Halacha
הלכה א
בַּיִת שֶׁחִלְּקוֹ בְּקַנְקַנִּים טְהוֹרוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ וְעַד הַקּוֹרָה וְטֻמְאָה בְּחֶצְיוֹ הָאֶחָד אִם הָיָה פִּי הַקַּנְקַנִּים כְּלַפֵּי הַטְּהוֹרָה הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מַצִּילוֹת. וְאִם הָיוּ כְּלַפֵּי הַטֻּמְאָה אֵינָם מַצִּילוֹת. טַחָן בְּטִיט בֵּין מִבִּפְנִים בֵּין מִבַּחוּץ רוֹאִין אִם יָכוֹל הַטִּיט לַעֲמֹד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ מַצִּיל וְאִם לָאו אֵינוֹ מַצִּיל וַהֲרֵי הַכּל אֹהֶל אֶחָד:
כסף משנה
1.
The following rules apply when one divided a house by making a barrier of pure earthenware jugs from the ground until the roof and there is impurity in one side of the house. If the opening of the jugs was facing the pure side of the house, they protect the house from the spread of impurity. If the openings were facing the impurity, they do not protect it. If, when they were facing the impurity, he applied mud to them, whether from the inside, or the outside, we see whether the mud is able to stand on its own or not. If it can, it protects the house from impurity. If not, it does not and the entire house is considered as one ohel.הלכה ב
בַּיִת שֶׁחִלְּקוֹ בִּנְסָרִים אוֹ בִּירִיעוֹת אִם חִלְּקוֹ מִן הַצְּדָדִין אוֹ מִכְּלַפֵּי הַקּוֹרוֹת וְהָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה בַּבַּיִת. כֵּלִים שֶׁבֵּין הַמְּחִצָּה וּבֵין הַכֹּתֶל אוֹ שֶׁבֵּין הַמְּחִצָּה וְהַקּוֹרוֹת טְהוֹרִין. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה בֵּין מְחִצָּה לַכֹּתֶל אוֹ בֵּין מְחִצָּה לַקּוֹרוֹת כֵּלִים שֶׁבַּבַּיִת טְמֵאִין. שֶׁאֵין הַמְּחִצָּה מוֹנַעַת הַטֻּמְאָה שֶׁלֹּא תֵּצֵא וּתְטַמֵּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּאֹהֶל שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת. הָיוּ הַכֵּלִים בְּתוֹךְ עֳבִי הַמְּחִצָּה עַצְמָהּ בֵּין שֶׁהָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה לְפָנִים מִן הַמְּחִצָּה אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת אִם הָיָה מְקוֹם הַכֵּלִים טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח טְמֵאִים וְאִם לָאו טְהוֹרִין. וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ כֵּיצַד דִּין הַבַּיִת אִם חִלְּקוֹ מִכְּלַפֵּי אַרְצוֹ:
כסף משנה
2.
The following rules apply when a house was divided in two with boards or with curtains, whether it was divided lengthwise or widthwise or facing the ceiling. If there was impurity in the remainder of the house, keilim between the partition and the wall or between the partition and the ceiling are pure. If there is impurity between the partition and the wall or between the partition and the ceiling, the keilim in the house are impure, because the partition does not prevent the impurity from departing and imparting impurity, as we explained with regard to a tent inside a house.The following laws apply when there are keilim in the midst of the thickness of the partition itself, whether the impurity was within the area set off by the partition or within the house. If the place where the keilim were located was a handbreadth by a handbreadth or more, the keilim are impure. If it is smaller than that, they are pure. We have already explained the laws pertaining to a house that was divided horizontally.
