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Shabbat 82

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Summary

Rav Huna teaches his son that learning about issues related to health and particularly going to the bathroom is central to Torah. If one has the option to wipe on Shabbat with a shard or with a rock, which is better? A rock or grass? Other health issues related to constipation are brought up in the gemara. What size shard is one obligated for carrying – 3 opinions. Which is larger? The ninth chapter starts with a question relating to the source for impurity for idols. Rabbi Akiva and the rabbis have a debate in Masechet Avoda Zara what level of impurity they have. Raba and Rabbi Elazar disagree about the details of the debate between Rabbi Akiva and the rabbis.

 

Shabbat 82

דְּלָא מִקַּנַּח לְכוּ בְּחַסְפָּא, וְלָא קְטִיל לְכוּ כִּינָּא אַמָּנַיְיכוּ, וְלָא שְׁלִיף לְכוּ יַרְקָא וַאֲכִיל לְכוּ מִכִּישָּׁא דְּאָסַר גִּינָּאָה.

as you do not clean yourselves with an earthenware shard, and you do not kill lice on your garments, and you do not pull out a vegetable and eat it before you untie the bundle that was tied by the gardener? This implies that all these actions carry with them the danger of witchcraft.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב הוּנָא לְרַבָּה בְּרֵיהּ: מַאי טַעְמָא לָא שְׁכִיחַתְּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא, דִּמְחַדְּדָן שְׁמַעְתָּתֵיהּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי אֵיזִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ? דְּכִי אָזֵילְנָא לְגַבֵּיהּ מוֹתִיב לִי בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא. אָמַר לִי: מַאן דְּעָיֵיל לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא לָא לִיתֵּיב בְּהֶדְיָא, וְלָא לִיטְרַח טְפֵי — דְּהַאי כַּרְכַּשְׁתָּא אַתְּלָת שִׁינֵּי יָתֵיב, דִילְמָא מִשְׁתַּמְטִי שִׁינֵּי דְכַרְכַּשְׁתָּא וְאָתֵי לִידֵי סַכָּנָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הוּא עָסֵיק בְּחַיֵּי דִּבְרִיָּיתָא וְאַתְּ אָמְרַתְּ בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא?! כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן זִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ.

Rav Huna said to his son Rabba: What is the reason that you are not to be found among those who study before Rav Ḥisda, whose halakhot are incisive? Rabba said to him: For what purpose should I go to him? When I go to him, he sits me down and occupies me in mundane matters not related to Torah. For example, he said to me: One who enters a bathroom should not sit down immediately and should not exert himself excessively because the rectum rests upon three teeth, the muscles that hold it in place, and there is concern lest the teeth of the rectum dislocate through exertion and he come to danger. Rav Huna said to his son Rabba: He is dealing with matters crucial to human life, and you say that he is dealing with mundane matters? Now that I know what you meant, all the more so go before him.

הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וָחֶרֶס, רַב הוּנָא אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס, וְרַב חִסְדָּא אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר. מֵיתִיבִי: הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וָחֶרֶס — מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר, תְּיוּבְתָּא דְרַב הוּנָא! תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא אַלִּיבָּא דְרַב הוּנָא: בְּאוֹגְנֵי כֵּלִים.

The Gemara continues to discuss these halakhot. Rav Huna said: One who relieves himself and needs to wipe and has before him a stone and an earthenware shard, wipes with the stone and does not wipe with the earthenware shard, since he might injure himself. And Rav Ḥisda said: He wipes with the earthenware shard and does not wipe with the stone, which is set-aside. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: If one had before him a stone and an earthenware shard, he wipes with the earthenware shard and does not wipe with the stone. That is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Rav Huna. Rafram bar Pappa explained it before Rav Ḥisda in accordance with the opinion of Rav Huna: It is not referring to earthenware shards, but to the smooth rims of vessels, which pose no danger.

הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וַעֲשָׂבִים, רַב חִסְדָּא וְרַב הַמְנוּנָא, חַד אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בָּעֲשָׂבִים, וְחַד אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בָּעֲשָׂבִים וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר. מֵיתִיבִי: הַמְקַנֵּחַ בְּדָבָר שֶׁהָאוּר שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ שִׁינָּיו הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת נוֹשְׁרוֹת! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּלַחִין, הָא בִּיבֵשִׁין.

There were before him a stone and grasses. With regard to the preferred method to wipe on Shabbat, what is the ruling? There is a dispute between Rav Ḥisda and Rav Hamnuna. One said: He wipes with the stone and does not wipe with the grasses; and one said: He wipes with the grasses and does not wipe with the stone. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: One who wipes with something flammable, his lower teeth, which hold the intestines in place, fall out. How then, may one clean himself with grasses? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult: This, where it is permitted, is referring to moist grass; that, where it is prohibited, is referring to dry grass.

הַנִּצְרָךְ לִפָּנוֹת וְאֵינוֹ נִפְנֶה, רַב חִסְדָּא וְרָבִינָא, חַד אָמַר: רוּחַ רָעָה שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ, וְחַד אָמַר: רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ. תַּנְיָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ, דְּתַנְיָא: הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאוֹכֵל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּב אֶפְרוֹ, וְזוֹ הִיא תְּחִלַּת רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא.

