Chullin

It is written: And it came to pass when the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one loud sound.1 ‘Until he grows old’. Until when is this? — R. Ila'a said in the name of R. Hanina: Until he begins to tremble.2 We have learnt elsewhere:3 If a man [who was unclean] by reason of a seminal emission, immersed himself [in a mikweh] but did not first urinate, when he does urinate he [again] becomes unclean.4 R. Jose says: If he was ill or elderly he [again] becomes unclean, but if he was young and healthy he is clean.5 How long [is one regarded as young and healthy]? — R. Ila'a said in the name of R. Hanina: As long as one is able to stand on one foot and put on and take off one's shoe. It was said of R. Hanina that at the age of eighty years he was able to stand on one foot and put on and take off his shoe. R. Hanina said: The warm baths and the oil with which my mother anointed me in my youth have stood me in good stead in my old age. Our Rabbis taught: He whose beard is fully grown is qualified to act as the representative of a community,6 to descend before the Ark7 and to pronounce the priestly benediction.8 When does he [the priest] become qualified for Temple service? When he produces two hairs. Rabbi says: I say, only when he is twenty years old. R. Hisda asked: What is Rabbi's reason? — Because it is written: And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old and upward to have oversight of the work of the house of the Lord.9 And the other Tanna? He maintains that ‘to have oversight’ is quite a different matter.10 But is not this verse stated in connection with the Levites?11 — One must accept the statement of R. Joshua b. Levi. For R. Joshua b. Levi said: In twenty-four passages the priests are referred to as Levites, and the following is an example: And the priests the Levites the sons of Zadok.12 Our Rabbis taught: It is written: Any man of thy seed throughout their generations . . . [let him not approach to offer];13 hence R. Eliezer derived the rule that a minor is not qualified for service even though he is without bodily blemish. When does he become qualified for service? When he has grown two hairs. His brother priests, however, would not permit him to take part in the service until he was twenty years old. Some say that this [Baraitha] agrees with the view of Rabbi, for he maintains that [under the age of twenty years] there is no legal disqualification whatsoever, not even by Rabbinic enactment.14 Others say that Rabbi's view is that [under the age of twenty years] one is disqualified by Rabbinic enactment, and that this [Baraitha], however, agrees with the view of the Sages; for they maintain that [under the age of twenty years] there is a restriction only in the first instance, but if he did serve, the service would be valid. 15 MISHNAH. THAT WHICH CANNOT BE RENDERED UNCLEAN IN EARTHENWARE VESSELS CAN BE RENDERED UNCLEAN IN ALL OTHER VESSELS, AND THAT WHICH CANNOT BE RENDERED UNCLEAN IN ALL OTHER VESSELS CAN BE RENDERED UNCLEAN IN EARTHENWARE VESSELS. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: The air-space of an earthenware vessel can be rendered unclean, but the outside of it cannot. The air-space of all other vessels cannot be rendered unclean, but the outside of them can. It follows, therefore, that that which cannot be rendered unclean in earthenware vessels can be rendered unclean in all other vessels, and that which cannot be rendered unclean in all other vessels can be rendered unclean in earthenware vessels. Whence do we know this? — From [the following Baraitha] which our Rabbis taught: It is written: And every earthen vessel into which [toko] any of them falleth,16 that is to say, even though it does not actually touch the vessel.17 You say: ‘Even though it does not actually touch’, but perhaps it is not so but only if it actually touches the vessel! R. Jonathan b. Abtolmos said: There is used the word ‘toko’18 in connection with the vessel conveying uncleanness, and also the word ‘toko’19 in connection with the vessel receiving uncleanness; therefore, just as ‘toko’, used in connection with the vessel conveying uncleanness, means, ‘even though it does not actually touch’, so, too, ‘toko’, used in connection with the vessel receiving uncleanness, means, ‘even though it does not actually touch’.20 But whence do we know this in the former case? — R. Jonathan said: The Torah has declared the contents of an earthenware vessel [to be unclean] and could ‘make one loud sound’. Such voices as would introduce a discordant note in the choir were eliminated. some drops in the passage of his organ, which, when he urinates after his immersion, would pass out with the urine and make him unclean again. Cf. Lev. XV, 16. therefore, would again become unclean after urinating. of the congregation in conducting the prayers. Since, however, the subsequent words, ‘descend before the Ark’, clearly refer to the function of the reader, the representative of the community would mean, therefore, the warden or person appointed to attend to the affairs of the community. Cf. R. Gershom and Rashi. ‘attendants’ (Rashi). with this Baraitha; i.e., under the age of twenty years he is not legally disqualified, hut, as the Baraitha states: ‘His brother priests would not permit him to take part in the service’. produces two hairs he is qualified’, i.e., if he did serve the service would he valid, but he would not be allowed to serve in the first instance, as the Baraitha continues, ‘His brother priests would not permit him to take part in the service.’ vessel becomes unclean. unclean from the vessel. though there has been no contact; and will also convey uncleanness, if itself unclean, to foodstuffs that are in its air-space.