1)

(a)The YTana asks how one picks the grapes from a vineyard that is a Beis ha'Peras. He means to ask - - how one picks them in a way that they remain Tahor.

(b)One pick them be'Taharah - by sprinkling both the picker and the Keilim with the ashes of the Parah Adumah on the third and seventh days after the Tevilah (see Tos. Yom-Tov and Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)Despite the fact that the Chachamim decreed grapes that are picked for the winepress Huchshar Lekabel Tum'ah, they do not become Tamei immediately - since the decree was restricted to Tum'ah d'Oraysa, whereas the Tum'ah of a Beis ha'Peras is only mi'de'Rabbanan.

2)

(a)Somebody else must take the container from them to carry to the winepress - because it is full of liquid, which in turn will render the grapes Huchshar Lekabel Tum'ah. And the picker who picked the grapes inside the Beis ha'Peras, became Tamei (mi'de'Rabbanan), and would then render the grapes Tamei were he to take them into the winepress.

(b)In the event that the two people touch each other (see also Tos. Yom-Tov) whilst the grapes are being handed over - the grapes will become Tamei too ...

(c)... via the liquids in the winepress and the second person, who became Tum'ah whilst touching the first one, who is an Av ha'Tum'ah (mi'de'Rabbanan).

3)

(a)The above is the opinion of Beis Hillel. According to Beis Shamai - if someone picks grapes for the winepress, they become Huchshar even as regards Tum'ah as well. Consequently ...

(b)... they suggest that to prevent the grapes from becoming Tamei during the picking (and assuming the picker wants to use a regular scythe) - he will have to hold the scythe via the bast (the fibrous substance that grows round a palm-tree).

(c)Alternatively, he might use a scythe - made of sharp stone.

(d)He then places the picked grapes (see Tos. Yom-Tov) into a Kefishah - a large vessel generally used to pickle olives ...

(e)... which is not subject to Tum'ah due to its size.

4)

(a)R. Yossi restricts the previous ruling (permitting the grapes to be taken to the winepress), to vines that were planted before the vineyard become a Beis ha'Peras. Vines that were planted afterwards - must be sold in the market (see Tos. Yom-Tov) ...

(b)... as a K'nas for planting vines in a Beis ha'Peras.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

5)

(a)The Mishnah lists three categories of Beis ha'Peras (which it will now discuss).

(b)The first is a field in which a grave has been plowed up (see Tos. Yom-Tov), in which the Tana permits planting all kinds of trees (see Tos. Yom-Tov). It is possible to establish this like even R. Yossi in the previous Mishnah, who forbade planting vines in a Beis ha'Peras - by qualifying all kinds of trees, and adding except vines.

(c)He permit seeds - provided the produce is cut and not pulled out ...

(d)... because together with the produce one may pull out some earth containing bones of the Meis.

6)

(a)In the event that one does pull out the harvest - one must pile it up in the field and thresh it there (before taking it to the house [see also Tiferes Yisrael]) ...

(b)... to avoid spreading the Tum'ah.

(c)Then, he is is obligated to sift it, assuming it is ...

1. ... corn (see Tos. Yom-Tov) - twice in two different sieves.

2. ... legumes - also twice according to R. Meir, but ...

3. ... three times, according to the Chachamim.

7)

(a)The straw of ...

1. ... corn (and of legumes according to Rebbi Meir) must be sifted twice - to ensure that a bone the size of a barley does not remain hidden in the earth that is attached to it.

2. ... legumes be sifted three times, according to the Chachamim - because legumes tend to come up with more earth.

(b)The produce itself is Tahor.

(c)Kash (the straw [see Tos. Yom-Tov] of corn) and Atzeh (the straw of legumes) - must be burned (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)The current Beis ha'Peras (see Tos. Yom-Tov) is subject to - Maga and Masa, but not to Ohel.

8)

(a)The second category of Beis ha'Peras is one in which a grave is lost. Our Mishnah permits sowing seeds but forbids planting trees (see Tos. Yom-Tov). The alternative (preferred) version - forbids both (Ibid.).

(b)One may not even retain trees that have ben planted there - so as not to encourage people to go there.

(c)One is however - permitted to plant trees that do not bear fruit.