The Gemara continues to discuss this topic. With regard to one who needs to defecate and does not do so, there is a dispute between Rav Ḥisda and Ravina. One said: An evil spirit dominates him; and one said: An odor of filth dominates him. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the one who said that an odor of filth dominates him, as it was taught: One who needs to defecate and eats is comparable to an oven that was heated on top of its ashes; and that is the onset of an odor of filth.

הוּצְרַךְ לִיפָּנוֹת וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִיפָּנוֹת, אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: יַעֲמוֹד וְיֵשֵׁב, יַעֲמוֹד וְיֵשֵׁב. רַב חָנָן מִנְּהַרְדְּעָא אָמַר: יִסְתַּלֵּק לִצְדָדִין. רַב הַמְנוּנָא אָמַר: יְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בִּצְרוֹר בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם. וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּכִי מַסַּח דַּעְתֵּיהּ לָא מִפְּנֵי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מִדְּבָרִים אֲחֵרִים. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּיפְתִּי: לְדִידִי חֲזֵי לִי הַהוּא טַיָּיעָא דְּקָם וְיָתֵיב וְקָם וְיָתֵיב עַד דְּשָׁפֵךְ כְּקִדְרָה.

The Gemara continues to discuss the issue: One who needed to defecate and is unable to do so, Rav Ḥisda said: He should stand and sit, stand and sit. Rav Ḥanan from Neharde’a said: He should move to the sides and attempt to relieve himself in a different spot. Rav Hamnuna said: He should manipulate with a stone in that place. And the Rabbis said: He should divert his thoughts to other matters. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: All the more so that when he diverts his thoughts he will not be able to defecate. Rav Ashi said to him: He should divert his thoughts from other matters, and focus exclusively on his effort to relieve himself. Rav Yirmeya from Difti said: I saw a certain Arab who stood and sat, stood and sat, until it poured out of him like a pot. Apparently, that advice is effective.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַנִּכְנָס לִסְעוּדַת קֶבַע, יְהַלֵּךְ עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים שֶׁל אַרְבַּע [אַרְבַּע] אַמּוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים שֶׁל עֶשֶׂר עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת, וְנִפְנֶה, וְנִכְנָס וְיֹשֵׁב בִּמְקוֹמוֹ.

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who wishes to enter and partake of a regular meal that will last for some time, should pace a distance of four cubits ten times, and some say, ten cubits four times, in order to expedite the movement of the bowels, and defecate, and enter, and sit in his place.

מַתְנִי׳ חֶרֶס — כְּדֵי לִיתֵּן בֵּין פַּצִּים לַחֲבֵרוֹ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי לַחְתּוֹת בּוֹ אֶת הָאוּר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי לְקַבֵּל בּוֹ רְבִיעִית. אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רְאָיָה לַדָּבָר, זֵכֶר לַדָּבָר: ״לֹא יִמָּצֵא בִמְכִתָּתוֹ חֶרֶשׂ לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיָּקוּד״. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִשָּׁם רְאָיָה? ״וְלַחְשׂוֹף מַיִם מִגֶּבֶא״.

MISHNA: One who carries out a shard of earthenware on Shabbat is liable if it is in a measure equivalent to that which is used to place between one pillar and another when piled on the ground to separate them; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Meir says: In a measure equivalent to that which is used to stoke a fire with it. Rabbi Yosei says: In a measure equivalent to that which is used to hold a quarter of a log in it. Rabbi Meir said: Although there is no proof for the matter, there is a biblical allusion to my opinion, as it is stated: “And He shall break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, smashing it without sparing; and there shall not be found among its pieces a shard to rake fire on the hearth” (Isaiah 30:14). Rabbi Yosei said to him: Is there proof from there? The verse concludes: “And to extract water from the cistern,” indicating that earthenware is significant if it is large enough to hold water.

גְּמָ׳ אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי מֵאִיר נְפִישׁ, אוֹ שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ? מִסְּבָרָא — שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ, וּמִקְּרָא — שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי מֵאִיר נְפִישׁ. דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ, לָיֵיט לַהּ בְּמָנָא זוּטְרָא, וַהֲדַר לָיֵיט לַהּ בְּמָנָא רַבָּה?! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: [מַתְנִיתִין נָמֵי] לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיקִידָה גְּדוֹלָה.

GEMARA: A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Is the measure stated by Rabbi Meir greater, or is the measure stated by Rabbi Yosei greater? The Gemara responds: It is reasonable to say that the measure of Rabbi Yosei is greater; however, based on the verse it appears that the measure of Rabbi Meir is greater. As, if it enters your mind to say that the measure of Rabbi Yosei with regard to the shard of earthenware is greater, would the prophet first curse him by saying that a small vessel will not be found, and then curse him by saying that a larger vessel will not be found? Abaye said: The mishna is also referring to a large shard of earthenware required to stoke the fire of a large conflagration. Even in the mishna, Rabbi Meir’s measure is larger.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִשָּׁם רְאָיָה. שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר! וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר ״לָא מִיבַּעְיָא״ קָאָמַר: לָא מִיבַּעְיָא מִידֵּי דַּחֲשִׁיב לְאִינָשֵׁי דְּלָא לִישְׁתְּכַח לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ מִידֵּי דְּלָא חֲשִׁיב לְאִינָשֵׁי לָא לִישְׁתְּכַח לֵיהּ.

