Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day - Daily Torah Study

Kelim - Chapter 28

1Whenever the external surface of a k’li that has a receptacle contracts impurity from liquids,1 its inner side does not contract impurity vis-a-vis terumah.2 Nor does the outer side of the k’li’s neck, its handles, or the fingerhold on the rim of the k’li3 contract impurity.4 If the inner portion of the k’li contracts impurity, all of the above components also contract impurity.אכָּל הַכֵּלִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן בֵּית קִבּוּל, שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אֲחוֹרֵיהֶן בְּמַשְׁקִין - לֹא נִטְמָא תּוֹכָן לַתְּרוּמָה, וְלֹא אָגְנֵיהֶן, וְלֹא אָזְנֵיהֶן, וְלֹא מְקוֹם אֶצְבַּע הַשּׁוֹקֵעַ בִּשְׂפַת הַכְּלִי; נִטְמָא תּוֹךְ הַכְּלִי, נִטְמְאוּ כֻלָּן.

If impure liquids fall on the bases of keilim,5 their rims, their projections,6 or handles of keilim with receptacles, one should dry them7 and the receptacle is pure. Even the entire outer surface does not become impure.נָפְלוּ מַשְׁקִין טְמֵאִין עַל כַּנֵּי הַכֵּלִים, אוֹ עַל אָגְנֵיהֶן, אוֹ עַל אָזְנֵיהֶן, אוֹ עַל יְדוֹת הַכֵּלִים הַמְקַבְּלִין - הֲרֵי זֶה מְנַגְּבָן, וְהֵן טְהוֹרִין; וַאֲפִלּוּ אֲחוֹרֵי הַכְּלִי כֻלּוֹ, לֹא נִטְמְאוּ.

2The following law applies to keilim made from goats hair, e.g., sacks and carrying bags, leather keilim, e.g., pillows and bolsters, and wooden keilim, even baskets and dispensers. If their external surface contracts impurity from liquids, their inner portion does not contract impurity.8באֶחָד כְּלֵי הַשַּׂק, כְּגוֹן הַשַּׂקִּין וְהַמַּרְצוּפִין, אוֹ כְּלֵי הָעוֹר, כְּגוֹן הַכָּרִים וְהַכְּסָתוֹת, וְאֶחָד כְּלֵי עֵץ, אֲפִלּוּ קֻפּוֹת וּמַשְׁפֵּלוֹת - אִם נִטְמְאוּ אֲחוֹרֵיהֶן בְּמַשְׁקִין, לֹא נִטְמָא תּוֹכָן.

3Flat9 keilim that can be purified by immersion,10 that are not fit to sit or lie upon, e.g., a table or countertop that does not have a side11 are not susceptible to impurity according to Scriptural Law.12 Accordingly, if the external surface of such a k’li contracts impurity from liquids, its inner surface does not contract impurity.גפְּשׁוּטֵי כְּלֵי שֶׁטֶף שֶׁאֵינָן רְאוּיִין לְמִדְרָס, כְּגוֹן הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְטַבְלָא שֶׁאֵין לָהּ דֹּפֶן - הוֹאִיל וְאֵין מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה, אִם נִטְמְאוּ אֲחוֹרֵיהֶן בְּמַשְׁקִין, לֹא נִטְמָא תּוֹכָן.

If, however, flat keilim that can be purified by immersion are fit to sit or lie upon, e.g., a bed, a hide on which one sleeps, a chair or the like, the distinction between an inner surface and an outer surface does not apply. Instead, whether impure liquids touch their inner surface or their outer surface, the entire k’li contracts impurity. Similarly, the distinction between an inner surface and an outer surface does not apply with regard to measures for wine and oil, a two-sided cooking k’li13 , a filter for mustard, and a filter for wine. If impure liquids fell on a portion of the k’li, the entire k’li contracts impurity,14 as is the law with regard to garments.אֲבָל פְּשׁוּטֵי כְּלֵי שֶׁטֶף הָרְאוּיִין לְמִדְרָס - כְּגוֹן הַמִּטָּה, וְהָעוֹר שֶׁיְּשֵׁנִים עָלָיו, וְהַכִּסֵּא, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן - אֵין לָהֶם אֲחוֹרַיִם וָתוֹךְ; אֶלָּא בֵּין שֶׁנָּגְעוּ מַשְׁקִין בָּהֶן מִתּוֹכָן, אוֹ מֵאֲחוֹרֵיהֶן - נִטְמָא הַכְּלִי כֻלּוֹ. וְכֵן מִדּוֹת יַיִן וְשֶׁמֶן, וְזוֹמָא לִסְטְרוֹת, וּמַסְנֶנֶת שֶׁל חַרְדָּל, וּמַשְׁמֶרֶת שֶׁל יַיִן - אֵין לָהֶן אֲחוֹרַיִם וָתוֹךְ; אֶלָּא אִם נָפַל מַשְׁקִין עַל מִקְצָתָן, נִטְמְאוּ כֻלָּן כְּמוֹ הַבְּגָדִים.

