לרפואת פייגא בת יטא רבקה
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📖 ספר טהרה · Sefer Taharah
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הלכות טומאת מת

Defilement by a Corpse

פרק י״ז
Chapter 17 · 6 Halachot
Chapter 17 — Projections Over Entrances, Carrying Bodies, and Slanted Tent Edges
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Chapter 17 — Projections Over Entrances, Carrying Bodies, and Slanted Tent Edges

Chapter 17
Surrounding Projections, Encircling Buildings, and Windows
הלכות א׳–ג׳
⬇️
Two Stacked Projections: Complex Zone Analysis
הלכה ד׳
⬇️
Slanted Tent Walls and Their Impurity Rules
הלכות ה׳–ח׳
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Surrounding Projections, Encircling Buildings, and Windows

הלכות א׳–ג׳
הלכה א׳
זִיז שֶׁהוּא יוֹצֵא מִפֶּתַח הַבַּיִת וּפנָיו לְמַטָּה. וְהָיָה גָּבְהוֹ מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר טֶפַח אוֹ פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן הֲרֵי זֶה מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא. וְדָבָר בָּרוּר הוּא שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בַּהֲבָאַת הַטֻּמְאָה כָּזוֹ שֶׁאֵינָהּ בְּאֹהֶל טֶפַח הַבָּרִיא אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם. הָיָה גָּבוֹהַּ יֶתֶר מִי"ב טֶפַח אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ פָּנָיו לְמַעְלָה. וְכֵן הָעֲטָרוֹת וְהַפִּתּוּחִים הַיּוֹצְאוֹת מִן הַבִּנְיָן אֵין מְבִיאִין אֶלָּא בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. וְכֵן זִיז שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הַפֶּתַח הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַמַּשְׁקוֹף וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה קָנֶה בְּצַד הַמַּשְׁקוֹף בְּרֹחַב הַפֶּתַח אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה בּוֹ פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח:
When a projection protrudes from the side of an entrance to a home facing downward and it is twelve handbreadths or less above the earth, it conveys ritual impurity regardless of how small it is. It is clear that such a conveyance of impurity is merely a Rabbinic ordinance. Similarly, any analogous instance where impurity is conveyed by something that is not a sturdy ohel is only a Rabbinic ordinance.
Projections that are more than twelve handbreadths high or which face upward and similarly, the crowns and the ornamental embellishments that project from a structure, do not convey impurity unless they are a handbreadth by a handbreadth in area. This also applies to a projection that extends over an entrance from a lintel. Even if there was a reed at the side of the lintel as wide as the entrance, it does not convey ritual impurity unless it is a handbreadth by a handbreadth in area.
הלכה ב׳
זִיז שֶׁהוּא סוֹבֵב אֶת כָּל הַבַּיִת וְאוֹכֵל בַּפֶּתַח טֶפַח מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה. הָיָה אוֹכֵל בַּפֶּתַח פָּחוֹת מִטֶּפַח וְטֻמְאָה בַּבַּיִת כֵּלִים שֶׁתַּחְתָּיו טְמֵאִין. טֻמְאָה תַּחְתָּיו אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה לַבַּיִת. וְכֵן בְּחָצֵר שֶׁהִיא מֻקֶּפֶת אַכְסַדְרָה:
When a projection surrounds an entire building and encompasses a handbreadth at the entrance to the house, it conveys ritual impurity. If it encompasses less than a handbreadth at the entrance of the house and there is impurity in the house, keilim under it are impure. If there is impurity under it, it does not convey impurity to the house. Similar laws apply with regard to a courtyard that is surrounded by an exedra.
הלכה ג׳
חַלּוֹן הָעֲשׂוּיָה לְתַשְׁמִישׁ וְזִיז יוֹצֵא עַל גַּבֵּי הַחַלּוֹן אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה כְּרֹחַב אֲגוּדָל מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה גָּבוֹהַּ מֵעַל הַחַלּוֹן רוּם אֶצְבָּעַיִם אוֹ פָּחוֹת. הָיָה לְמַעְלָה מֵאֶצְבָּעַיִם אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן יֵשׁ בּוֹ רֹחַב טֶפַח. זִיז זֶה שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הַחַלּוֹן הָעֲשׂוּיָה לְמָאוֹר מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא וַאֲפִלּוּ גָּבוֹהַּ כָּל שֶׁהוּא. בִּנְיָן הַיּוֹצֵא לִפְנֵי הַחַלּוֹן שֶׁהַמַּשְׁקִיף נִסְמָךְ עָלָיו בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמַּשְׁקִיף אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה. הָיָה בּוֹ זִיז רוֹאִין אֶת הַבִּנְיָן כְּאִלּוּ אֵינוֹ וְהַזִּיז הָעֶלְיוֹן מֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה. וְכֵיצַד מְבִיאִין כָּל הַזִּיזִין הָאֵלּוּ טֻמְאָה. שֶׁאִם הָיְתָה טֻמְאָה תַּחַת אֶחָד מֵהֶן אוֹ בַּבַּיִת הַכּל טָמֵא בֵּין בַּבַּיִת בֵּין תַּחַת הַזִּיז:
When a window serves a functional purpose and a projection protrudes across the entire window, even if it was only as wide as a thumbbreadth, it conveys ritual impurity. This applies provided it is two fingerbreadths or less above the window. If it is more than two fingerbreadths higher than the window, it does not convey ritual impurity unless it is a handbreadth wide. When there is a projection over a window that is made for light, it conveys ritual impurity regardless of its size and regardless of its height.
When there is a structure that protrudes in front of a window upon which a person looking out from the window leans while looking, it does not convey ritual impurity. If it has a projection over it, we consider the structure as if it does not exist and the projection above it conveys ritual impurity.
How do all these projections convey ritual impurity? If there was impurity under them or under the house, everything is impure - whether it is in the house or under the projection.
🏗️ Surrounding Projections
A projection that surrounds an entire building and occupies a handbreadth at the entrance conveys impurity throughout. If less than a handbreadth at the entrance and impurity is inside: items under the projection are impure. If impurity is under the projection: it does NOT convey impurity to the building. A projection over a functional window conveys impurity even if only a thumbwidth wide (within 2 fingerbreadths). A projection over a light window conveys impurity regardless of size.
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Two Stacked Projections: Complex Zone Analysis

