1)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a Kaveres (a large beehive-shaped receptacle) that is lying on its side in the entrance of a house, partially inside, and partially outside (see Tos. Yom-Tov), whose opening is facing the outside and which has a k'Zayis lying underneath it or on top of it. Assuming that the piece of Meis is not inside the house, the Keilim that are ...

1. ... in the house - remain Tahor, and so are those that are ...

2. ... inside the Kaveres (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'Kol Shehu' & DH 've'Chol she'Eino k'Neged ha'Zayis").

(b)The Keilim on top of the Kaveres and underneath it become Tamei - only if they are directly above or below the piece of Meis.

(c)In order to save the Keilim from becoming Tamei, the Kaveres must be large enough to hold at least two Kur of liquid - because otyherwise it is itself subject to Tum'ah, and whatever is subject to Tum'ah cannot save from Tum'ah.

(d)The Keilim inside the Kaveres remain Tahor - because, seeing as it is not subject to Tum'ah, even if it would be inside an Ohel ha'Meis, the Kaveres would prevent the Keilim inside it from becoming Tamei (provided it would be firmly shut (see Tos.Yom-Tov).

2)

(a)The Kaveres cannot prevent the Tum'ah that is underneath it from being Metamei Keilim that are on top of it, and vice-versa, based on the principle that - Adam and Keilim become an Ohel to transmit Tum'ah, but not to save from Tum'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Tana rules that, in the same case, but where the k'Zayis Meis is ...

1. ... in the house - only the Keilim inside the house are Tamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... inside the Kaveres - all the Keilim becoming Tamei.

3)

(a)In the first of the two previous cases, the Keilim inside the Kaveres remain Tahor - because its opening is facing the outside.

(b)To explain the ruling in the latter case, as to why the Kaveres does not protect the Keilim ...

1. ... in the house - the Mishnah must be speaking where the Kaveres is full of holes (see Tos. Yom-Tov) measuring a square Tefach, that have been temporarily stopped up with straw (as we will see later), and the piece of Meis might be removed through any one of them.

2. ... that are on top of it and underneath it, we must bear in mind that - the Kaveres is considered to be full of Tum'ah, and a K'li does not protect what is on top of it and underneath it from Tum'ah.

(c)In spite of what we said a moment ago, when the piece of Meis is inside the house, the Keilim inside the Kaveres remain Tahor - because then it is unlikely to be removed via the Kaveres.

4)

(a)The Mishnah rules, in the same case as the previous one, only where the Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground, and the piece of Meis is ...

1. ... on top of it or underneath it - then all the Keilim are Tamei, except for those that are actually inside it (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

2. ... inside it - then everything is Tamei.

5)

(a)The Tana establishes the above by a Kaveres that is Mechulcheles - the walls contain large holes (as is customary in bee-hives) measuring a Tefach, that have been temporarily stopped up with straw (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Din will be different if the Kaveres is broken (so that it is no longer a K'li, and the holes have been completely stopped up with straw or they are Afutzah - permanently stopped up, except for some holes that have been left open, but that measure less than a Tefach (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)If the k'Zayis Meis is ...

1. ... underneath the Kaveres (which is lying on the ground) - then whatever is underneath it (right down to the center of the earth) is Tamei (but everything else remains Tahor [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

2. ... on top of the Kaveres - then whatever is on top of it (up to the sky) exclusively, is Tamei.

3. ... in the house - whatever is in the house (exclusively) is Tamei.

4. ... inside the Kaveres - whatever is inside the Kaveres is Tamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov), but everything else remains Tahor.

(d)In the first case, the Tum'ah does not spread to whatever is below the Tum'ah, and in the lasyt case, to whatever is above and below the Kaveres - because, since the Kaveres is no longer a K'li, it is considered an Ohel to prevent the Tum'ah from passing across to the other side.

