מסכת כלים

פרק כו משנה א

סנדל עמקי

An Imkean sandal (this was less a sandal than a bag that went over one's foot; it was made from a flat piece of leather that had a drawstring around its edges, a foot was placed in the middle of the leather and then drawstring was pulled up, causing the edges to gather around the ankle; it is susceptible to tumah even though when loose it was flat, as when used it formed a receptacle),

and a drawstring pouch (this was constructed in a similar manner to the Imkean sandal, of a flat piece of leather that formed a pouch when the drawstring around its edges was tightened),

Rabbi Yehuda says

also a basket made of palm leafs (the strips were woven into a flat sheet, then the edges brought together with a drawstring to form a basket shape),

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says

also a Ludkean sandal (which were similar to Imkean sandals)

are the same as them,

these are all made tamei and made tahor

without a craftsman (these items required their drawstrings to attached for them to be susceptible to tumah; although normally done by a craftsman, if a layperson attached or detached the drawstrings that is sufficient; the palm leaf basket and Lukean sandal took more skill however, which is why the first opinion of this mishnah disagrees with Rabbi Yehuda and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel).

Rabbi Yosi says,

don't all utensils

become tamei and tahor without a craftsman? (It does not matter who manufactured or disassembled the utensil, just that the steps were completed.)

Rather these (are different)

as even though they are undone (i.e. the drawstrings are removed)

they are tamei

as a layperson can put it back.

They did not say (that if the drawstring is removed it is tahor)

except by the basket of palm leaves (and the Ludkean sandal),

as even a craftsman cannot put it back.

כיס של שנצות

A drawstring pouch

whose strings were removed

is tamei,

If it was flattened

it is tahor,

if a patch was attached to it

at its bottom

it is tamei (as this extra material keeps it from becoming completely flat.

A pouch within a pouch (i.e. if a pouch had another pouch attached to its inner wall)

one of which became (rabbinically) tamei from a beverage

the other does not become tamei.

The wrap of a jewel (this was a flat piece of leather formed into a pouch-like shape by being drawn up and around the jewel and then tied) is tamei (as it will retain its pouch-like shape even after the jewel is removed);

a wrap for money (a similar piece of leather formed into a pouch for coins, this is different as it is opened much more frequently, leading to it not retaining its shape as well),

Rabbi Eliezer rules is tamei

and the Sages rule is tahor.