(d)This Beis ha'Peras (see Tos. Yom-Tov) is subject to - Tum'as Ohel (see Tos. Yom-Tov), as well as Tum'as Maga and Masa (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

9)

(a)The third category of a Beis ha'Peras is called S'deh Bochin - a field some distance away from the Beis-ha'Kevaros, where the Meis would be placed before the burial, and where they would gather and weep (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Mishnah forbids both planting trees and sowing seeds in it - because the owner tends to have despaired from using it for his own private use, giving it the Din of an area that is public property, and which one is forbidden to spoil ...

(c)... though this only applies - if the owner did actually despair of receiving his field back (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

10)

(a)The Tana ...

1. ... declares Tahor the earth of a Sadeh Bochin.

2. ... permits using the earth to manufacture an oven for Hekdesh, which is not the case ...

(b)... with regard to earth that is taken from a Beis ha'Peras ...

1. ... that has been dug up or ...

2. ... in which a grave has been lost.

11)

(a)Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel agree that one ...

1. ... may examine a Sadeh Beis ha'Peras on behalf of someone who wishes to cross it in order to eat the Korban Pesach, but ...

2. ... not to enable a Kohen to eat Terumah ...

(b)... since Tum'as Beis ha'Peras, which is only de'Rabbanan, the Rabbanan waived in place of Kareis (the Korban Pesach), but not for an ordinary Asei (such as eating Terumah [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(c)The ramifications of ...

1. ... the concession to examine it are that - if no bone is found, the owner is permitted to pass through it on his way to Yerushalayim.

2. ... not examining it - are that the Kohen is forbidden to pass through, and has to forego eating his Terumah.

12)

(a)The examination currently under discussion entails - bringing all the loose earth and, after breaking up the clods into earth, sifting it in a sieve with small holes.

(b)He is hoping not to find - a bone the size of a barley.

13)

(a)Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel now discuss a Nazir - who actually walked through a Beis ha'Peras without examining it.

(b)Beis Shamai rule Bodkin, by which they mean that - should they discover a bone the size of a barley, he must shave off all his hair, bring a Korban (for becoming Tamei) and begin his period of Nezirus all over again; but if not, he will not need to do so.

(c)Beis Hillel rule Ein Bodkin, by which they mean that - he must do so whether they find a bone the size of a barley or not.

14)

(a)The Mishnah describes how to rectify a Beis ha'Peras - by either removing a layer of three Tefachim of soil or adding a fresh layer.

(b)He is referring to a Beis ha'Peras - in which a grave has been dug up.

(c)It is quite in order to remove soil from one half of the field and to add soil to the other half (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)The Chachamim require three Tefachim of one or the other. R. Shimon - requires only one and a half (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

15)

(a)The Mishnah adds to the above the third method of covering the ground with stones - provided they are not loose (they are firmly embedded in the ground).

(b)R. Shimon adds to this ha'Ozek Beis ha'Peras - digging the entire area and removing the stones (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

16)

(a)The Tana declares Tahor someone who walks across a Beis ha'Peras stepping only on stones that cannot be moved.

(b)He is referring to a Beis ha'Peras - in which a grave has been plowed up.

17)

(a)He also declares Tahor someone who crosses sitting astride the back of somebody else (see Tos. Yom-Tov) or of an animal - provided he/it is able to transport him without undue difficulty.

(b)If the stones are not firmly entrenched in the ground or the person or the animal can barely bear his weight - he is Tamei.

(c)We gauge the latter two by the fact - that, due to the weight, the legs of the former knock together, and the latter defecates.

18)

(a)The Tana declares Tamei someone who crosses mountains or rocks in Chutz la'Aretz - but Tahor someone who traverses the ocean.

(b)Tahor means - from the Din of Gush (touching the earth), but nevertheless Tamei because of Avir (entering the airspace).

(c)The Chachamim require Terumah and Kodshim that touch the former to be burnt (see also Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'be'Yam u've'Shunis') - whereas regarding the latter, they rule Teluyin (which may not be eaten, but are not burnt, either).

19)

(a)The Mishnah adds Shunis - wherever the high waves reach when the sea is stormy) to the latter ruling (of someone who traverses the oceon).

(b)The Tana needs to issue the earlier ruling (concerning Eretz ha'Amim) - to teach us that Eretz ha'Amim is Tamei because of Gush even in areas where people are not generally buried.

