Chullin

the valley of ‘Araboth: People like you that have not much water, may wash the hands in the morning and stipulate that it shall serve the whole day long. Some say: This is allowed only in a time of need1 but not at ordinary times, hence it is at variance with Rab's view;2 others say: This is allowed even at ordinary times, and so it corresponds with Rab's view. R. Papa said: A person may not wash the hands in a dike used for irrigation, because [the water] here does not run directly from the human act;3 if, however, he is quite close to the bucket he may wash his hands [in the dike], because there it runs directly from the human act. If the bucket was cracked so that liquid could filter in,4 the waters are then considered as connected5 and he may immerse the hands [in the dike]. Raba said: A vessel which has a hole in it so that liquid can filter into it, may not be Used for washing the hands. Raba also said: A vessel in which there is not a quarter [log of water] may not be used for washing the hands. But this surely cannot be, for Raba has said: A vessel which cannot hold a quarter [log] may not be used for washing the hands. Now it follows that if it can hold [a quarter log] even though there is not [that much] in it [it may be used]! — This is no difficulty, for the one passage refers to one person and the other to two persons.6 and we have learnt: A quarter log of water [is sufficient] for washing the hands of one person or even of two persons.7 R. Shesheth asked Amemar: Are you particular about the vessel used?8 He replied: Yes. About the colour9 [of the water used]? — He replied. Yes. About the amount10 [of water used]?He replied: Yes. Others report that he replied thus: We are particular about the vessel and the colour [of the water], but we are not particular about the amount [of water used], for we have learnt: A quarter log of water [is sufficient] for washing the hands of one person or even of two persons. This, however, is not correct, for it is different in that case since it is the residue of [what was the proper amount for] purification.11 R. Jacob of Nehar Pekod had a standard washing vessel made that contained a quarter [log]. R. Ashi had a standard jug made in Huzal that contained a quarter [log]. Raba also said: If the stopper of a jar was fashioned12 [into a vessel], it may be used for washing the hands. It has also been taught to the same effect, viz., If the stopper of a jar was fashioned [into a vessel], it may be used for washing the hands. If a waterskin or a [leather] bottle was fashioned [into a vessel], it may be used for washing the hands. A sack or a basket, even though they were made to hold water, may not be used for washing the hands.13 The question was raised: May one eat with a cloth [wrapped round the hand] or not?14 Must we apprehend lest [the bare hand] touch [the food] or not? — Come and hear: But when they gave R. Zadok less than an egg's bulk of food to eat, the took it with a cloth, ate it outside the Sukkah, and did not say the Grace after it.15 Now presumably if it was as large as an egg's bulk it would have been necessary to wash the hands!16 — No, perhaps the only inference is, if it was as large as an egg's bulk it would have been necessary to eat it in the Sukkah and to say the Grace after it. 17 Come and hear [from the following incident]. Samuel once found Rab eating with a cloth and said to him, runs off in its courses over fields. It is therefore forbidden to dip the hands in the dike because the power of man has already spent itself at the beginning of the dike and the waters run now of their own impetus. out at both ends, from the crack back into the river and from the mouth into the dike, so that, while the bucket is being emptied out, the water in the dike is actually connected with the water in the river; one may therefore immerse the hands in the dike. hands one after the other only a quarter log is necessary; obviously then in the latter case the second person washes his hands with less than a quarter log. This is allowed, however, because of the reason stated infra, that the second person uses the residue of what was the proper amount for washing the hands. receptacle it is therefore necessary to hollow it out a little more for this purpose (Rashi). According to Tosaf. it is only necessary to make the outside flat so that it should be able to stand upright without support.