Click here for audio

מסכת כלים פרק יז משנה יד
ויש במה שנברא

And there are some things that were created

ביום הראשון טמאה

on the first day [of Creation] that are [susceptible to] tumah (such as earthenware or metal, which are made from the earth),

בשני אין בו טמאה

on the second (i.e. the sky) that that is not [susceptible to] tumah,

בשלישי יש בו טמאה

on the third day that are [susceptible to] tumah (wooden utensils, which come from trees),

ברביעי ובחמישי אין בהם טמאה

on the fourth (heavenly bodies) and fifth (fish or fowl) that are not [susceptible to] tumah

חוץ מכנף העוז

except for [by rabbinical decree] the wing of the osprey (lest they be confused with the bones of other animals)

וביצת נעמית המצפה

and the plated egg of an ostrich (as these eggs were already more durable than most);

אמר רבי יוחנן בן נורי

Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri says,

מה נשתנה כנף העוז

"What is different about the osprey's wing

מכל הכנפים

from all wings" (he held that utensils made from the wing of any bird was susceptible to tumah);

וכל שנברא ביום השישי

and all that was created on the sixth day (i.e. animals)

טמא

are tamei.

 

פרק יז משנה טו

העושה כלי קבול

One who makes a receptacle [of wood or leather],

מכל מקום

in any case (even the smallest size)

טמא

it is tamei.

העושה משכב ומושב

One who makes a bed or a seat

מכל מקום

in any case (i.e. anything made to bear a person's wieght)

טמא

it is tamei.

העושה כיס מעור המצה

One who makes a pouch from untreated hide

מן הנייר

or from papyrus

טמא

it is tamei (even though these are no the most durable of materials).

הרימון

A pomegranate,

האלון

an acorn,

והאגוז

and a walnut

שחקקום תינוקות

that children hollowed out

למד בהן את העפר

to measure with them dirt,

או שהתקינום לכף מאזנים

or if they were prepared to be the pan on a scale,

טמא

it is tamei,

שיש להם מעשה

as they [the children] have a deed

ואין להם מחשבה

[even if, in other respects,] they do not have intent.