הלכה ד׳
הלכה ד׳
שְׁנֵי זִיזִין זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה וְיֵשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וּבֵינֵיהֶם פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת הַתַּחְתּוֹן תַּחְתָּיו בִּלְבַד טָמֵא. הָיְתָה טֻמְאָה בֵּינֵיהֶן בֵּינֵיהֶם בִּלְבַד טָמֵא. הָיְתָה עַל גַּב הָעֶלְיוֹן כְּנֶגְדּוֹ עַד הָרָקִיעַ טָמֵא. הָיָה הָעֶלְיוֹן עוֹדֵף עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹן פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת הַתַּחְתּוֹן אוֹ בֵּינֵיהֶן תַּחְתֵּיהֶן וּבֵינֵיהֶן טָמֵא. הָיְתָה עַל גַּב הָעֶלְיוֹן כְּנֶגְדּוֹ וְעַד הָרָקִיעַ טָמֵא. הָיָה הָעֶלְיוֹן עוֹדֵף עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹן פָּחוֹת מִטֶּפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחְתֵּיהֶם תַּחְתֵּיהֶם וּבֵינֵיהֶן טָמֵא. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה בֵּינֵיהֶם אוֹ תַּחַת הַמּוֹתָר בֵּינֵיהֶן וְתַחַת הַמּוֹתָר טָמֵא אֲבָל תַּחַת הַתַּחְתּוֹן טָהוֹר. יֵשׁ בְּכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת הַתַּחְתּוֹן תַּחְתָּיו בִּלְבַד טָמֵא. הָיְתָה בֵּינֵיהֶן אוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הָעֶלְיוֹן כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה עַד לָרָקִיעַ טָמֵא. אֵין בָּהֶן פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח בֵּין שֶׁיֵּשׁ בֵּינֵיהֶם פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וּבֵין שֶׁאֵין בֵּינֵיהֶם פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. בֵּין שֶׁהָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה תַּחַת הַתַּחְתּוֹן אוֹ בֵּינֵיהֶן אוֹ עַל גַּב הָעֶלְיוֹן. טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת שֶׁהֲרֵי הִיא רְצוּצָה. וְכֵן שְׁתֵּי יְרִיעוֹת שֶׁהֵן גְּבוֹהוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח זוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי זוֹ. כֵּלִים אוֹ בְּגָדִים אוֹ לוּחוֹת שֶׁל עֵץ שֶׁהֵן מֻנָּחִין זֶה עַל גַּבֵּי זֶה וְטֻמְאָה רְצוּצָה בֵּינֵיהֶן אִם הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה גְּבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ טֶפַח הֲרֵי הַכְּלִי שֶׁעָלֶיהָ מִלְּמַעְלָה מַאֲהִיל עַל חֲלַל הַטֶּפַח וּמֵבִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה לְכָל הַכֵּלִים שֶׁתַּחְתָּיו. הָיוּ טַבְלִיּוֹת שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ אֲפִלּוּ גְּבוֹהוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ אֶלֶף אַמָּה טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן כְּקַרְקַע:
When there are two projections one on top of the other, each one of them is a handbreadth by a handbreadth in area, there is a handbreadth of space between them, and there is impurity below the lower one, only the space below it is impure. If there is impurity between them, only the space between them is impure. If there is impurity above the upper one, the space above it until the heavens is impure.
If the upper one extended beyond the lower one for a handbreadth and there was impurity below the lower one or between them, the space beneath them and between them is impure. If there is impurity above the upper one, the space above it until the heavens is impure.
If the upper one extended beyond the lower one for less than a handbreadth and there was impurity beneath them, the space beneath them and between them is impure. If the impurity was between them or under only the extra portion of the upper projection, the space between them and under the extra portion is impure, but the space below the lower projection is pure.
If each of the projections were a handbreadth by a handbreadth in size, but there was not a handbreadth between them, and there was impurity below the lower one, only the space below it is impure. If there was impurity between them or on top of the upper one, the space directly above it until the heavens is impure.
If the projections were not a handbreadth by a handbreadth in size, whether there was a space of a handbreadth between them or not, whether the impurity was beneath the lower one, between them, or on top of the upper one, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends, because it is flush. Similar laws apply when there are two curtains that are a handbreadth above the ground and placed one on top of the other.
When there are keilim, garments, or wooden tablets placed on top of each other and impurity was flush between them, if the impurity was a handbreadth above the earth, the k'li that is above it is considered as creating an ohel over the space of a handbreadth and it imparts impurity to all the keilim under it. If there were stone tablets, even if they were a thousand cubits above the ground, the impurity pierces through and ascends and pierces through and descends, because they are considered as earth.
📊 Stacked Projections
Two projections (each a handbreadth wide) stacked with a handbreadth between them: if impurity is below the lower, only the lower zone is impure; between them, only that zone; above the upper, zone to the heavens. If the upper extends a handbreadth beyond the lower, interactions multiply. If neither projection is a handbreadth wide, impurity 'pierces and ascends' (retzutzah). Stone tablets elevated even 1000 cubits: impurity still pierces vertically (stone is like ground).
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Slanted Tent Walls and Their Impurity Rules