6)

(a)In the same case as the previous one, but where the Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground, assuming that the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... underneath it or in the house, the Tana rules that - whatever is underneath it and inside the house becomes Tamei (but what is inside it or on top of it remains Tahor [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

2. ... inside the Kaveres he rules that - only what is inside it becomes Tamei.

3. ... on top of it - then whatever is on top of it becomes Tamei.

7)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a case where the opening of the Kaveres (which is Mechulcheles and is lying on the floor), is in the house. If the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... directly underneath the Kaveres or on top of it (outside the house) - then whatever is in line with the Tum'ah (underneath the Kaveres, on top of it or inside it [exclusively], is Tamei).

2. ... elsewhere in the Kaveres or in the house - it remains Tahor.

(b)If the Tum'ah is inside the Kaveres or inside the house, the Tana rules that - everything is Tamei.

(c)Assuming that the Tana is referring to the same circumstances as he began with (where the K'li is Mechulcheles and lying on the ground, as we explained), the major difference between the first set of rulings and this one is - in the fourth case, where in the first set of rulings, only Keilim in the house are Tamei, whereas here everything is Tamei ...

(d)... because the Tum'ah enters via the opening.

8)

(a)Assuming that, in the same case, the Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground, the Mishnah now rules, where it is Mechulcheles (as the Tana specifies in the next Mishnah with regard to this one) and the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... underneath it ...

2. ... in the house ...

3. ... inside the Kaveres, or ...

4. ... on top of it that - everything is Tamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov [seeing as the opening is inside the house]).

(b)Mechulcheles is not really crucial to the case - because (unlike the previous Mishnos), the Tana is speaking where the opening is inside, in which case the Tum'ah will enter the house anyway [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]) ...

(c)... and the Tana mentions it - only because it needed to mention it in Mishnah 3).

9)

(a)In the same case, but where the Kaveres is broken and the holes have been completely stopped up with straw or they are Afutzah, there where the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... underneath it, the Tana rules - any Keilim that are underneath it (down to the center of the earth [exclusively]) are Tamei.

2. ... on top of it - whatever is above it (up to the sky [exclusively]) is Tamei.

3. ... inside it or in the house - whatever is in the house or inside the Kaveres is Tamei (see Tiferes Yisrael).

10)

(a)And in the same case, but where the Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground, assuming the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... underneath it, inside the house or inside the Kaveres, he rules that - everything is Tamei, except for what is on top of it.

2. ... on top of it that - only what is also on top of it is Tamei.

11)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a Kaveres that fills the entire room area - with less than a Pose'ach Tefach space between the top of the Kaveres and the ceiling (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Tana rules, assuming the Tum'ah is in ...

1. ... the Kaveres - that the room is Tamei.

2. ... the room - that what is inside the Kaveres is Tahor ...

(c)... because it is the way of Tum'ah to be taken out of the Kaveres, but not in.

(d)This dual ruling is similar to - a sewage-pipe that runs underneath a house into the street whose exit measures less than a Pose'ach Tefach (as we learned in the third Perek).

12)

(a)It makes no difference ...

1. ... whether the Kaveres is standing, or lying on its side ...

2. ... whether there is one Kaveres that is filling the room or two.

(b)For the ruling Tum'ah ba'Bayis, Mah she'be'Tochah Tahor to be effective however ...

1. ... if the Kaveres is standing or lying on its side - the distance between the ceiling or the wall and the opening must be less than a Tefach, and likewise ...

2. ... if there are two K'varos that fill the room - then the distance between both the top Kaveres and the ceiling and its base and the opening of the lower one (on which it rests), must be less than a Tefach.

13)

(a)In a case where the same Kaveres is standing in the entrance and there is not a Pose'ach Tefach between the top and the lintel, assuming the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... inside the Kaveres - the house is Tahor.

2. ... in the house - the Kaveres is Tamei ...

(b)... because the Tum'ah is destined to be taken out of the house, but not to be brought into it.