20)

(a)Syria (Aram Tzovah) has a Din like ...

1. ... Chutz la'Aretz - inasmuch as its earth (see Tos. Yom-Tov) is Tamei like that of Chutz la'Aretz.

2. ... Eretz Yisrael - in that its produce is subject to T'rumos and Ma'asros like crops in Eretz Yisrael.

(b)And the same applies to Aram Naharayim.

(c)Besides having similar names - both countries were captured by David ha'Melech.

(d)Someone who enters a field that he purchased in Syria remains Tahor - provided he is able to enter it from Eretz Yisrael without having to cross one Tefach of land of a Beis ha'Kevaros or that belongs to Chutz la'Aretz.

21)

(a)The residences of Nochrim in Eretz Yisrael are Tamei - because they tend to bury their Nefalim (still-born babies) there.

(b)For this Din to take effect - the Nochri must reside in the house for at least one month (the time it takes for a baby to form and to become subject to Tum'as Meis when it is born).

(c)This Din applies even if the Nochri is living alone in the house without a wife - because Nochrim are generally immoral and bring women into their house at night.

(d)The house will remain Tahor however, if (even) an Eved (see Tos. Yom-Tov & Tiferes Yisrael) or a woman (see Tos. Yom-Tov) are appointed as inspectors to prevent the Nochri from using the house for that purpose.

22)

(a)Besides Bivim (deep underground pipes) that carry the waste into the street - gatherings of smelly water also require examining, before a house vacated by Nochrim can be declared Tahor.

(b)Other texts read - Kuchin (underground caves, as we learned in Perek 16) instead of Bivim.

(c)Beis Shamai includes in this ruling trash-heaps - and areas of soft earth.

(d)Beis Hillel cite the principle - wherever a Chazir and a weasel (see Tos. Yom-Tov) can walk (see Tos. Yom-Tov) does not require examination (precluding those two items from the list).

23)

(a)The Mishnah precludes Itztavaniyos - recreational benches in front of the house from the Tum'ah discussed in the previous Mishnah ...

(b)... because Nochrim do not tend to bury their Nefalim there.

(c)R. Shimon ben Gamliel - declares Tahor, a ruined city in Eretz Yisrael that was previously inhabited by Nochrim ...

(d)... because the local wild animals will have located all the Nefalim, pulled them out of the ground and devoured them.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

24)

(a)The Mishnah rules that ...

1. ... the east and the west of Caesaria - are lined with graves.

2. ... the east of Acco - was once a Safek ...

(b)... meaning either that it may belong to Eretz Yisrael, or that that it was definitely part of Eretz Yisrael, only it was a Safek whether there were graves there.

(c)Either way, the Chachamim concluded - that it is Tahor.

25)

(a)The problem confronting the residents of Kini was - similar to that confronting the residents of the east side of Acco.

(b)Rebbi and his Beis-Din concluded - that it too is Tahor.

26)

(a)The Mishnah lists ten locations, beginning with Arab tents, huts and wigwams - all of which (as well as the remaining seven), are not subject to the Tum'ah of Mador ha'Akum.

(b)The Tana is referring to huts - belonging to people who are guarding fruit in a fruit-field.

(c)The Chachamim might not have decreed Mador ha'Akum on Arab tents - either because the Arabs only tend to bury their Nefalim in permanent living quarters, but not in temporary ones; or because, since they are constantly on the move, this would entail decreeing Tum'ah on every location that they visit, and the Chachamim did not want to spread Tum'ah to so many locations (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

27)

(a)The next three items on the list are ...

1. ... Burganin - huts in the field in which they place fruit when it rains ...

2. ... Alaktiyos - roofs on four pillars under which one stands in the summer as a protection against the blazing sun (Kayta means summer).

3. ... Beis Sha'ar - a little guard's hut in front of the Chatzer ...

(b)... which are all not subject to Mador ha'Akum - because they are not permanent living quarters (as we explained above).

(c)Two of the last four items are the air of a Chatzer and a bathhouse. The last two are ...

1. ... M'kom Chitzim - the town's munitions stock-room, where the arrows are stored for time of war.

2. ... M'kom ha'Ligyonos - a large area where the troops gather to be counted (see Tiferes Yisrael).