הלכות ה׳–ח׳
הלכה ה׳
לוּחוֹת שֶׁל עֵץ שֶׁהֵן נוֹגְעוֹת זֶה בָּזֶה בְּקַרְנוֹתֵיהֶן וְהֵן גְּבוֹהוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת אַחַת מֵהֶן כֵּלִים שֶׁתַּחַת הַשְּׁנִיָּה טְהוֹרִין לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ נוֹגַעַת בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּלוּחַ זוֹ הַשְּׁנִיָּה כְּנוֹגֵעַ בְּכֵלִים שֶׁנָּגְעוּ בְּאֹהֶל הַמֵּת. אֲבָל כָּל הַכֵּלִים שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ שֶׁמְּבִיאִין אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה וְאֵינָן חוֹצְצִין אִם הֶאֱהִיל הַכְּלִי עַל הַמֵּת כָּל כֵּלִים שֶׁעַל גַּבָּיו טְמֵאִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְטֻמְאָתָן מִשּׁוּם כֵּלִים הַמַּאֲהִילִין עַל הַמֵּת וְאַף הַכֵּלִים שֶׁעַל גַּבָּיו שֶׁאֵינָן כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה טְמֵאִים מִשּׁוּם כֵּלִים שֶׁנָּגְעוּ בְּכֵלִים שֶׁהֶאֱהִילוּ עַל הַמֵּת:
When tablets of wood are touching each other at their corners, they are a handbreadth above the ground, and there is impurity under one of them, the keilim which are under the second are pure, because it is not touching the other one over the space of a handbreadth. A person who touches the second tablet is considered as one who touched keilim that touched a covering over a corpse.
Different rules apply, by contrast, with regard to all those keilim which we said convey ritual impurity and do not intervene in the face of it. If such a k'li was positioned above a corpse, all of the keilim that are above it are impure, as we explained. They are deemed impure as keilim that were held over a corpse. Even the keilim over it that are not directly over the impurity are impure. They are considered keilim that touched keilim that were held over a corpse.
הלכה ו׳
חָבִית שֶׁהִיא יוֹשֶׁבֶת עַל שׁוּלֶיהָ בָּאֲוִיר וּכְזַיִת מִן הַמֵּת נָתוּן בְּתוֹכָהּ אוֹ תַּחְתֶּיהָ כְּנֶגֶד אֲוִירָהּ טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת. וְהֶחָבִית טְמֵאָה שֶׁהֲרֵי הַטֻּמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת מִתַּחְתֶּיהָ וְנִטְמֵאת אֲוִירָהּ. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה תַּחַת עֳבִי דָּפְנָהּ טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת וְהֶחָבִית טְהוֹרָה. וְלָמָּה הֶחָבִית טְהוֹרָה שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין הַטֻּמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת בַּאֲוִירָהּ אֶלָּא בְּדָפְנָהּ וְאֵין כְּלִי חֶרֶשׂ מִטָּמֵּא אֶלָּא מֵאֲוִירוֹ. הָיְתָה מִקְצָת הַטֻּמְאָה תַּחַת עֳבִי דָּפְנָהּ וּמִקְצָתָהּ תַּחַת אֲוִירָהּ טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת. הָיָה בַּדְּפָנוֹת פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח כֻּלָּהּ טְמֵאָה וּכְנֶגֶד פִּיהָ טָהוֹר שֶׁהֲרֵי הַטֻּמְאָה פָּשְׁטָה בַּדְּפָנוֹת בִּלְבַד. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּחָבִית טְהוֹרָה. אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה טְמֵאָה אוֹ גְּבוֹהָה מִן הָאָרֶץ טֶפַח אוֹ מְכֻסָּה אוֹ כְּפוּיָה עַל פִּיהָ וְהָיְתָה טֻמְאָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ אוֹ בְּתוֹכָהּ אוֹ עַל גַּבָּהּ הַכּל טָמֵא וְכָל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בָּהּ כֻּלּוֹ טָמֵא. הָיְתָה מֻקֶּפֶת צָמִיד פָּתִיל וּנְתוּנָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַמֵּת הָאֳכָלִים וְהַמַּשְׁקִין שֶׁבְּתוֹכָהּ טְהוֹרִין וְהַכֵּלִים שֶׁעַל גַּבָּהּ טְמֵאִים. חָבִיּוֹת שֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבוֹת עַל שׁוּלֵיהֶן אוֹ מֻטּוֹת עַל צִדֵּיהֶם בָּאֲוִיר וְהֵן נוֹגְעוֹת זוֹ בָּזוֹ בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת אַחַת מֵהֶן טֻמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא רְצוּצָה. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּטְהוֹרוֹת. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ טְמֵאוֹת אוֹ גְּבוֹהוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח וְטֻמְאָה תַּחַת אַחַת מֵהֶן תַּחַת כֻּלָּן טָמֵא שֶׁהֲרֵי הַכּל אֹהֶל אֶחָד:
