Shabbat

but a door bell is clean.  A door [bell] appointed for an animal['s use] is unclean; an animal [bell] appointed for [fixing] to a door, even if attached to the door and fastened with nails, is unclean; for all utensils enter upon their uncleanness by intention, but are relieved from their uncleanness only by a change-effecting act?  — There is no difficulty: in the one case [the reference is] where it has a clapper: in the other where it has no clapper.  What will you: if it is a utensil, then even if it has no clapper [it is unclean]; if it is not a utensil, does the clapper make it one? Yes, as R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in R. Johanan's name, Viz.: How do we know that a metal object which causes sound is unclean?  Because it is said, Everything [dabar] that may abide the fire, ye shall make go through the fire:  even speech [dibbur — i.e., sound] must pass through the fire. How have you interpreted it? as referring to [a bell] without a clapper! Then consider the middle clause: 'Nor with a bell around his neck, but he may go out with a bell on his garments, and both can contract uncleanness.' But if it has no clapper, can it become defiled? Surely the following contradicts this: If one makes bells for the mortar,  for a cradle,  for the mantles of Scrolls,  or for children's mantles, then if they have a clapper, they are unclean; if they have no clapper,  they are clean. If their clappers are removed,  they still retain their uncleanness.  — That is only in the case of a child, where its purpose is [to produce] sound.  But in the case of an adult, it is an ornament for him even without a clapper. The Master said: 'If their clappers are removed, they still retain their uncleanness.' What are they fit for?  Said Abaye: [They are still utensils,] because an unskilled person can put it back. Raba objected: A bell and its clapper are [counted as] connected.  And should you answer, This is its meaning: Even when they are not connected, they are [counted as] connected,  — surely it was taught: A shears of separate blades  and the cutter of a [carpenter's] plane are [counted as] connected in respect of uncleanness, but not in respect of sprinkling. Now we objected, What will you: if they are [counted as] connected, [they should be so] even in respect of sprinkling too; [if they count] not as connected, they should not [be so] even in respect of defilement either? And Rabbah answered: By Scriptural law, when in use they are [counted as] connected in respect of both defilement and sprinkling; when not in use, they are [counted as] connected in respect of neither defilement nor sprinkling. But they [the Rabbis] enacted a preventive measure in respect of defilement when they are not in use on account of defilement when they are in use; and in respect of sprinkling, when they are in use, on account of when they are not in use!  Rather said Raba,