ב"ה
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Parah Adumah - Chapter 8
Parah Adumah - Chapter 8
1When a person was carrying water for the ashes of the red heifer on his shoulders and he stood1 and delivered a halachic ruling for others,2 rendered a judgment,3 a woman performed chalitzah4 in his presence, a girl performed mi’un5 in his presence, he gave directions to others, killed a snake or scorpion that did not present a threat to him, or took food from the market to set aside,6 the water is disqualified. The rationale is that he occupied himself with another activity before placing the ashes on the water. אמִי שֶׁהָיוּ מֵימָיו עַל כְּתֵפוֹ, וְעָמַד וְהוֹרָה הוֹרָאָה לַאֲחֵרִים, אוֹ שֶׁדָּן דִּין, אוֹ שֶׁחָלְצָה בְּפָנָיו, אוֹ מֵאֲנָה, אוֹ שֶׁהֶרְאָה לַאֲחֵרִים אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ, אוֹ שֶׁהָרַג אֶת נָחָשׁ אוֹ עַקְרָב, אוֹ נָטַל אֹכָלִין מִן הַשּׁוּק לְהַצְנִיעָם - הֲרֵי הַמַּיִם פְּסוּלִין; שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְעַסֵּק בְּדָבָר אַחֵר קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן הָאֵפֶר עַל הַמַּיִם.
If, however, he took food in order to eat and ate while he was proceeding on his way7 or killed a snake or scorpion that was preventing his progress,8 the water is acceptable, for these activities are necessary to carry the water.אֲבָל אִם נָטַל הָאֹכָלִין לְאָכְלָן וַאֲכָלָן כְּשֶׁהוּא מְהַלֵּךְ, אוֹ שֶׁהָרַג נָחָשׁ אוֹ עַקְרָב הַמְעַכְּבִין אוֹתוֹ - הֲרֵי הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִים, שֶׁזֶּה מִצֹּרֶךְ הוֹלָכַת הַמַּיִם.
This is the general principle: Any activity that is considered as work which was performed before placing the ashes on the water, whether he stood still or not, disqualifies the water. When he performs an activity that is not considered as work, if he does not stand still, the water is acceptable. If he stands still, it is disqualified.9זֶה הַכְּלָל׃ כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא מִשּׁוּם מְלָאכָה שֶׁעָשָׂהוּ קֹדֶם מַתַּן הָאֵפֶר, בֵּין עָמַד בֵּין לֹא עָמַד - פָּסַל. וְדָבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִשּׁוּם מְלָאכָה: אִם לֹא עָמַד, כְּשֵׁרִין; וְאִם עָמַד, פָּסַל.
If he was walking while carrying such10 water and, while he was walking, he made an opening to walk through, the water he is carrying is acceptable, even though he made the opening with the intent of closing it afterwards. If he closes it before placing the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified. הָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ בַּמַּיִם, וּפָרַץ בִּשְׁעַת הִלּוּכוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ בּוֹ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפָּרַץ עַל מְנַת לִגְדּוֹר - כְּשֵׁרִין; וְאִם גָּדַר קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן הָאֵפֶר, פְּסוּלִין.
Similarly, if he dries11 fruit to eat, even if later he intends to dry the remainder, the water is acceptable. If he dries the remaining fruit before placing the ashes on the water, it is disqualified.וְכֵן אִם קָצָה פֵּרוֹת לֶאֱכֹל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכַּוָּנָתוֹ לְהַקְצוֹת אֶת הַשְּׁאָר - כְּשֵׁרִין; וְאִם הִקצָה קֹדֶם מַתַּן הָאֵפֶר, פָּסַל.
2The following laws apply if one was eating while carrying such water; he left over some food and cast the leftovers12 under a fig tree or under a net used to dry figs. If his intent was to prevent the food from perishing, the water is disqualified, because he performed work. If he cast it away because he no longer needs it, the water is acceptable.בהָיָה אוֹכֵל בִּשְׁעַת הוֹלָכַת הַמַּיִם, וְהוֹתִיר, וְזָרַק מַה שֶּׁהוֹתִיר לְתַחַת הַתְּאֵנָה אוֹ לְתַחַת הַמֻּקְצֶה: אִם נִתְכַּוֵּן שֶׁלֹּא יֹאבְדוּ הַפֵּרוֹת, הֲרֵי הַמַּיִם פְּסוּלִין, שֶׁהֲרֵי עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה; וְאִם זְרָקָן לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ צֹרֶךְ בָּהֶן, הֲרֵי הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִין.