4A concept paralleling an external surface and an inner surface15 apply with regard to a plow.16 What is implied? If impure liquids fall on the lance, only seven handbreadths of the beam17 adjacent to the lance become impure and the remainder of the beam is pure. Similarly, if impure liquids fall on the metal peg, only the four handbreadths of the beam that is adjacent to the metal peg become impureדהַמַּרְדֵּעַ וְהַמַּלְמָד - יֵשׁ לָהֶן אֲחוֹרַיִם וָתוֹךְ. כֵּיצַד? נָפְלוּ מַשְׁקִין עַל הַחַרְחוּר - לֹא נִטְמָא מִן הָעֵץ הַסָּמוּךְ לַחַרְחוּר אֶלָּא שִׁבְעָה טְפָחִים בִּלְבָד, וּשְׁאָר הָעֵץ טָהוֹר; וְכֵן אִם נָפְלוּ מַשְׁקִין עַל הַדָּרְבָן, לֹא נִטְמָא אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים הַסְּמוּכִין לַדָּרְבָן.

If the liquids fell beyond the seven handbreadths and the four handbreadths, the situation resembles a receptacle whose outer surface was touched by impure liquids, in which instance, only the place where the liquids touched and the outer surface contract impurity.נָפְלוּ חוּץ לְשִׁבְעָה וְחוּץ לְאַרְבָּעָה - הֲרֵי זֶה כִּכְלִי קִבּוּל שֶׁנָּגְעוּ מַשְׁקִין בַּאֲחוֹרָיו, וְלֹא נִטְמְאוּ אֶלָּא מִמְּקוֹם מַגָּעוֹ וְלַחוּץ.

5When there is a pouch with an inner pocket and one of the two contracted impurity due to contact with impure liquids, the other does not contract impurity.18הכִּיס שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ כִּיס, שֶׁנִּטְמָא אֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּמַשְׁקִין - לֹא נִטְמָא חֲבֵרוֹ.

When does the above apply? When their rims are on the same level.19 If, however, the external one overlaps the inner one, and the inner one contracts impurity, the external one also contracts impurity.20 If the external one contracts impurity, the inner one does not contract impurity.21 If the impurity stems from the carcass of a crawling animal, in all instances, if one contracted impurity, the others also did.22בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּשֶׁהָיוּ שִׂפְתוֹתֵיהֶן שָׁוִין. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַחִיצוֹן עוֹדֵף, וְנִטְמָא הַפְּנִימִי - נִטְמָא הַחִיצוֹן; נִטְמָא הַחִיצוֹן, לֹא נִטְמָא הַפְּנִימִי. וּבַשֶּׁרֶץ - בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ, אִם נִטְמָא אֶחָד מֵהֶן, לֹא נִטְמָא חֲבֵרוֹ.

6When one carves out a measure of a revi’it23 and half a revi’it into one piece of wood and one of them contracted impurity from impure liquids, the other does not contract impurity even though they are on the same piece of wood.והַחוֹקֵק רֹבַע וַחֲצִי רֹבַע בְּעֵץ אֶחָד, וְנִטְמָא אֶחָד מֵהֶן בְּמַשְׁקִין - לֹא נִטְמָא הַשֵּׁנִי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן עֵץ אֶחָד.

What is implied? If impure liquids touched the inner surface of the revi’it measure, that measure and its outer side are impure, the half-revi’it measure and its outer side are pure. If the liquids touched the inner surface of the half-revi’it measure, that measure and its outer side are impure, the revi’it measure and its outer side are pure.כֵּיצַד? נָגְעוּ מַשְׁקִין טְמֵאִין בְּתוֹךְ הָרֹבַע - הָרֹבַע וַאֲחוֹרָיו טְמֵאִין, וַחֲצִי הָרֹבַע וַאֲחוֹרָיו טָהוֹרִין; נָגְעוּ בַּחֲצִי הָרֹבַע מִתּוֹכוֹ - חֲצִי הָרֹבַע וַאֲחוֹרָיו טְמֵאִין, הָרֹבַע וַאֲחוֹרָיו טְהוֹרִין.

When one immerses this piece of wood in a mikveh, it should be immersed in its entirety all at one time.24 If the outer surface of the revi’it measure or of the half-revi’it measure contracted impurity from liquids, the entire outer surface of the piece of wood contracts impurity, because an outer surface is not divided.וּכְשֶׁהוּא מַטְבִּיל, מַטְבִּיל אֶת הַכֹּל. נִטְמְאוּ אֲחוֹרֵי הָרֹבַע, אוֹ אֲחוֹרֵי חֲצִי הָרֹבַע בְּמַשְׁקִין - הֲרֵי אֲחוֹרֵי הַכְּלִי טָמֵא, שֶׁאֵין חוֹלְקִין אֶת הָאֲחוֹרַיִם.