We learned in the mishna that Rabbi Yosei said to him: Is there proof from there? He cites proof for his opinion from the conclusion of that same verse. The Gemara comments: Rabbi Yosei spoke well to Rabbi Meir. And how does Rabbi Meir address that proof? He explains that the verse is stated employing the style of: There is no need. It should be understood as follows: There is no need to say that an item that is significant to people, e.g., a large shard of earthenware to stoke a fire, shall not be found, but even an item that is insignificant to people, i.e., a shard to extract water, shall not be found. Therefore, the conclusion of the verse does not contradict Rabbi Meir’s opinion.



הדרן עלך המוציא יין

מַתְנִי׳ אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: מִנַּיִין לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁמְּטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא כְּנִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ״ — מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא.

MISHNA: Rabbi Akiva said: From where is it derived that idolatry, e.g., a statue of a deity, transmits impurity imparted by carrying even when the person who carries it does not come into contact with it, just as a menstruating woman does? As it is stated: “And you will defile the silver overlays of your statues, and the golden plating of your idols, you will cast them away as you would a menstruating woman [dava], you will tell it, get out” (Isaiah 30:22). Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity imparted by carrying, so too, idolatry transmits impurity imparted by carrying.

גְּמָ׳ תְּנַן הָתָם: מִי שֶׁהָיָה בֵּיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנָפַל, אָסוּר לִבְנוֹתוֹ. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה? כּוֹנֵס לְתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וּבוֹנֶה.

GEMARA: Since the halakhot of idolatry and the impurity it causes are beyond the scope of tractate Shabbat, the fundamentals of this halakha are cited from tractate Avoda Zara. We learned in a mishna there: One whose house was adjacent to a house of idolatry, sharing a common wall, and the dividing wall fell, it is prohibited to rebuild it as he would thereby have built a wall for idol worship. What should one do? He moves four cubits into his own land and builds the wall there.

הָיָה שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, נִידּוֹן מֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה. אֲבָנָיו וְעֵצָיו וַעֲפָרָיו מְטַמְּאִים כְּשֶׁרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ וְגוֹ׳״. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר כְּנִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה״ — מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. אָמַר רַבָּה: ״תִּזְרֵם״ דְּאָמַר קְרָא, נַכְּרִינְהוּ מִינָּךְ כְּזָר. ״צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ״ — הִכָּנֵס אַל תֹּאמַר לוֹ.

If the wall stood upon ground that belonged to him and to the house of idolatry, the area is calculated as half and half as far as moving into his property before rebuilding the wall, and one may build the wall four cubits from the middle of the wall. Its stones and its wood and its dust from the house of idolatry transmit impurity like creeping animals, and by rabbinic decree, one who touches them becomes impure like one who touches a creeping animal, as it is stated: “And you shall not bring an abomination into your house and become banned like it, you shall utterly detest it [shaketz teshaketzenu] and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is a banned object” (Deuteronomy 7:26). Shaketz is a term used with regard to creeping animals. Rabbi Akiva says: Idolatry transmits impurity like a menstruating woman, as it is stated: “You will cast them away as you would a menstruating woman [dava]” (Isaiah 30:22). Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity imparted by carrying, as one who moves a menstruating woman without touching her becomes impure, so too, idolatry transmits impurity imparted by carrying. Rabba said in explanation of that which the verse said: “You will cast them away”: Make them foreign to you like a stranger. The end of the same verse: “You will tell it, get out” means that under no circumstances can you say to it, come in.

וְאָמַר רַבָּה: בְּמַשָּׂא דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דִּמְטַמְּאָה, דְּהָא אִתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר כְּנִדָּה: מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא. וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי כְּשֶׁרֶץ: מָה שֶׁרֶץ לֹא מְטַמֵּא בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לֹא מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא.

And to the essence of the dispute, Rabba said: With regard to impurity imparted by carrying, everyone agrees that idol worship transmits impurity, as it is juxtaposed to a menstruating woman in the verse. Where they argue, it is with regard to the halakha of a very heavy stone. There is a special law with regard to the ritual impurity of a zav and a menstruating woman. If they sit on an object, even if it is an object that cannot become ritually impure, and beneath that object is a vessel, even though the weight of the zav and the menstruating woman has no effect on the vessel, it becomes ritually impure. Rabbi Akiva holds that the impurity of idolatry is like the impurity of a menstruating woman in all respects; just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity via a very heavy stone, so too, idolatry transmits impurity via a very heavy stone. And the Rabbis hold that in this regard, the impurity of idolatry is like the impurity of a creeping animal; just as a creeping animal does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone.

וּלְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְשֶׁרֶץ? — לִמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. וּלְרַבָּנַן, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה? — לְמַשָּׂא. וְלַקְּשֵׁיהּ רַחֲמָנָא לִנְבֵלָה! אִין הָכִי נָמֵי, אֶלָּא: מָה נִדָּה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין. וְאֶלָּא הָא דְּבָעֵי רַב חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא: עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה יֶשְׁנָהּ לְאֵבָרִין אוֹ אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין? תִּיפְשׁוֹט לֵיהּ מֵהָא, דִּלְרַבָּנַן אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין! רַב חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא אַלִּיבָּא דְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא בָּעֵי לַהּ.