When a person drew water to sanctify it and entrusted it to a watchman to oversee, the water is not disqualified if the owner performed work, because he entrusted it to a watchman.13הַמְמַלֵּא מַיִם לְקַדְּשָׁן, וּמְסָרָן לְאַחֵר לְשָׁמְרָן, וְעָשׂוּ הַבְּעָלִים מְלָאכָה - לֹא נִפְסְלוּ הַמַּיִם, שֶׁהֲרֵי מְסָרָן לְשׁוֹמֵר.
If the watchman performs work, he disqualifies it, because the water is in his domain and he takes the place of the owner. וְאִם עָשָׂה הַשּׁוֹמֵר מְלָאכָה - פְּסָלָן, שֶׁהֲרֵי הֵן בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְהוּא נִכְנַס תַּחַת הַבְּעָלִים.
If two people are watching such water and one performs work, the water is acceptable, because the other is watching. If the first returned to his watch and the second stood up and performed work, the water is acceptable. The water’s status is maintained unless all of the watchmen perform work at the same time.14הָיוּ שְׁנַיִם שׁוֹמְרִין אֶת הַמַּיִם, וְעָשָׂה אֶחָד מֵהֶן מְלָאכָה - הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִין, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׁנִי מְשַׁמֵּר; חָזַר הָרִאשׁוֹן לִשְׁמוֹר, וְעָמַד הַשֵּׁנִי וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה - הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִין; עַד שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ כָּל הַשּׁוֹמְרִין מְלָאכָה כְּאַחַת.
3The following rules apply when a person sanctifies water with one hand and performs work with another. If he sanctifies the water for himself, he disqualifies it, because he performed work before casting the ashes on the water.15 If he sanctified water for his colleague, the water is acceptable, because a person does not disqualify a colleague’s water with the performance of such work.16 For the performance of work does not disqualify the act of sanctification; it disqualifies only the water, and that, only when the one performing the work is a watchman or the owner.גהַמְקַדֵּשׁ בְּאַחַת יָדוֹ, וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה בַּשְּׁנִיָּה: אִם לְעַצְמוֹ קִדֵּשׁ - פָּסַל, שֶׁהֲרֵי עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה קֹדֶם מַתַּן אֵפֶר בַּמַּיִם; וְאִם לַחֲבֵרוֹ קִדֵּשׁ - הַמַּיִם כְּשֵׁרִין, שֶׁאֵין זֶה פּוֹסֵל מֵימָיו שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ בַּמְּלָאכָה שֶׁעָשָׂה, שֶׁאֵין הַמְּלָאכָה פּוֹסֶלֶת בַּקִּדּוּשׁ אֶלָּא בַּמַּיִם, וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעוֹשֶׂה הַשּׁוֹמֵר אוֹ הַבְּעָלִים.
4When a person sanctifies water for himself and a colleague at the same time, his water is disqualified because of the activity he performed in sanctifying his colleague’s water.17 If, however, he sanctifies water belonging to two other people at the same time, they are both acceptable, because the performance of work does not disqualify water belonging to others.דהַמְקַדֵּשׁ לְעַצְמוֹ וּלְאַחֵר כְּאַחַת - שֶׁלּוֹ פָּסוּל, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִפְסְלוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁל עַצְמוֹ בָּעֵסֶק שֶׁנִּתְעַסֵּק בְּקִדּוּשׁ חֲבֵרוֹ. אֲבָל אִם קִדֵּשׁ לִשְׁנַיִם כְּאַחַת - שְׁנֵיהֶן כְּשֵׁרִין, שֶׁאֵין מְלַאכְתּוֹ פּוֹסֶלֶת מֵי אֲחֵרִים.