When an earthenware jug was standing on its base in open space and there was an olive-sized portion from a corpse inside of it or below it, directly below its inner space, the impurity pierces through and ascends, pierces through and descends. The jug is impure, because the impurity pierces its bottom and its inner space becomes impure.
If the impurity is located under the thickness of its walls, the impurity pierces through and ascends, pierces through and descends, but the jug is pure. Why is the jug pure? Because the impurity does not pierce through into its inner space, but only to its walls and an earthenware container contracts impurity only from its inner space.
If some of the impurity was below the thickness of its walls and some below its inner space, the impurity pierces through and ascends, pierces through and descends. If the walls were a handbreadth in thickness, it is entirely impure but the space aligned with its opening is pure, for the impurity has spread only throughout the walls.
When does the above apply? When the jug was pure. If, however, the jug was impure, it was a handbreadth raised above the earth, it was covered, or it was turned upside down, and the impurity was in it or on top of it, everything is impure and anything that touches it in its entirety is impure. If it had a cover fastened to it and was placed over a corpse, any food and drink inside of it are pure, but the keilim over it are impure.
When jugs are resting on their bases or leaning on their sides in open space, they touch each other over a handbreadth of space, and there is impurity below one of them, the impurity pierces through and ascends, pierces through and descends, because it is flush.
When does the above apply? When the jugs are pure. If, however, they are impure or they are raised a handbreadth above the ground, and there is impurity under one of them, the space below all of them is impure, because they are considered as a single ohel.
הלכה ז׳
הלכה ח׳
⛺ Slanted Walls
The slanted walls (shifui) of a tent are treated as the tent itself. Impurity inside the tent: items under the slanted wall are impure. Impurity under the slanted wall: items inside the tent are impure. Impurity within the slanted wall itself: touching from inside = 7 days; touching from outside = until evening. If half an olive is inside and half behind — touching either side = until evening; the tent itself = 7 days. Tent edge laid flat on ground + impurity beneath: impurity pierces up and down.
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🎓 Key Principles

Chapter 17
🏗️
A Handbreadth at the Entrance is the Key
For a surrounding projection to convey impurity to a house, it must occupy at least a handbreadth at the entrance — less than a handbreadth only affects what is directly under the projection.
Slanted Walls Are Part of the Tent
The tapered edges of a tent that reach almost to the ground are legally part of the tent structure — they both bring impurity and can transmit it in either direction.
🪨
Stone = Ground for Vertical Piercing
Stone tablets, no matter how elevated, never form a legal ohel — impurity beneath them pierces straight up through them as through solid ground.
⚖️
Inside vs. Outside of Tent Wall Changes Impurity Level
If impurity is within the slanted tent wall itself, those who touch from inside get 7-day impurity; those from outside get only until-evening impurity, because the outside is like a vessel touching the tent.
7/7
📝

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