Keilim - Chapter 22

What is the minimum measure for a cloth to contract impurity? Three handbreadths by three handbreadths to contract the impurity of a support for a zav, precisely three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths together with the loose hanging strands to contract the impurity stemming from a human corpse or other types of impurity.

With regard to what does the above apply? To clothes of wool or flax. If, however, clothes were made from other fabrics, they do not contract any type of impurity unless they are three handbreadths by three handbreadths. This is derived from Leviticus 11:32 which states: "or a garment." According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that "or" serves as an inclusion, teaching that a garment three handbreadths by three handbreadths from other fabrics is susceptible to impurity.

When does the above apply? With regard to torn pieces from a garment. When, however, one weaves a garment independently, it is susceptible to any impurity no matter how small it is, with the exception of the impurity of a support for a zav to which only those articles fit to serve as a support are susceptible.

Very thick cloths, e.g., felt or firm, thick blankets, or very thin clothes, e.g., the linen garments of the Egyptians through which the flesh can be seen, are not susceptible to impurity unless the torn fabric is three handbreadths by three handbreadths. This applies both with regard to the impurity of a support for a zav or other types of impurity.

All woven nets are susceptible to impurity like clothes are. This applies equally to one who weaves strands together and makes them into a thick cord or who weaves them together to make a belt, with the exception of a net made by wool merchants to hold wool which is pure.

When the portion of a slingshot where a stone rests is woven or made of leather, it is susceptible to impurity. If the place where one places his finger is slit, it is pure. If the handle of the slingshot is slit, it is still susceptible to impurity.

Different types of fishing nets are susceptible to impurity. A fishing net with a closely-woven pocket is susceptible to impurity because of that pocket. Since its holes are so small, it is considered like a garment. When one makes a garment from such a net, it is pure. When one makes a garment from the pocket, it is susceptible to impurity.

When one made a cloak from a cloth used as a filter of liquids, if it is three handbreadths by three handbreadths, it is susceptible to impurity.

When a cloth used as a filter for wine becomes worn out, if it is still useful for its initial purpose, it is susceptible to impurity. If not, it is pure.

Cloth covers for scrolls on which designs were made are not susceptible to impurity, because they do not serve humans. The designs indicate that they were made for the scrolls. If there were no designs on them, they are susceptible to types of impurity other than that contracted by the support of a zav, because were one to sit on such a cover, he would be told: "Stand up and let us perform our work," as we explained concerning Hilchot Metamei Mishkav UMoshav.

A cushion that porters place on their shoulders because of the yoke they carry is susceptible to the impurity contracted by the support of a zav. A cloth used as a filter for wine is not susceptible to that type of impurity.

When one originally had in mind using a cloth for designs, it is not susceptible to impurity. If the person nullified his original intent, it is susceptible to impurity. When a homeowner made covers to hang over walls or pillars, they are not susceptible to impurity.

A cloak that is made like a veil in order to entertain drinkers is not susceptible to impurity.

A woman's head kerchief that was used to cover a scroll is not susceptible to the impurity contracted by the support of a zav. It is, however, susceptible to the impurity associated with a human corpse and other types of impurity.

When one makes a bandage, whether from leather or from cloth, even though the bandage is of the minimum measure to contract impurity, it is pure. If one applies a compress to cloth, it is not susceptible to impurity, because it becomes soiled and is not fit to be sat upon. If it is applied to leather, it is susceptible to impurity, because it is cleaned easily and is then fit to lie upon.

At what point does a cloth become susceptible to ritual impurity? When a portion three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths will be woven. All garments that are woven with needles, e.g., pockets and leggings, are not susceptible to impurity until the work to complete them has been finished.

All keilim that are made with needlework, e.g., a trap, become susceptible to impurity when the receptacle that enables the intended task to be performed with them is completed.

With regard to the headcovering worn by young women: If one began making it from its opening, it does not become susceptible to impurity until one completes its base. If one began from the base, it does not become susceptible to impurity until one completes the opening.

An ornament for a headcovering is susceptible to impurity independently. The strands that attach the head-covering to the woman's hair are considered as joined to the head-covering, both to impart impurity and to contract impurity.

When a head covering is torn, if it no longer can cover the greater portion of the hair on the woman's head, it is pure.

When is the fashioning of a cloak made from fabric, felt, or paper completed? When one makes the opening for the head. This depends on the person for whom the cloak is made. For someone who is large, the opening is made for his size; for someone who is small, the opening is made for his size.

When does such a cloak regain purity? When it is worn out to the extent that it can no longer serve its original purpose. If its upper portion comprises the larger part of the cloak and it remains intact, the cloak still retains its impure status. If the bottom portion comprises the larger part of the cloak and it remains intact, the cloak is pure. If the border around its opening is torn, it is pure.

If one makes a belt from the collar of a garment or the side of a sheet, it is not susceptible to ritual impurity until one makes a border at its edge. If one makes it from the middle of the garment or the sheet, it is not susceptible to impurity until one makes a border at the other side as well.

When both edges of a belt have worn out, but its middle portion is intact, it remains impure.

When a border was separated from a garment and was adapted to use for girding one's loins, it is susceptible to impurity, because it is like a belt.

The following laws apply to a garment of a poor person that has become worn out: If the greater portion of its edges are intact, even if it does not have a portion three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths that is intact, it is susceptible to impurity. If its edges are not intact, but it has a portion three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths that is strong and intact, it is susceptible to impurity. If not, it is not susceptible to impurity. Similar concepts apply to other clothes of poor people.

Patches that are smaller than three handbreadths by three handbreadths are not susceptible to impurity. If one had in mind to use them for a given purpose and prepared them with that intent, they are susceptible to impurity unless they are less than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths. For anything less than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths is not susceptible to impurity at all, even though it was prepared to be used.

When a cloth that is smaller than three handbreadths by three handbreadths which had been prepared to be used to plug a bathhouse, as a hand guard when turning over a pot, to clean a mill, or the like was cast on a dung heap, it is no longer susceptible to impurity.

If it was hung on a hook or placed behind the door, it is as if one placed it among his clothes. It is still significant for him and it is susceptible to impurities other than that of a support of a zav. It is not susceptible to that impurity, because it is less than three handbreadths by three handbreadths.

When a cloth three handbreadths by three handbreadths was cast in the dung heap, if it was whole and durable so that it could be used to hold a fourth of a kab of coarse salt without tearing, it is susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav. If not, it is not susceptible to impurity. If, however, it was in the house and it was durable, even if it could not be used to hold salt or if it was used to hold salt even if it was not durable, it is susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav.

The following laws apply when a cloth three handbreadths by three handbreadths was torn, but the pieces were not separated from each other. If it was placed on a chair and when one sat on it, his flesh would touch the chair itself, it is pure. If not, it is susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav.

If a cloth three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths had even one thread that was very worn out, there was a knot in it, or two strands ran together with each other, it is pure.

If a cloth three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths was thrown into the dung heap, it is pure. If he took it back, it is susceptible to impurity. In a continuous cycle, casting it away purifies it, taking it back makes it susceptible to impurity. The only exceptions are remnants of purple fabric and fine red silk. Even if they were cast in the dung heap, they are susceptible to impurity, because they are valuable.

When a cloth three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths was placed in a ball of fabric or it was made into a ball of fabric itself, it is pure. If, however, a cloth three handbreadths by three handbreadths was placed in a ball, its status is the same as it was previously and it is susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav. If such a cloth was made into a ball itself, it is not susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav, because the sewing necessary to make it into a ball reduces it from the size of three handbreadths by three handbreadths.