The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Akiva, who holds that the impurity of idolatry is similar to that of a menstruating woman in all respects, for what halakha was it juxtaposed to a creeping animal? The Gemara explains: In his opinion, it was not stated in reference to idolatry itself, but rather to its accessories, objects used for the purposes of idolatry. The Gemara asks further: And according to the Rabbis, for what halakha was it juxtaposed to a menstruating woman? To teach that it transmits impurity through carrying. And instead of juxtaposing idolatry to both a menstruating woman and to creeping animals, let the Torah juxtapose it to an animal carcass, which transmits impurity through carrying and does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone, since according to the Rabbis the law is the same for idolatry. The Gemara answers: Yes, it is indeed so. In that sense, juxtaposition to an animal carcass would suffice. However, the juxtaposition to a menstruating woman teaches: Just as a menstruating woman does not transmit impurity through limbs, as if the limb of a menstruating woman is supported by a vessel, the vessel does not become ritually impure (Ra’avad), so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through limbs, as a severed part of an idol does not transmit impurity. The Gemara is puzzled by this: But that which Rav Ḥama bar Guria raised as a dilemma: Does idolatry have the capacity to transmit impurity through limbs or does it not have the capacity to transmit impurity through limbs? Resolve the dilemma from this, as according to the opinion of the Rabbis, it does not transmit impurity through limbs. And the Gemara replies: Although that is so, Rav Ḥama bar Guria raised the dilemma in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva and the dilemma is unresolved.

וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּלָא מְטַמְּאָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּמַשָּׂא: רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר כְּנִדָּה, מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי כְּשֶׁרֶץ, מָה שֶׁרֶץ לֹא מְטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לֹא מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְשֶׁרֶץ? לִמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. וְרַבָּנַן לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה? מָה נִדָּה אֵינָהּ לָאֵבָרִים, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִים.

And in another approach to this dispute, Rabbi Elazar said: With regard to a very heavy stone, everyone agrees that idolatry does not transmit impurity in that manner. Where they disagree is with regard to impurity imparted by carrying. Rabbi Akiva holds that the legal status of idolatry is like that of a menstruating woman: Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity through carrying, so too, idolatry transmits impurity through carrying. And the Rabbis hold that the legal status of idolatry is like that of a creeping animal: Just as a creeping animal does not transmit impurity through carrying, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through carrying. The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Akiva’s opinion, with regard to what halakha was idolatry juxtaposed to a creeping animal? The Gemara answers: With regard to the halakha that its accessories do not transmit impurity through carrying. The Gemara asks: And according to the Rabbis, with regard to what halakha was idolatry juxtaposed to a menstruating woman? The Gemara answers: Just as a menstruating woman does not transmit impurity through her limbs, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through its limbs.

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The Hadran Women’s Tapestry

Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories. 

Having never learned Talmud before, I started Daf Yomi in hopes of connecting to the Rabbinic tradition, sharing a daily idea on Instagram (@dafyomiadventures). With Hadran and Sefaria, I slowly gained confidence in my skills and understanding. Now, part of the Pardes Jewish Educators Program, I can’t wait to bring this love of learning with me as I continue to pass it on to my future students.

Hannah-G-pic
Hannah Greenberg

Pennsylvania, United States

Hadran entered my life after the last Siyum Hashaas, January 2020. I was inspired and challenged simultaneously, having never thought of learning Gemara. With my family’s encouragement, I googled “daf yomi for women”. A perfecr fit!
I especially enjoy when Rabbanit Michelle connects the daf to contemporary issues to share at the shabbat table e.g: looking at the Kohen during duchaning. Toda rabba

Marsha Wasserman
Marsha Wasserman

Jerusalem, Israel

I had dreamed of doing daf yomi since I had my first serious Talmud class 18 years ago at Pardes with Rahel Berkovitz, and then a couple of summers with Leah Rosenthal. There is no way I would be able to do it without another wonderful teacher, Michelle, and the Hadran organization. I wake up and am excited to start each day with the next daf.

Beth Elster
Beth Elster

Irvine, United States

I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.

Jenifer Nech
Jenifer Nech

Houston, United States

I started learning at the beginning of the cycle after a friend persuaded me that it would be right up my alley. I was lucky enough to learn at Rabbanit Michelle’s house before it started on zoom and it was quickly part of my daily routine. I find it so important to see for myself where halachot were derived, where stories were told and to get more insight into how the Rabbis interacted.

Deborah Dickson
Deborah Dickson

Ra’anana, Israel

I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.

Linda Brownstein
Linda Brownstein

Mitspe, Israel

Michelle has been an inspiration for years, but I only really started this cycle after the moving and uplifting siyum in Jerusalem. It’s been an wonderful to learn and relearn the tenets of our religion and to understand how the extraordinary efforts of a band of people to preserve Judaism after the fall of the beit hamikdash is still bearing fruits today. I’m proud to be part of the chain!

Judith Weil
Judith Weil

Raanana, Israel

A beautiful world of Talmudic sages now fill my daily life with discussion and debate.
bringing alive our traditions and texts that has brought new meaning to my life.
I am a מגילת אסתר reader for women . the words in the Mishna of מסכת megillah 17a
הקורא את המגילה למפרע לא יצא were powerful to me.
I hope to have the zchut to complete the cycle for my 70th birthday.

Sheila Hauser
Sheila Hauser

Jerusalem, Israel

I began learning the daf in January 2022. I initially “flew under the radar,” sharing my journey with my husband and a few close friends. I was apprehensive – who, me? Gemara? Now, 2 years in, I feel changed. The rigor of a daily commitment frames my days. The intellectual engagement enhances my knowledge. And the virtual community of learners has become a new family, weaving a glorious tapestry.

Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld
Gitta Jaroslawicz-Neufeld

Far Rockaway, United States

After all the hype on the 2020 siyum I became inspired by a friend to begin learning as the new cycle began.with no background in studying Talmud it was a bit daunting in the beginning. my husband began at the same time so we decided to study on shabbat together. The reaction from my 3 daughters has been fantastic. They are very proud. It’s been a great challenge for my brain which is so healthy!

Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker
Stacey Goodstein Ashtamker

Modi’in, Israel

See video

Susan Fisher
Susan Fisher

Raanana, Israel

I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.

Leah Goldford
Leah Goldford

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I started learning at the start of this cycle, and quickly fell in love. It has become such an important part of my day, enriching every part of my life.

Naomi Niederhoffer
Naomi Niederhoffer

Toronto, Canada

Robin Zeiger
Robin Zeiger

Tel Aviv, Israel

I started learning Daf Yomi because my sister, Ruth Leah Kahan, attended Michelle’s class in person and suggested I listen remotely. She always sat near Michelle and spoke up during class so that I could hear her voice. Our mom had just died unexpectedly and it made me feel connected to hear Ruth Leah’s voice, and now to know we are both listening to the same thing daily, continents apart.
Jessica Shklar
Jessica Shklar

Philadelphia, United States

I had tried to start after being inspired by the hadran siyum, but did not manage to stick to it. However, just before masechet taanit, our rav wrote a message to the shul WhatsApp encouraging people to start with masechet taanit, so I did! And this time, I’m hooked! I listen to the shiur every day , and am also trying to improve my skills.

Laura Major
Laura Major

Yad Binyamin, Israel

I am a Reform rabbi and took Talmud courses in rabbinical school, but I knew there was so much more to learn. It felt inauthentic to serve as a rabbi without having read the entire Talmud, so when the opportunity arose to start Daf Yomi in 2020, I dove in! Thanks to Hadran, Daf Yomi has enriched my understanding of rabbinic Judaism and deepened my love of Jewish text & tradition. Todah rabbah!

Rabbi Nicki Greninger
Rabbi Nicki Greninger

California, United States

I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!

Debbie Engelen-Eigles
Debbie Engelen-Eigles

Minnesota, United States

Hearing and reading about the siyumim at the completion of the 13 th cycle Daf Yomi asked our shul rabbi about starting the Daf – he directed me to another shiur in town he thought would allow a woman to join, and so I did! Love seeing the sources for the Divrei Torah I’ve been hearing for the past decades of living an observant life and raising 5 children .

Jill Felder
Jill Felder

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

I was inspired to start learning after attending the 2020 siyum in Binyanei Hauma. It has been a great experience for me. It’s amazing to see the origins of stories I’ve heard and rituals I’ve participated in my whole life. Even when I don’t understand the daf itself, I believe that the commitment to learning every day is valuable and has multiple benefits. And there will be another daf tomorrow!

Khaya Eisenberg
Khaya Eisenberg

Jerusalem, Israel

Shabbat 82

דְּלָא מִקַּנַּח לְכוּ בְּחַסְפָּא, וְלָא קְטִיל לְכוּ כִּינָּא אַמָּנַיְיכוּ, וְלָא שְׁלִיף לְכוּ יַרְקָא וַאֲכִיל לְכוּ מִכִּישָּׁא דְּאָסַר גִּינָּאָה.

as you do not clean yourselves with an earthenware shard, and you do not kill lice on your garments, and you do not pull out a vegetable and eat it before you untie the bundle that was tied by the gardener? This implies that all these actions carry with them the danger of witchcraft.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב הוּנָא לְרַבָּה בְּרֵיהּ: מַאי טַעְמָא לָא שְׁכִיחַתְּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא, דִּמְחַדְּדָן שְׁמַעְתָּתֵיהּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי אֵיזִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ? דְּכִי אָזֵילְנָא לְגַבֵּיהּ מוֹתִיב לִי בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא. אָמַר לִי: מַאן דְּעָיֵיל לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא לָא לִיתֵּיב בְּהֶדְיָא, וְלָא לִיטְרַח טְפֵי — דְּהַאי כַּרְכַּשְׁתָּא אַתְּלָת שִׁינֵּי יָתֵיב, דִילְמָא מִשְׁתַּמְטִי שִׁינֵּי דְכַרְכַּשְׁתָּא וְאָתֵי לִידֵי סַכָּנָה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הוּא עָסֵיק בְּחַיֵּי דִּבְרִיָּיתָא וְאַתְּ אָמְרַתְּ בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא?! כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן זִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ.

Rav Huna said to his son Rabba: What is the reason that you are not to be found among those who study before Rav Ḥisda, whose halakhot are incisive? Rabba said to him: For what purpose should I go to him? When I go to him, he sits me down and occupies me in mundane matters not related to Torah. For example, he said to me: One who enters a bathroom should not sit down immediately and should not exert himself excessively because the rectum rests upon three teeth, the muscles that hold it in place, and there is concern lest the teeth of the rectum dislocate through exertion and he come to danger. Rav Huna said to his son Rabba: He is dealing with matters crucial to human life, and you say that he is dealing with mundane matters? Now that I know what you meant, all the more so go before him.

הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וָחֶרֶס, רַב הוּנָא אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס, וְרַב חִסְדָּא אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר. מֵיתִיבִי: הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וָחֶרֶס — מְקַנֵּחַ בַּחֶרֶס וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר, תְּיוּבְתָּא דְרַב הוּנָא! תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא אַלִּיבָּא דְרַב הוּנָא: בְּאוֹגְנֵי כֵּלִים.