הלכה ג
בַּיִת שֶׁהוּא מָלֵא תֶּבֶן וְאֵין בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין הַקּוֹרוֹת פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. טֻמְאָה בִּפְנִים בֵּין בְּתוֹךְ הַתֶּבֶן בֵּין שֶׁהָיְתָה בֵּין תֶּבֶן לְקוֹרוֹת כָּל הַכֵּלִים שֶׁכְּנֶגֶד יְצִיאַת הַטֻּמְאָה בִּמְלוֹאוֹ שֶׁל פֶּתַח טְמֵאִים. הָיְתָה טֻמְאָה חוּץ לַתֶּבֶן בְּמִלּוּאוֹ שֶׁל פֶּתַח כֵּלִים שֶׁבִּפְנִים אִם יֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹמָן טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח עַל רוּם טֶפַח טְהוֹרִין וְאִם לָאו טְמֵאִין. וְאִם יֵשׁ בֵּין תֶּבֶן לַקּוֹרוֹת פּוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ טְמֵאִין שֶׁאֵין הַתֶּבֶן חוֹצֵץ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסְּתָם תֶּבֶן דַּעְתּוֹ לְפַנּוֹתוֹ:
כסף משנה
3.
The following rules apply when there is a house that is filled with straw and there is not a cubic handbreadth of space between the straw and the ceiling. If there is impurity in the inner portion of the house, whether within the straw or in the space between the straw and the ceiling, all of the keilim that are opposite the space through which the impurity will depart in the entire open space of the entranceway are impure.The following laws apply if the impurity was outside the straw, anywhere in the open space of the entranceway. If there are keilim within the straw and there is a handbreadth by a handbreadth by a handbreadth of open space, they are pure. If not, they are impure. If there is a cubic handbreadth of space between the straw and the ceiling, the keilim are impure regardless, for the straw does not intervene, because we can assume that the person's intention is to remove the straw.
הלכה ד
כֹּתֶל שֶׁבֵּין שְׁנֵי בָּתִּים וְטֻמְאָה בְּתוֹךְ הַכֹּתֶל. בַּיִת הַקָּרוֹב לַטֻּמְאָה טָמֵא וְהַקָּרוֹב לַטָּהֳרָה טָהוֹר. הָיְתָה מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה שְׁנֵיהֶן טְמֵאִין. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה בְּאֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵי הַבָּתִּים וְהַכֵּלִים בְּתוֹךְ הַכֹּתֶל מֵחֶצְיוֹ וּכְלַפֵּי טֻמְאָה טְמֵאִים מֵחֶצְיוֹ וּכְלַפֵּי טָהֳרָה טְהוֹרִין מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה טְמֵאִין. וְכֵן מַעֲזִיבָה שֶׁבֵּין הַבַּיִת וְהָעֲלִיָּה וְהַטֻּמְאָה בְּתוֹךְ מַעֲזִיבָה. מֵחֶצְיוֹ וּלְמַטָּה הַבַּיִת טָמֵא וְהָעֲלִיָּה טְהוֹרָה מֵחֶצְיָהּ וּלְמַעְלָה הָעֲלִיָּה טְמֵאָה וְהַבַּיִת טָהוֹר מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה שְׁנֵיהֶן טְמֵאִין. הָיְתָה טֻמְאָה בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן וְכֵלִים בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּעֲזִיבָה מֵחֶצְיָהּ וּכְלַפֵּי טֻמְאָה טְמֵאִין מֵחֶצְיָהּ וּכְלַפֵּי טָהֳרָה טְהוֹרִין מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה שְׁנֵיהֶן טְמֵאִין. הָיְתָה הַמַּעֲזִיבָה לַאֲוִיר וְטֻמְאָה בְּתוֹכָהּ מֵחֶצְיָהּ וּלְמַטָּה הַבַּיִת טָמֵא וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה אֲפִלּוּ כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה טָהוֹר שֶׁהֲרֵי פָּשְׁטָה הַטֻּמְאָה בְּכָל הַבַּיִת. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה מֵחֶצְיָהּ וּלְמַעְלָה הַבַּיִת טָהוֹר וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה טָמֵא. מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה הַבַּיִת טָמֵא וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה טָמֵא שֶׁהֲרֵי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְצַמְצֵם:
כסף משנה
4.