5When a person fills two buckets with his two hands for himself and sanctifies them at once, they are disqualified. If he sanctifies them individually, they are acceptable.18 If he sanctifies water for himself with both hands at the same time in one sanctification,19 it is acceptable. If he sanctified two buckets at the same time, they are both disqualified.20 If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for himself, they are both disqualified.21ההַמְמַלֵּא לְעַצְמוֹ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת: בְּקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד, פָּסוּל; בִּשְׁנֵי קִדּוּשִׁין, כָּשֵׁר. קִדֵּשׁ לְעַצְמוֹ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת: בְּקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד, כְּשֵׁרִים; בִּשְׁנֵי קִדּוּשִׁין, פְּסוּלִין. מִלֵּא וְקִדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת - לְעַצְמוֹ, שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּסוּלִין.
If he filled two buckets with his two hands for another person at the same time, when they are sanctified at once, they are both acceptable.22 If they were sanctified individually, they are disqualified.23 If he sanctifies water for another person with both hands at the same time as one sanctification or in two sanctifications,24 it is acceptable. If, with his two hands, he filled one bucket of water and sanctified another existing bucket for another person, the bucket he filled is disqualified,25 but the bucket he sanctified is acceptable.26מִלֵּא לְאַחֵר בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת: בְּקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד, כָּשֵׁר; בִּשְׁנֵי קִדּוּשִׁין, פְּסוּלִין. קִדֵּשׁ לְאַחֵר בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת, בֵּין בְּקִדּוּשׁ אֶחָד בֵּין בִּשְׁנֵי קִדּוּשִׁין, שְׁנֵיהֶן כְּשֵׁרִים. מִלֵּא וְקִדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו כְּאַחַת לְאַחֵר - הַמִּלּוּי פָּסוּל, וְהַקִּדּוּשׁ כָּשֵׁר.
This is the general principle: Whenever work was performed when water was drawn, whether one drew the water for himself or for another person, it is disqualified, Whenever water was drawn according to law and then one performed work before placing the ashes upon it, if the water belonged to him, it is disqualified. If it belongs to someone else, it is acceptable. In any situation when the water is in his hand and he performs work, whether there is a watchman who does not perform work or whether there is no watchman, the water is disqualified.27 When the water is not in his hand and he performed work, if there is a watchman, it is not disqualified. If there is no watchman, it is disqualified.זֶה הַכְּלָל׃ כָּל מִלּוּי שֶׁעָשָׂה עִמּוֹ מְלָאכָה, בֵּין שֶׁמִּלֵּא לְעַצְמוֹ בֵּין שֶׁמִּלֵּא לְאַחֵר - פָּסוּל. וְכָל מַיִם שֶׁנִּתְמַלְּאוּ כְּהִלְכָתָן, וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתֵּן אֶת הָאֵפֶר: אִם הָיוּ הַמַּיִם שֶׁלּוֹ, הֲרֵי הֵן פְּסוּלִין; וְאִם הָיוּ שֶׁל אַחֵר, כְּשֵׁרִין. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ, וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה, בֵּין שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם שׁוֹמֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בֵּין שֶׁאֵין שָׁם שׁוֹמֵר - פָּסוּל. וְדָבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכָה: אִם יֵשׁ שָׁם שׁוֹמֵר, לֹא פָסַל; אִם אֵין שָׁם שׁוֹמֵר, פָּסַל.