The Gemara continues to discuss these halakhot. Rav Huna said: One who relieves himself and needs to wipe and has before him a stone and an earthenware shard, wipes with the stone and does not wipe with the earthenware shard, since he might injure himself. And Rav Ḥisda said: He wipes with the earthenware shard and does not wipe with the stone, which is set-aside. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: If one had before him a stone and an earthenware shard, he wipes with the earthenware shard and does not wipe with the stone. That is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Rav Huna. Rafram bar Pappa explained it before Rav Ḥisda in accordance with the opinion of Rav Huna: It is not referring to earthenware shards, but to the smooth rims of vessels, which pose no danger.

הָיוּ לְפָנָיו צְרוֹר וַעֲשָׂבִים, רַב חִסְדָּא וְרַב הַמְנוּנָא, חַד אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בָּעֲשָׂבִים, וְחַד אָמַר: מְקַנֵּחַ בָּעֲשָׂבִים וְאֵין מְקַנֵּחַ בַּצְּרוֹר. מֵיתִיבִי: הַמְקַנֵּחַ בְּדָבָר שֶׁהָאוּר שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ שִׁינָּיו הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת נוֹשְׁרוֹת! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּלַחִין, הָא בִּיבֵשִׁין.

There were before him a stone and grasses. With regard to the preferred method to wipe on Shabbat, what is the ruling? There is a dispute between Rav Ḥisda and Rav Hamnuna. One said: He wipes with the stone and does not wipe with the grasses; and one said: He wipes with the grasses and does not wipe with the stone. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: One who wipes with something flammable, his lower teeth, which hold the intestines in place, fall out. How then, may one clean himself with grasses? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult: This, where it is permitted, is referring to moist grass; that, where it is prohibited, is referring to dry grass.

הַנִּצְרָךְ לִפָּנוֹת וְאֵינוֹ נִפְנֶה, רַב חִסְדָּא וְרָבִינָא, חַד אָמַר: רוּחַ רָעָה שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ, וְחַד אָמַר: רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ. תַּנְיָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ, דְּתַנְיָא: הַנִּצְרָךְ לִנְקָבָיו וְאוֹכֵל — דּוֹמֶה לְתַנּוּר שֶׁהִסִּיקוּהוּ עַל גַּב אֶפְרוֹ, וְזוֹ הִיא תְּחִלַּת רוּחַ זוּהֲמָא.

The Gemara continues to discuss this topic. With regard to one who needs to defecate and does not do so, there is a dispute between Rav Ḥisda and Ravina. One said: An evil spirit dominates him; and one said: An odor of filth dominates him. It was taught in a baraita in accordance with the one who said that an odor of filth dominates him, as it was taught: One who needs to defecate and eats is comparable to an oven that was heated on top of its ashes; and that is the onset of an odor of filth.

הוּצְרַךְ לִיפָּנוֹת וְאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִיפָּנוֹת, אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: יַעֲמוֹד וְיֵשֵׁב, יַעֲמוֹד וְיֵשֵׁב. רַב חָנָן מִנְּהַרְדְּעָא אָמַר: יִסְתַּלֵּק לִצְדָדִין. רַב הַמְנוּנָא אָמַר: יְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בִּצְרוֹר בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם. וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּכִי מַסַּח דַּעְתֵּיהּ לָא מִפְּנֵי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מִדְּבָרִים אֲחֵרִים. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּיפְתִּי: לְדִידִי חֲזֵי לִי הַהוּא טַיָּיעָא דְּקָם וְיָתֵיב וְקָם וְיָתֵיב עַד דְּשָׁפֵךְ כְּקִדְרָה.

The Gemara continues to discuss the issue: One who needed to defecate and is unable to do so, Rav Ḥisda said: He should stand and sit, stand and sit. Rav Ḥanan from Neharde’a said: He should move to the sides and attempt to relieve himself in a different spot. Rav Hamnuna said: He should manipulate with a stone in that place. And the Rabbis said: He should divert his thoughts to other matters. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: All the more so that when he diverts his thoughts he will not be able to defecate. Rav Ashi said to him: He should divert his thoughts from other matters, and focus exclusively on his effort to relieve himself. Rav Yirmeya from Difti said: I saw a certain Arab who stood and sat, stood and sat, until it poured out of him like a pot. Apparently, that advice is effective.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַנִּכְנָס לִסְעוּדַת קֶבַע, יְהַלֵּךְ עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים שֶׁל אַרְבַּע [אַרְבַּע] אַמּוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים שֶׁל עֶשֶׂר עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת, וְנִפְנֶה, וְנִכְנָס וְיֹשֵׁב בִּמְקוֹמוֹ.

The Sages taught in a baraita: One who wishes to enter and partake of a regular meal that will last for some time, should pace a distance of four cubits ten times, and some say, ten cubits four times, in order to expedite the movement of the bowels, and defecate, and enter, and sit in his place.

מַתְנִי׳ חֶרֶס — כְּדֵי לִיתֵּן בֵּין פַּצִּים לַחֲבֵרוֹ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי לַחְתּוֹת בּוֹ אֶת הָאוּר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי לְקַבֵּל בּוֹ רְבִיעִית. אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רְאָיָה לַדָּבָר, זֵכֶר לַדָּבָר: ״לֹא יִמָּצֵא בִמְכִתָּתוֹ חֶרֶשׂ לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיָּקוּד״. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִשָּׁם רְאָיָה? ״וְלַחְשׂוֹף מַיִם מִגֶּבֶא״.

