Eruvin

soak flax in it1 he forbade it to them. AND FROM THE HAKER WELL. What was the ‘haker well’? — Samuel replied: A cistern concerning which arguments welled forth2 and its use [on a Festival] was declared to be permitted.3 An objection was raised: Not all the haker cisterns but only this one, did they permit. Now if you explain it4 to mean that concerning it arguments welled forth, what5 could be the meaning of ‘only this one’? — Rather, said R. Nahman b. Isaac: A well of living water,6 as it is said in Scripture: As a cistern welleth7 with her water etc.8 [To turn to] the main text. Not all the haker cisterns, but only this one, did they permit. And when the exiles returned9 they encamped by it, and the prophets among then, permitted them to use it [on Festivals]; and not only the prophets among them did this but it was a practice of their forefathers that they upheld.10 MISHNAH. IF A [DEAD] CREEPING THING WAS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE,11 A PRIEST SHOULD CARRY IT OUT11 IN HIS GIRDLE12 TO AVOID13 KEEPING THE UNCLEANNESS THERE ANY LONGER THAN IS NECESSARY; SO R.JOHANAN B. BEROKA. R. JUDAH RULED: [IT SHOULD BE REMOVED] WITH WOODEN TONGS14 IN ORDER THAT THE UNCLEANNESS SHALL NOT INCREASE.15 WHENCE MUST IT BE REMOVED?16 FROM THE HEKAL,17 FROM THE ULAM,18 AND FROM BETWEEN THE ULAM AND THE ALTAR;19 SO R. SIMEON B. NANUS. R. AKIBA RULED: FROM ANY PLACE WHERE KARETH IS INCURRED FOR ENTERING20 PRESUMPTUOUSLY AND A SIN-OFFERING FOR ENTERING20 IT IN ERROR21 IT MUST BE REMOVED.22 IN ANY OTHER PLACES,23 HOWEVER A PSYKTER24 IS TO BE PUT OVER IT.25 R. SIMEON SAID:26 WHEREVER THE SAGES HAVE PERMITTED YOU ANYTHING THEY HAVE ONLY GIVEN YOU WHAT IS REALLY YOURS, SINCE THEY HAVE ONLY PERMITTED YOU27 THAT WHICH IS FORBIDDEN AS SHEBUTH.28 GEMARA. R. Tobi b. Kisna citing Samuel ruled: One who brings into the Temple all object that was defiled by a creeping thing incurs guilt,29 but if one brings in the creeping thing itself one is exempt. What is the reason? — Scripture said: Both male and female shall ye put out,30 from which it is inferred that only that which may attain cleanness in a ritual bath31 is subject to the prohibition,32 a creeping thing, however, is excluded since it can never attain cleanness. May it be suggested that the following provides support for this view? Both male and female shall ye put out30 excludes an earthen vessel;33 so R. Jose the Galilean. Now what could be the reason?34 Is it not because it35 cannot attain cleanness through a ritual bath?36 — No; only that which may become a primary source of uncleanness is subject to the prohibition,32 an earthen vessel, however, is excluded since it can never become a primary source of uncleanness.37 Must it be conceded that on this question38 there is a divergence of opinion between the following Tannas: IF A CREEPING THING WAS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE A PRIEST SHOULD CARRY IT OUT IN HIS GIRDLE TO AVOID KEEPING THE UNCLEANNESS THERE ANY LONGER THAN IS NECESSARY; SO R. JOHANAN B. BEROKA. R. JUDAH RULED: IT SHOULD BE REMOVED WITH WOODEN TONGS IN ORDER THAT THE UNCLEANNESS SHALL NOT INCREASE. Now do they not differ on this point: That he who said: TO AVOID KEEPING, holds the opinion that one who takes a creeping thing into the Temple incurs guilt,39 while he who said: IN ORDER THAT . . . SHALL NOT INCREASE holds the opinion that one who takes a creeping thing into the Temple is exempt? — No, all may agree that guilt is incurred, but the point at Issue here is the following: One Master holds that it is preferable to keep an unclean object a little longer40 while the other Master holds that it is preferable to increase the uncleanness. 41 The point at issue42 is rather the same as that between the following Tannas. We learned: WHENCE MUST IT BE REMOVED etc. Now do they not differ on this point: That he who ruled that from the Temple court it may not be removed43 is of the opinion that one who takes a creeping thing into the Temple is exempt,44 while he who holds that it must be removed from any part of the court is of the opinion that guilt is incurred? conveyance of levitical uncleanness to the priest's body. Carrying alone, in the absence of direct contact, does not cause uncleanness and the girdle, though it contracts a certain degree of uncleanness (first grade) from the creeping thing, cannot carry any uncleanness to the priest's body since no degree lower than that of primary uncleanness can affect the levitical cleanness of a human being. by means of an instrument that is not susceptible to levitical uncleanness. little longer until wooden tongs can be obtained and thus to limit the extent of the uncleanness, rather than to remove it sooner and thereby cause the uncleanness to spread to another object. other part of the Temple court it could not be removed on the Sabbath (until after nightfall) on account of the prohibition against moving objects from a private into a public domain. THE ALTAR (according to Ben Nanus). all earthenware vessel is not susceptible, v. Shab. 84b. For bringing in a creeping thing, however, since it is a primary source of uncleanness, one does incur guilt, contrary to the view of Samuel. against a Pentateuchal prohibition. Hekal and Ulam and between the latter and the altar on account of their high degree of holiness.