6When a person tells a colleague: “Sanctify water for me and I will sanctify water for you,” and they sanctified water for each other, the first is acceptable and the second is disqualified, because he received a wage for sanctifying.28 f one tells the other: “Draw water for me and I will draw water for you,” and they drew water for each other, the first is unacceptable. The rationale is that since his intent was that his colleague should draw water for him in exchange, it is considered as if he drew water for himself and another person at the same time,29 in which instance, the water is disqualified.30 The second bucket is acceptable, because it is permitted to receive payment for drawing water31 and he did not perform work after drawing the water, nor did have an intent regarding another drawing of water.והָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ "קַדֵּשׁ לִי וַאֲקַדֵּשׁ לָךְ", וְקִדְּשׁוּ זֶה לָזֶה - הָרִאשׁוֹן כָּשֵׁר; וְהַשֵּׁנִי פָּסוּל, שֶׁהֲרֵי קִדֵּשׁ בְּשָׂכָר. אָמַר לוֹ "מַלֵּא לִי וַאֲמַלֵּא לָךְ", וּמִלְּאוּ זֶה לָזֶה - הָרִאשׁוֹן פָּסוּל; הוֹאִיל וְכַוָּנָתוֹ שֶׁיְּמַלֵּא לוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ חֵלֶף מִלּוּי זֶה, הֲרֵי זֶה כִּמְמַלֵּא לוֹ וּלְאַחֵר, שֶׁהֵן פְּסוּלִין. וְהַשֵּׁנִי כָּשֵׁר; שֶׁהַמִּלּוּי בְּשָׂכָר מֻתָּר, וַהֲרֵי לֹא עָשָׂה מְלָאכָה אַחַר שֶׁמִּלֵּא, וְאֵין בְּכַוָּנָתוֹ מִלּוּי אַחֵר.
7When a person tells a friend: “Sanctify water for me and I will draw water for you,” they are both acceptable. The rationale is that work does not disqualify sanctification32 and it permitted to receive a wage for drawing water.33 If one tells the other: “Draw water for me and I will sanctify water for you,” they are both disqualified. The water drawn originally is disqualified, because it is considered as if he drew water and sanctified it at the same time and thus caused the water he drew to be disqualified because of the performance of work. And the water sanctified afterwards is disqualified, because it is as if he sanctified water for a wage, because it is as if he was repaying a debt for which he was liable.34זהָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ "קַדֵּשׁ לִי וַאֲמַלֵּא לָךְ" - שְׁנֵיהֶן כְּשֵׁרִין; שֶׁהַמְּלָאכָה אֵינָהּ פּוֹסֶלֶת הַקִּדּוּשׁ, וְהַמִּלּוּי בְּשָׂכָר מֻתָּר. "מַלֵּא לִי וַאֲקַדֵּשׁ לָךְ" - שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּסוּלִין. זֶה שֶׁמִּלֵּא בַּתְּחִלָּה פָּסוּל - שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא כִּמְמַלֵּא וּמְקַדֵּשׁ כְּאַחַת, וּפָסַל הַמַּיִם בִּמְלָאכָה; וְזֶה שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה פָּסוּל - שֶׁהֲרֵי קִדֵּשׁ בְּשָׂכָר, וּכְאִלּוּ הֶחֱזִיר חוֹב שֶׁעָלָיו.
8When a person goes to sanctify water for the ashes of the red heifer, he may take the key to the closet where the ashes are kept and open it to take out the ashes. If it is necessary to dig out the ashes, he may take a hatchet. He may take a ladder and carry it from place to place to bring the ashes. In all these circumstances, the water and the ashes remain acceptable.35חהַהוֹלֵךְ לְקַדֵּשׁ - הֲרֵי זֶה נוֹטֵל אֶת הַמַּפְתֵּחַ וּפוֹתֵחַ לְהוֹצִיא הָאֵפֶר, וְנוֹטֵל קַרְדֹּם אִם צָרִיךְ לַחְפּוֹר בּוֹ אֵפֶר הַפָּרָה, וְנוֹטֵל סֻלָּם וּמוֹלִיךְ מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם לְהָבִיא הָאֵפֶר, וְכָשֵׁר.
If after taking the ashes for the sanctification, he covered the container in which the ashes were held, locked the door of the closet, or stood the container where the ashes were held upright on the ground before casting the ashes on the water, the water is disqualified,36 but the ashes are acceptable to sanctify other water.37וְאִם מִשֶּׁנָּטַל אֶת הָאֵפֶר לְקַדֵּשׁ בּוֹ, כִּסָּה הַכְּלִי שֶׁהָיָה בוֹ הָאֵפֶר, אוֹ שֶׁהֵגִיף אֶת הַדֶּלֶת, אוֹ שֶׁזָּקַף אֶת הַכְּלִי בָּאָרֶץ, קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּשְׁלִיךְ הָאֵפֶר לַמַּיִם - פָּסַל הַמַּיִם; אֲבָל הָאֵפֶר כָּשֵׁר לְקַדֵּשׁ בּוֹ מַיִם אֲחֵרִים.