(c)This is the text with which most commentaries agree. Some texts however - read in the Seifa that the Kaveres is Tahor (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

14)

(a)If the Kaveres is lying on its side in the open, for the Tana to declare them Tamei, assuming the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... on top of it, the Keilim will have to be placed - above it in line with the Tum'ah.

2. ... inside it - anywhere inside it (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

15)

(a)In a case where the same Kaveres is raised a Tefach from the ground, the Tana rules that if the Tum'ah is on top of it or underneath it - then whatever is on top of it and underneath it is Tamei (but not what is inside it); whereas if the Tum'ah is inside it - then everything is Tamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)But if the same Kaveres is broken but its holes are temporarily stopped up with straw, assuming the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... on top of it or underneath it - then only what is in line with it (up to the sky or down to the center of the earth, respectively) is Tamei.

2. ... inside it - only Keilim that are inside it are Tamei ...

(c)... because once it is no longer a K'li, it also prevents Tum'ah from passing to the other side.

16)

(a)The same ruling will apply, even if the Kaveres is not broken (according to the Chachamim [see Tos. Yom-Tov & question 16b]) - if it is sufficiently large to hold forty Sa'ah of liquid (or two Kur of solid).

(b)If the Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground however - then whatever is on top of the Kaveres or underneath it, respectively, will become Tamei.

17)

(a)Assuming that the Keveres is standing upright and it is a K'li (see Tos. Yom-Tov), irrespective of whether the Tum'ah is underneath it, inside it or on top of it - the Mishnah applies the principle Tum'ah Boka'as ve'Olah, Boka'as ve'Yoredes.

(b)Te Kaveres not save the Keilim inside it from Tum'ah, like it did in the previous case - because since, due to a lack of a cover, it cannot save what is outside it, it cannot save what is inside it either (seeing as there is nothing dividing between the two).

(c)On the other hand, the Keilim that are not in line of the Tum'ah remain Tahor - since there is no Ohel to transmit the Tum'ah to them.

(d)If however, the Kaveres ...

1. ... is raised one Tefach from the ground or if it ...

2. ... is covered (with a basket [see Tos. Yom-Tov]), even if it is not raised from the ground (see Tos. Yom-Tov), or if ...

(e)... it is turned upside down (creating an Ohel) - then all the Keilim (wherever they are) are Tamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

18)

(a)The previous Mishnah spoke about a Kaveres that is a K'li. In a case under the same circumstances, but where it is broken and temporarily stopped up with straw, then, whether the Tum'ah is ...

1. ... underneath it on top of it or ...

2. ... inside it - Tum'ah Boka'as ve'Olah, Boka'as ve'Yoredes (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The same will apply if the Kaveres holds forty Sa'ah of liquids ... according to the Chachamim - who say that such a K'li loses its identity as a K'li (just as it does if it is broken and temporarily stopped up with straw).

(c)When R. Eliezer and R. Shimon say that Tum'ah neither goes up nor does it go down, they mean that - if the Tum'ah is underneath the Kaveres, it does not spread into it, and if it is inside it, it does not spread downwards (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)If the same Kaveres is raised one Tefach from the ground, the Tana concludes, if the Tum'ah is underneath it, then whatever is underneath it is Tamei (but not what is inside it or above it [see Tos. Yom-Tov]); whereas if it is inside it or on top of it - then whatever is in line with it and above it is Tamei (but not what is below it).

19)

(a)The Tana now discusses an Aron (see Mishnah Achronah) containing a Meis which is wider at the bottom than it is on top. He is talking about an Aron that - is built into the top of a rock.

(b)It is possible for a person to touch it and remain Tahor - if he touches the bottom (anywhere below the opening), which is wider than the top ...

(c)... because only what is in line with the opening on top has the Din of an Aron (which is Metamei [see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael]).

(d)He will become Tamei however (even if he touches the bottom) - in the reverse case, where it is wider on top than it is at the bottom.