MISHNA: One who carries out a shard of earthenware on Shabbat is liable if it is in a measure equivalent to that which is used to place between one pillar and another when piled on the ground to separate them; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Meir says: In a measure equivalent to that which is used to stoke a fire with it. Rabbi Yosei says: In a measure equivalent to that which is used to hold a quarter of a log in it. Rabbi Meir said: Although there is no proof for the matter, there is a biblical allusion to my opinion, as it is stated: “And He shall break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, smashing it without sparing; and there shall not be found among its pieces a shard to rake fire on the hearth” (Isaiah 30:14). Rabbi Yosei said to him: Is there proof from there? The verse concludes: “And to extract water from the cistern,” indicating that earthenware is significant if it is large enough to hold water.

גְּמָ׳ אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי מֵאִיר נְפִישׁ, אוֹ שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ? מִסְּבָרָא — שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ, וּמִקְּרָא — שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי מֵאִיר נְפִישׁ. דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ שִׁיעוּרָא דְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי נְפִישׁ, לָיֵיט לַהּ בְּמָנָא זוּטְרָא, וַהֲדַר לָיֵיט לַהּ בְּמָנָא רַבָּה?! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: [מַתְנִיתִין נָמֵי] לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיקִידָה גְּדוֹלָה.

GEMARA: A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Is the measure stated by Rabbi Meir greater, or is the measure stated by Rabbi Yosei greater? The Gemara responds: It is reasonable to say that the measure of Rabbi Yosei is greater; however, based on the verse it appears that the measure of Rabbi Meir is greater. As, if it enters your mind to say that the measure of Rabbi Yosei with regard to the shard of earthenware is greater, would the prophet first curse him by saying that a small vessel will not be found, and then curse him by saying that a larger vessel will not be found? Abaye said: The mishna is also referring to a large shard of earthenware required to stoke the fire of a large conflagration. Even in the mishna, Rabbi Meir’s measure is larger.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: מִשָּׁם רְאָיָה. שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר! וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר ״לָא מִיבַּעְיָא״ קָאָמַר: לָא מִיבַּעְיָא מִידֵּי דַּחֲשִׁיב לְאִינָשֵׁי דְּלָא לִישְׁתְּכַח לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ מִידֵּי דְּלָא חֲשִׁיב לְאִינָשֵׁי לָא לִישְׁתְּכַח לֵיהּ.

We learned in the mishna that Rabbi Yosei said to him: Is there proof from there? He cites proof for his opinion from the conclusion of that same verse. The Gemara comments: Rabbi Yosei spoke well to Rabbi Meir. And how does Rabbi Meir address that proof? He explains that the verse is stated employing the style of: There is no need. It should be understood as follows: There is no need to say that an item that is significant to people, e.g., a large shard of earthenware to stoke a fire, shall not be found, but even an item that is insignificant to people, i.e., a shard to extract water, shall not be found. Therefore, the conclusion of the verse does not contradict Rabbi Meir’s opinion.

הדרן עלך המוציא יין

מַתְנִי׳ אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: מִנַּיִין לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁמְּטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא כְּנִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ״ — מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא.

MISHNA: Rabbi Akiva said: From where is it derived that idolatry, e.g., a statue of a deity, transmits impurity imparted by carrying even when the person who carries it does not come into contact with it, just as a menstruating woman does? As it is stated: “And you will defile the silver overlays of your statues, and the golden plating of your idols, you will cast them away as you would a menstruating woman [dava], you will tell it, get out” (Isaiah 30:22). Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity imparted by carrying, so too, idolatry transmits impurity imparted by carrying.

גְּמָ׳ תְּנַן הָתָם: מִי שֶׁהָיָה בֵּיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנָפַל, אָסוּר לִבְנוֹתוֹ. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה? כּוֹנֵס לְתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וּבוֹנֶה.

GEMARA: Since the halakhot of idolatry and the impurity it causes are beyond the scope of tractate Shabbat, the fundamentals of this halakha are cited from tractate Avoda Zara. We learned in a mishna there: One whose house was adjacent to a house of idolatry, sharing a common wall, and the dividing wall fell, it is prohibited to rebuild it as he would thereby have built a wall for idol worship. What should one do? He moves four cubits into his own land and builds the wall there.

הָיָה שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, נִידּוֹן מֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה. אֲבָנָיו וְעֵצָיו וַעֲפָרָיו מְטַמְּאִים כְּשֶׁרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ וְגוֹ׳״. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר כְּנִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה״ — מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. אָמַר רַבָּה: ״תִּזְרֵם״ דְּאָמַר קְרָא, נַכְּרִינְהוּ מִינָּךְ כְּזָר. ״צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ״ — הִכָּנֵס אַל תֹּאמַר לוֹ.