If, by contrast, he stood the container in which the ashes were held upright in his hand38 so that the remaining ashes would not be scattered, it is acceptable, because it is impossible to do otherwise. If he places it down on the ground, the water is disqualified and if he covers it, the water is disqualified.זָקַף אֶת הַכְּלִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ הָאֵפֶר בְּיָדוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְפַּזֵּר - כְּשֵׁרִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר; שֶׁהֲרֵי אִם הִנִּיחוֹ בָּאָרֶץ - פָּסַל, וְאִם כִּסָּהוּ - פָּסַל.
If he took ashes and saw that the amount was excessive and returned some, it is acceptable.39 If he cast the ashes on the water and then returned some, the water is acceptable.40 If he cast the ashes on the water and saw that the amount was excessive and took some to sanctify other water, it is acceptable.41נָטַל אֶת הָאֵפֶר, וְרָאָה שֶׁהוּא מְרֻבֶּה, וְהֶחֱזִיר מִמֶּנּוּ - כָּשֵׁר; נָתַן הָאֵפֶר עַל הַמַּיִם, וְרָאָה שֶׁהוּא מְרֻבֶּה, וְנָטַל מִמֶּנּוּ לְקַדֵּשׁ מַיִם אֲחֵרִים - כָּשֵׁר.
If he trimmed an olive leaf to use to cast the ashes,42 the ruling depends on his intent. If his intent was so that the leaf would not hold much ashes,43 the water is disqualified.44 If his intent was to direct the flow of the ashes so that they would enter the container holding the water, the water is acceptable.45קִרְסֵם עֲלֵה זַיִת לַחְתּוֹת בּוֹ הָאֵפֶר: אִם בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יַחֲזִיק אֵפֶר הַרְבֵּה, פָּסַל; וְאִם בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס הָאֵפֶר בַּכְּלִי, כָּשֵׁר.
Footnotes
1.
These activities are not considered as work. Therefore, they disqualify the water only when the person stands still to perform them.
2.
With regard to questions concerning what is permitted or forbidden [the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (Parah 7:9)].
3.
With regard to financial matters (ibid.).
4.
The rite granting a childless widow the right to remarry. See Deuteronomy, ch. 25; Hilchot Yibbum VeChalitzah, ch. 1.
5.
The rite allowing a girl whose hand was granted to a man in marriage by her family when she was underage to nullify that marriage arrangement (see Hilchot Gerushin, ch. 11).
6.
The latter two examples seemingly apply even if he performed these activities while walking, for they can be considered as work (Kessef Mishneh).
7.
The Kessef Mishneh explains that taking the food and eating it is not considered as work, because it is a necessary activity. Were he not to eat, he would not have the strength to continue his journey.
8.
All agree that in this instance, the water is acceptable even though the person stood still to kill the predators, for he could not proceed without doing so.
9.
Kiryat Sefer maintains that the water is disqualified because the person carrying it is considered to have diverted his attention from it.
10.
The bracketed additions are made on the basis of the gloss of the Shabsie Frankel printing of the Mishneh Torah.
11.
Our translation is based on the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (loc. cit.:12).
12.
Without an intent to save or destroy it (ibid.).
13.
And the watchman takes his place with regard to all matters.
14.
Otherwise, there is someone who has not diverted his attention from watching the water.
15.
I.e., we are speaking about an instance where in fact the person began the work before the ashes reached the water. If, however, the ashes reached the water before he began the work, the sanctification is completed and the water is acceptable.
16.
As the Rambam proceeds to explain, since the person who performed the work is not the owner of the water or a watchman, the fact that he performed work does not disqualify the water. And the activity of sanctifying the water is not disqualified by the performance of work.
17.
His colleague’s water is, however, sanctified and acceptable, because the activity he performed in attempting to sanctify his own water does not disqualify it.
18.
The Rambam’s ruling is based on the Tosefta (Parah 6:3-4). There are questions regarding the proper version of both the Tosefta and the text here. We have followed the version found in the authoritative manuscripts and early printings of the Mishneh Torah. According to that version, this clause is a restatement of Chapter 7, Halachah 4. The Kessef Mishneh, however, suggests reversing the rulings both here and in the source.
