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מסכת כלים

פרק כד משנה ה

שלש ערבות הן

There are three types of troughs:

ערבה

a trough [used for kneading dough]

משני לוג ועד תשעה קבין

[with a capacity] from two logs until nine kavs

שנסדקה

that cracked

טמאה מדרס

[is susceptible to] the tumah of midras (as people would turn it over and use it as a stool; a trough larger than the specified size would ordinarily be repaired, and not used as a stool, smaller was too small to sit on comfortably);

שלמה

if whole,

טמאה טמא מת

it is [susceptible to the] tumah of a corpse;

והבאה במדה

and a very large one [with a capacity of over 40 se'ahs of liquid, or two kors of dry goods]

טהורה מכלום

is tahor from anything (it must be usual for a container to be carried while full for it to be susceptible to tumah, which is not the case with such a large trough).

   

שלשה תרבוסין הן

There are three types of tarbusin (these were large containers; some say they are made from untreated animal hides):

של ספרים

That of barbers (some say this refers to bloodletters; in any event, this container opened from the side but was large so people would often sit on them)

טמא מדרס

[is susceptible to] the tumah of midras;

ושאוכלין עליו

and that which is eaten upon (which could not be sat upon while dining)

טמא טמא מת

it is [susceptible to the] tumah of a corpse;

ושל זיתים

and that of olives (which were placed upon this container it sometime during their processing)

טהורה מכלום

is tahor from anything (as it lacked a receptacle and did not serve people directly).

 

פרק כד משנה ו

שלש בסיסיות הן

There are three types of basisyos (which can be loosely translated as referring to bases):

שלפני המטה

that which is before a bed (some say this was a bedside stool, others that it was a base or pedestal that at bed was placed upon)

ושלפני סופרים

and that which is before scribes (again, some say this was a type of stool, others that it was a large platform that extended from under the scribe's work table, and which he could sit or stand upon while working)

טמאה מדרס

[are susceptible to] the tumah of midras (as they are both designed to support a person's weight)

ושל דלפקי

and that of a delphica (the delphica was a small three-legged table used as a serving piece, akin to a sideboard; some say this basis was another serving piece that was placed next to the delphica; others that it was a base for the delphica; most agree that either way it had a receptacle of some sort)

טמאה טמא מת

it is [susceptible to the] tumah of a corpse;

ושל מגדל

and that of an armoire

טהורה מכלום

is tahor from anything (it was designed merely to keep the furniture above it clear of the ground).

         

לרפואת מרים חיה בת ברכה בתוך שאר חולי ישראל