20)

(a)According to R. Eliezer, the same will apply to a rectangular Aron - because the cover spreads the Tum'ah throughout the Aron (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)R. Yehoshua holds that - only the top Tefach is considered an Aron, but not lower than that (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

21)

(a)If the Aron is made like a Kamt'ra, the Mishnah rules that it is Metamei wherever one touches it; like a G'luskus, it is Tahor. Both are cupboards - only the top of the former covers the walls too (see Tos. Yom-Tov), whereas the top of the latter does not (Ibid).

(b)The former is Tamei - because the top spreads the Tum'ah to whatever is underneath it.

(c)The latter too is Metamei - should one touch the actual cover.

22)

(a)And finally, the Mishnah discusses an uncovered earthenware barrel that is placed outside with a k'Zayis of Meis lying in its vicinity. The Dinim of a barrel differ from those of a Kaveres - in that it bulges in the middle.

(b)Where the Tum'ah is lying ...

1. ... underneath the base of the barrel or ...

2. ... on the base inside the barrel - the Tana applies the principle Tum'ah Boka'as ve'Olah, Boka'as ve'Yoredes, irrespective of whether the Keilim are inside the barrel or outside, and whatever is in line with the Tum'ah becomes Tamei.

(c)When he says ve'ha'Chavis Teme'ah, he means that - even the Keilim that are inside are Tamei.

(d)This cannot be understood literally - because he is speaking about a barrel that is not subject to Tum'ah, as we will see shortly.

23)

(a)Assuming the Tum'ah is lying on the ground underneath one of the barrel's bulging walls - the Tana applies the same principle, but only vis-a-vis Keilim that are above or below the bulge; those that are inside it remain Tahor, because the walls interrupt between the Keilim and what is inside it (like a Kaveres that is lying on its side [see also Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(b)And in a case where the Tum'ah is lying in a cavity on the inside of the barrel underneath the bulge of one of the walls, assuming the bulge ...

1. ... measures a Pose'ach Tefach - he declres everything Tamei, except for what is in line with the opening of the barrel.

2. ... does not measure a Pose'ach Tefach - then once again Tum'ah Boka'as ve'Olah ... .

24)

(a)The above pertains specifically to a barrel that is Tahor (see Tos. Yom-Tov), but not to one that is Tamei - because it was smelted in a furnace.

(b)Tamei means (not that it is actually Tamei, but) that it is subject to Tum'ah.

(c)And the Mishnah rules in such a case, regardless of whether the Tum'ah is underneath it, inside it or on top of it that - everything is Tamei ...

(d)... because the barrel, which itself becomes Tamei, transmits Tum'ah to whatever is inside it.

25)

(a)Despite the fact that an earthenware vessel is not subject to Tum'ah from the outside, the barrel does not prevent the Tum'ah from entering the barrel - because it does not have a lid firmly attached to it.

(b)Underneath it means - underneath the base (and not outside it underneath the bulge, in which case only what is in line with the Tum'ah will be Tamei).

(c)The barrel will prevent Tum'ah from passing through to the other side however - if it served as a proper Ohel with no break between the air inside it and the air on the other side (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)In spite of the fact that Adam and Keilim are not subject to Tum'ah from the inside of a K'li Cheres, the Keilim are Tamei in this case - because the Tum'ah is still in place and it is as if they were actually touching it.

26)

(a)The Tana rules in a case of a Tahor barrel, but where the Tum'ah is lying underneath it and it is either raised from the ground or it is covered that - everything is Tamei (just as he did in the previous case).

(b)The other case that belongs in this group is - where the barrel is overturned (leaving a space between the Tum'ah and the top of the barrel).

(c)The Halachic difference between the initial case (where the barrel is subject to Tum'ah) and the subsequent cases is - there where someone is Ma'ahil on top of the barrel, where only what is in line with the Tum'ah is Tamei, whereas in the subsequent cases, everything is Tamei.

(d)In the latter case (where the barrel is turned upside-down), the ground that shuts the mouth of the barrel does not prevent the Tum'ah from entering it - because the lid is not sealed to it.