Maimonides

Introduction to Hilchos Mikvaot Included in this text is one positive commandment: that all impure individuals should immerse themselves in a mikveh and then regain purity. This mitzvah is explained in the ensuing chapters. 1 All impure entities - whether...

1 Whenever the external surface of a k'li that has a receptacle contracts impurity from liquids, its inner side does not contract impurity vis-à-vis terumah. Nor does the outer side of the k'li's neck, its handles, or the fingerhold on the rim of the k'li...

1 There are types of three chests: a) a chest that was broken open from its side; it is susceptible to midras impurity; b) one that was broken open from above; it is susceptible to the impurity associated with a human corpse; c) an oversized one; it is pu...

1 The following rules apply to wooden keilim that are fit to serve as supports that were permanently affixed to a wall in a building. If they were fixed in a wall, but nothing was built upon them or something was built upon them, but they were not permane...

1 All flat wooden implements made to sit, lie, or ride upon are susceptible to midras impurity, e.g., a bed, a chair, or the like. 2 The bier, the pillow, and the cushion of a corpse, the chair of a bride, the birthing chair of a woman in childbirth, the ...

1 These are the hides that can contract the impurity associated with the support of a zav (midras): a hide that one intended to use as a carpet, a hide placed on top of beds to sleep upon, a hide placed on a donkey under the burden it carries, a hide plac...

1 A mapatz is a mat made by interweaving cords, reeds, grasses, or the like. A mapatz is not one of the keiliim mentioned by the Torah. Nevertheless, it is susceptible to the impurity associated with the support of a zav according to Scriptural Law. The r...

1 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 con...

1 The strands that emerge from the weave and those at the beginning of the sheet of fabric and at its end are called nimin. Until what measure are they considered as part of the fabric? For a sheet, for a headcovering, a scarf, or a veil, six fingerbreadt...

1 We already explained that every accessory that is required by an implement when it is being used is considered as an integral element of the implement with regard to both contracting and imparting impurity. Therefore, when one coats an earthenware conta...