah is - like R. Shimon, who comes to explain the Tana Kama (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

23)

(a)Throughout the Perek, the Tana discussed Keilim, some of which are Tamei Midras. The only type of vessel that is not subject to Tum'as Midras is - vessels msade of earthenware.

(b)We learn this from the Pasuk in Metzora "ve'Ish asher Yiga be'Mishkavo" - comparing the Mishkav to the Zav himself (who is subject to Taharah in a Mikvah, which an earthenware vessel is not).

(c)On the other hand, the Pasuk in Shemini "Kol ha'Mishkav ... " comes to incorporate - a Mapatz (a mat) in the Din of Midras, even though it is not really considered a K'li.

(d)In order to become Tahor from Midras, a Mapatz must be - less than six by six Tefachim.

24)

(a)Vessels made of ...

1. ... stone, dung (or marble) or earth - are all not subject to Tum'ah, and the same applies to ...

2. ... wooden vessels that hold more than forty Sa'ah or that serve, not the owner, but other vessels that belong to him.

(b)An example of this is - a leather vessel onto which one squeezes the olives (or onto which they fall when they are shaken from the tree), a mat from the winepress and a sheet containing pictures.