Zevachim

pillows and bolsters are soft, yet we learnt: ‘If it is of leather, water is poured over it until it disappears’?1 — Rather said Raba: All washing without rubbing is not called washing. And as to R. Hiyya b. Ashi's statement, I stood many times before Rab and dabbed his shoes with water; dabbing is [permitted], but not rubbing. [Now, our Mishnah treats] either of soft [skins], and it agrees with all; or of hard ones, and it agrees with ‘others’. If so, [let water be poured] even [over] a garment too?2 — In the case of a garment, soaking it [in water] constitutes its washing. Now, Raba is consistent with his view. For Raba said: If one threw a scarf into water, he is culpable;3 if one threw linseed into water, he is culpable. As for a scarf, it is well, [as] he thereby washes it. But what is the reason In the case of linseed? And should you say, because he causes it to grow;4 if so, the same applies to wheat and barley too?-This [linseed] emits mucus.5 If so, the same applies to [undressed] hides?6 — There he kneads.7 Raba lectured: It is permitted to wash a shoe on the Sabbath. Said R. Papa to Raba. But surely R. Hiyya b. Ashi said: I stood many times before Rab, and dabbed his shoes with water for him. Thus, only dabbing [is permitted], but not washing? Subsequently Raba appointed an interpreter before him and lectured:8 What I told you was an error; but in truth, dabbing is permitted but washing is forbidden. THE WASHING MUST BE IN A HOLY PLACE, etc. How do we know it?-Because our Rabbis taught: Thou shalt wash in a holy place:9 from this we learn that the washing must be in a holy place.10 How do we know that earthen vessels must be broken? Because it says, But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken.11 How do we know that brazen vessels must be scoured and rinsed? Because it says, And if it be sodden in a brazen vessel, it shall be scoured and rinsed in water.12 IN THIS THE SIN-OFFERING IS MORE STRINGENT, etc. And is there nothing else:13 surely there is the fact that its blood enters within?14 — This refers to outer sin-offerings.15 But outer sin-offerings too [have a peculiar stringency, viz.] if their blood entered within, they are disqualified? — This is in accordance with R. Akiba, who maintained: All bloods which enter the hekal to make atonement are disqualified.16 Yet there is the fact that they make atonement for those who are liable to kareth? — This refers to the sin-offering for the ‘hearing of the voice’ or ‘oath of utterance’.17 Yet there is the fact that they require four sprinklings? — This agrees with R. Ishmael who maintained: All blood requires four sprinklings. But there is the fact that [the sprinklings must be] on the four horns? — Yet on your reasoning, surely there are the horn, the finger, and the edge?18 Rather, [the Tanna] mention one out of two or three stringencies. MISHNAH. IF A GARMENT19 WAS CARRIED OUTSIDE THE HANGINGS,20 IT MUST RE-ENTER, AND IT IS WASHED IN A HOLY PLACE. IF IT WAS DEFILED WITHOUT THE HANGINGS21 ONE MUST TEAR IT,22 THEN IT RE-ENTERS, AND IS WASHED IN A HOLY PLACE. IF AN EARTHEN VESSEL WAS CARRIED OUTSIDE THE HANGINGS, IT RE-ENTERS AND IS BROKEN IN A HOLY PLACE. IF IT WAS DEFILED WITHOUT THE HANGINGS, A HOLE IS MADE IN IT, THEN IT RE-ENTERS AND IS BROKEN IN A HOLY PLACE. IF A BRAZEN VESSEL WAS CARRIED OUTSIDE THE HANGINGS, IT RE-ENTERS AND IS SCOURED AND RINSED IN A HOLY PLACE. IF IT WAS DEFILED OUTSIDE THE HANGINGS, IT MUST BE BROKEN THROUGH,23 THEN IT RE-ENTERS AND IS SCOURED AND RINSED IN A HOLY PLACE. GEMARA. To this Rabina demurred. [You say,] ONE MUST TEAR IT: Surely the Divine Law speaks of a ‘garment’, and this is not a garment?24 — He leaves enough of it [untorn] to be used as an apron.25 But that is not so, for surely R. Huna said: They learnt this26 only if one did not leave enough to be used as an apron [untorn], but if one left enough to be used as an apron, it is [technically] joined?27 is inapplicable to hides. by reading ‘in a holy place’ with what follows, as well as with what precedes, thus: and in a holy place shall the earthen vessel... be broken (and) a brazen vessel... be scoured and rinsed; v. Sifra a.l. too it is more stringent than other most sacred sacrifices. it ceases to be unclean; nevertheless, since so much is left untorn, it is still technically a garment.