If the wall stood upon ground that belonged to him and to the house of idolatry, the area is calculated as half and half as far as moving into his property before rebuilding the wall, and one may build the wall four cubits from the middle of the wall. Its stones and its wood and its dust from the house of idolatry transmit impurity like creeping animals, and by rabbinic decree, one who touches them becomes impure like one who touches a creeping animal, as it is stated: “And you shall not bring an abomination into your house and become banned like it, you shall utterly detest it [shaketz teshaketzenu] and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is a banned object” (Deuteronomy 7:26). Shaketz is a term used with regard to creeping animals. Rabbi Akiva says: Idolatry transmits impurity like a menstruating woman, as it is stated: “You will cast them away as you would a menstruating woman [dava]” (Isaiah 30:22). Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity imparted by carrying, as one who moves a menstruating woman without touching her becomes impure, so too, idolatry transmits impurity imparted by carrying. Rabba said in explanation of that which the verse said: “You will cast them away”: Make them foreign to you like a stranger. The end of the same verse: “You will tell it, get out” means that under no circumstances can you say to it, come in.

וְאָמַר רַבָּה: בְּמַשָּׂא דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דִּמְטַמְּאָה, דְּהָא אִתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר כְּנִדָּה: מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא. וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי כְּשֶׁרֶץ: מָה שֶׁרֶץ לֹא מְטַמֵּא בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לֹא מְטַמְּאָה בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא.

And to the essence of the dispute, Rabba said: With regard to impurity imparted by carrying, everyone agrees that idol worship transmits impurity, as it is juxtaposed to a menstruating woman in the verse. Where they argue, it is with regard to the halakha of a very heavy stone. There is a special law with regard to the ritual impurity of a zav and a menstruating woman. If they sit on an object, even if it is an object that cannot become ritually impure, and beneath that object is a vessel, even though the weight of the zav and the menstruating woman has no effect on the vessel, it becomes ritually impure. Rabbi Akiva holds that the impurity of idolatry is like the impurity of a menstruating woman in all respects; just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity via a very heavy stone, so too, idolatry transmits impurity via a very heavy stone. And the Rabbis hold that in this regard, the impurity of idolatry is like the impurity of a creeping animal; just as a creeping animal does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone.

וּלְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְשֶׁרֶץ? — לִמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. וּלְרַבָּנַן, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה? — לְמַשָּׂא. וְלַקְּשֵׁיהּ רַחֲמָנָא לִנְבֵלָה! אִין הָכִי נָמֵי, אֶלָּא: מָה נִדָּה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין. וְאֶלָּא הָא דְּבָעֵי רַב חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא: עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה יֶשְׁנָהּ לְאֵבָרִין אוֹ אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין? תִּיפְשׁוֹט לֵיהּ מֵהָא, דִּלְרַבָּנַן אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִין! רַב חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא אַלִּיבָּא דְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא בָּעֵי לַהּ.

The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Akiva, who holds that the impurity of idolatry is similar to that of a menstruating woman in all respects, for what halakha was it juxtaposed to a creeping animal? The Gemara explains: In his opinion, it was not stated in reference to idolatry itself, but rather to its accessories, objects used for the purposes of idolatry. The Gemara asks further: And according to the Rabbis, for what halakha was it juxtaposed to a menstruating woman? To teach that it transmits impurity through carrying. And instead of juxtaposing idolatry to both a menstruating woman and to creeping animals, let the Torah juxtapose it to an animal carcass, which transmits impurity through carrying and does not transmit impurity via a very heavy stone, since according to the Rabbis the law is the same for idolatry. The Gemara answers: Yes, it is indeed so. In that sense, juxtaposition to an animal carcass would suffice. However, the juxtaposition to a menstruating woman teaches: Just as a menstruating woman does not transmit impurity through limbs, as if the limb of a menstruating woman is supported by a vessel, the vessel does not become ritually impure (Ra’avad), so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through limbs, as a severed part of an idol does not transmit impurity. The Gemara is puzzled by this: But that which Rav Ḥama bar Guria raised as a dilemma: Does idolatry have the capacity to transmit impurity through limbs or does it not have the capacity to transmit impurity through limbs? Resolve the dilemma from this, as according to the opinion of the Rabbis, it does not transmit impurity through limbs. And the Gemara replies: Although that is so, Rav Ḥama bar Guria raised the dilemma in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva and the dilemma is unresolved.

וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: בְּאֶבֶן מְסָמָא דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּלָא מְטַמְּאָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּמַשָּׂא: רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר כְּנִדָּה, מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי כְּשֶׁרֶץ, מָה שֶׁרֶץ לֹא מְטַמֵּא בְּמַשָּׂא — אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לֹא מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא. וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְשֶׁרֶץ? לִמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. וְרַבָּנַן לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא אִיתַּקַּשׁ לְנִדָּה? מָה נִדָּה אֵינָהּ לָאֵבָרִים, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה אֵינָהּ לְאֵבָרִים.

And in another approach to this dispute, Rabbi Elazar said: With regard to a very heavy stone, everyone agrees that idolatry does not transmit impurity in that manner. Where they disagree is with regard to impurity imparted by carrying. Rabbi Akiva holds that the legal status of idolatry is like that of a menstruating woman: Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity through carrying, so too, idolatry transmits impurity through carrying. And the Rabbis hold that the legal status of idolatry is like that of a creeping animal: Just as a creeping animal does not transmit impurity through carrying, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through carrying. The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Akiva’s opinion, with regard to what halakha was idolatry juxtaposed to a creeping animal? The Gemara answers: With regard to the halakha that its accessories do not transmit impurity through carrying. The Gemara asks: And according to the Rabbis, with regard to what halakha was idolatry juxtaposed to a menstruating woman? The Gemara answers: Just as a menstruating woman does not transmit impurity through her limbs, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity through its limbs.

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