19.
I.e., he cast the ashes of the red heifer into one bucket of water with both his hands (Rabbenu Shimshon, as quoted by the Kessef Mishneh).
20.
For sanctifying each bucket is considered as an activity that disqualifies the other.
21.
We suspect that he filled the bucket before he sanctified the existing bucket. Hence, filling this bucket is considered as an activity that disqualifies the existing bucket. Then sanctifying the existing bucket is considered an activity that disqualifies the bucket that was now filled. If, however, he sanctified the existing bucket first and then filled the new bucket, both are acceptable.
22.
By sanctifying them at the same time, he demonstrated that his intent in drawing them was to draw them as a single quantity (Rav Yosef Corcus).
23.
The fact that he sanctified them separately indicates that at the outset, he considered them as separate entities and drawing each one disqualifies the other (ibid.). See also the notes to Chapter 7, Halachah 4.
24.
I.e., cast ashes on one bucket with one hand and on the other bucket with the other hand. He does not disqualify either bucket belonging to a colleague by performing work while sanctifying it, as stated in Halachah 3 (Rav Yosef Corcus).
25.
For he was performing work while drawing that bucket of water and any time one performs work while drawing water, it is disqualified, as the Rambam proceeds to state.
26.
Because the performance of work does not disqualify water sanctified for another person.
27.
Even though there are other watchmen, since he is holding the water, it is his actions that are significant (Rav Yosef Corcus).
28.
That is not acceptable, as stated in Chapter 7, Halachah 2. The first bucket that was sanctified is not disqualified, because at the time it was sanctified, the one sanctifying it had not received payment. Nor will he receive payment later, because the sanctification of the second bucket is disqualified (Kessel Mishneh). The second bucket, by contrast, is disqualified, because the person who sanctified it—the owner of the first bucket—did receive payment, the sanctification of his bucket.
29.
This applies only with regard to water that will be drawn in the future, but not to water that was already drawn, as in the following clause (Kessel Mishneh).
30.
As stated in Chapter 7, Halachah 3.
31.
As stated in Chapter 7, Halachah 2.
32.
Thus even though the person sanctifying the water is considered as having the drawing of his water in mind, the sanctification is not disqualified as a result. Although it is considered as equivalent to performing work, there is no difficulty in performing work while sanctifying water [see the Rambam’s Commentary to the Mishnah (Parah 7:4)].
33.
Hence, the fact that his water was sanctified first does not disqualify the drawing of the water.
34.
I.e., he was sanctifying the water as payment for the other person drawing water for him.
35.
This is speaking about a situation in which a person is preparing to sanctify his own water. Although any extraneous activity will disqualify the water, in these instances, the water is not disqualified, because these activities are necessary for the sanctification of the water.
36.
Because he performed an activity that was not necessary for the sanctification of this water.
37.
For the ashes are not disqualified by the performance of work.
38.
I.e., he continued holding the container in his hand, because as the Rambam proceeds to explain, doing anything else would disqualify the water [see the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Parah 6:1)].
39.
The Kessef Mishneh quotes Rabbenu Shimshon as explaining that returning the ashes to the container is not considered work.
40.
Because once the ashes are cast upon it, it is not disqualified because of work.
41.
We are speaking about a situation in which some ashes reached the water and others were floating on other ashes above its surface. The water is not disqualified, because some ashes reached it and from that time onward, work does not disqualify it. The ashes are not disqualified for future use until they actually touch the water, as stated in Chapter 9, Halachah 3.
42.
To use it as a conduit at the opening of the container.
43.
And thus less ashes would be used when sanctifying the water.
44.
Because the activity was not performed for the sake of sanctifying this water, but for the sake of saving the ashes for the future.
The version of the Rambam’s source, the Tosefta (Parah 6:1), which the Ra’avad possessed (and which is the standard published text) differs from that cited by the Rambam. The Ra’avad does, however, admit that the rationale is easier to understand according to the Rambam’s version.
45.
Because the activity is being performed for the sake of the sanctification of this water.
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