7When the outer surface of a kettle was impure and it was boiling, we do not suspect that maybe liquids flowed out from it, touched its outer surface, and then receded back inside it. Instead, the liquids that are inside it are pure with regard to terumah.25זקֻמְקוּמוֹס שֶׁהָיוּ אֲחוֹרָיו טְמֵאִין, וְהָיָה מַרְתִּיחַ - אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא יָצְאוּ מַשְׁקִין מִתּוֹכוֹ וְנָגְעוּ בַּאֲחוֹרָיו וְחָזְרוּ לְתוֹכוֹ, אֶלָּא הֲרֵי הַמַּשְׁקִין שֶׁבְּתוֹכוֹ טְהוֹרִין לַתְּרוּמָה.

Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּסַיְּעָן

Footnotes

See Chapter 13, Halachah 4, and Hilchot Sha’ar Avot HaTum’ah 7:3.
If the outer surface of the k’li contracts impurity from a primary source of Scriptural impurity, the inner side also contracts impurity (Pesachim 17b, quoted by the Kessef Mishneh).

With regard to sacrificial foods, by contrast, it does contract impurity (Kessef Mishneh, based on Keilim 25:9).

I.e., an indent in the rim enabling the container to be held without inserting one's finger inside of it. See the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Keilim 25:7).

The above applies even if the handle has a receptacle.

Our translation of this and the following terms is based on the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (ibid.:1).

The projections to which the handles are connected (ibid.).

The Ra’avad emphasizes that one should not use the k’li until it was dried. The Kessef Mishneh states that this concept is implicit in the Rambam’s words.

The Ra’avad objects to the Rambam’s ruling, but does not clarify his objection. The Kessef Mishneh offers two possible interpretations of the Ra’avad’s statement: a) that according to the Ra’avad, the opposite is also true. If the inner portion of such a receptacle contracts impurity, the outer portion does not, or b) if impure liquids touch the outer portion of such a receptacle, even the outer portion does not contract impurity. Since the impurity imparted by impure liquids is Rabbinic in origin, our Sages wanted to make a clear distinction in its regard.

I.e., keilim that do not have a receptacle.

10.

This refers to utensils made from wood, bone, or glass.

11.

I.e., a frame around the tabletop. See Keilim 25:1 and commentaries.

12.

See Chapter 1, Halachah 10.

13.

A roasting tool with a ladle to remove soup at one end and a three-pronged fork to remove meat at the other [the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (Keilim 13:2; 25:3)].

14.

This ruling reflects the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah (Keilim 25:3). The Ra’avad differs, stating that Rabbi Meir differs in that source and, he maintains, Rabbi Meir’s opinion is supported by the majority of Sages. The Kessef Mishneh, however, supports the Rambam’s view.

15.

Although the plow is not a container, there is a distinction between the contraction of impurity by its functional parts (parallel to the inner space of the receptacle) and it supporting beams (parallel to the external surface of the receptacle) [the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (Keilim 25:2)].

16.

Both the Hebrew terms melamed and marde’a are translated as plow. With regard to a melamed, see Chapter 11, Halachah 23, where the Rambam states that a plow is comprised of: “A long, thick beam with something like a sharp peg implanted in its end from above. This metal [peg] is called a darban. On the other end below is a metal [projection] like a spear. The wood that is inserted into it and this iron piece is called a lance (charchur).”Keilim 25:2 speaks only of a marde’a and uses a similar description.

17.

These seven handbreadths — and similarly, the four handbreadths mentioned in the following clause — were considered as necessary for the functioning of the plow. See also Chapter 20, Halachah 12.

18.

I.e., they are considered as separate entities.

19.

And thus neither is considered in the inner space of the other. See also Chapter 13, Halachah 12, where a more stringent ruling is given to a somewhat parallel situation.

20.

As in the law that applies regarding a receptacle: If the inner space contracts impurity, the outer surface is also impure.

21.

As is the law when impurity touches the outer surface of a receptacle.

22.

I.e., in a case of impurity of Scriptural and not merely Rabbinic origin, the leniency mentioned in this halachah is not applied. Our translation follows the version of the Mishneh Torah suggested by the Kessef Mishneh, Ma’aseh Rokeiach, Mishneh LiMelech, and others. The standard printed text of the Mishneh Torah — and, in this instance, also the authoritative manuscripts cited in the Shabsie Frankel printing — follow a different version.

23.

A Talmudic measure equal to 86 cc according to Shiurei Torah and 150 cc according to Chazon Ish. Diagram

24.

A k'li must be immersed in a mikveh all at once. Even though the two measures are considered as separate keilim with regard to the contraction of impurity, they are considered as a single entity with regard to immersion.

25.

As stated in Halachah 1.

Kelim - Chapter 28

Quiz Yourself on Keilim Chapter 28