When there is a wall between two houses and there is impurity in the midst of the wall, the house that is closest to the impurity is impure, while that which is closest to purity is pure. If the impurity was equidistant from them, they are both impure.The following rules apply when the impurity was in one of the houses and the keilim were in the midst of the wall. If the keilim were located from the center towards the impurity, they are impure; from the center towards the pure side, they are pure. If they are equidistant, they are impure.
Similar principles apply when there is a ceiling between a house and a loft and there is impurity in the ceiling. If it was located from the center downward, the house is impure and the loft is pure; from the center, upward, the loft is impure and the house is pure. If it is equidistant from them, they are both impure.
When there is impurity in either the house or the loft and there were keilim in the ceiling, if the keilim were located from the center towards the impurity, they are impure; from the center towards the pure side, they are pure. If they are equidistant, they are impure.
The following rules apply if the ceiling had nothing but open space above it and there was impurity in it. If the impurity was located from the center downward, the house is impure and a person standing on the roof - even if he is directly above the impurity - is pure, because the impurity spreads throughout the house. If the impurity was located from the center upward, the house is pure and a person standing on the roof directly above the impurity is impure. If the impurity was in the center of the ceiling, the house is impure and a person standing on the roof directly above the impurity is impure, because it is impossible to make an exact calculation.
הלכה ה
וְכֵן כֹּתֶל הַמְשַׁמֵּשׁ אֶת הַבַּיִת יִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה. כֵּיצַד. כֹּתֶל שֶׁהוּא לַאֲוִיר וְגַג הַבַּיִת סָמוּךְ לַכֹּתֶל וְאֵינוֹ מֻרְכָּב עַל הַכֹּתֶל וְטֻמְאָה רְצוּצָה בְּתוֹךְ הַכֹּתֶל הָיְתָה מֵחֶצְיוֹ וּלְפָנִים הַבַּיִת טָמֵא וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה עַל רֹאשׁ הַכֹּתֶל טָהוֹר כְּעוֹמֵד עַל גַּג הַבַּיִת. הָיְתָה מֵחֶצְיוֹ וְלַחוּץ הַבַּיִת טָהוֹר וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה כְּנֶגֶד הַטֻּמְאָה טָמֵא שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא פָּשְׁטָה הַטֻּמְאָה בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה הַבַּיִת טָמֵא וְהָעוֹמֵד מִלְּמַעְלָה טָהוֹר שֶׁהֲרֵי פָּשְׁטָה הַטֻּמְאָה בַּבַּיִת. נָטַל מֵהַכֹּתֶל מִבִּפְנִים אוֹ שֶׁהוֹסִיף בַּכֹּתֶל מִבַּחוּץ עַד שֶׁנִּמְצֵאת הַטֻּמְאָה מֵחֲצִי כֹּתֶל וּלְפָנִים הַבַּיִת טָמֵא. נָטַל מִבַּחוּץ אוֹ שֶׁהוֹסִיף בָּעֳבִי הַכֹּתֶל מִבִּפְנִים עַד שֶׁנִּמְצֵאת הַטֻּמְאָה מֵחֲצִי כֹּתֶל וְלַחוּץ הַבַּיִת טָהוֹר. הָיְתָה הַטֻּמְאָה נְתוּנָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַכֹּתֶל אֲפִלּוּ מֵחֶצְיוֹ וּלְפָנִים הַבַּיִת טָהוֹר:
כסף משנה
5.
Similarly, if there is a wall that serves a house, it is considered as half and half.What is implied? There is a wall that has open space on one side. The roof of the house is supported by the wall, but does not rest on the wall and there is impurity flush inside the wall. If the impurity is from the halfway point of the wall inward, the house is impure. A person standing on top of the wall is pure like someone standing on the roof of the house.
If the impurity is from the halfway point outward, the house is pure. A person standing on top of the wall, above the impurity is impure, because the impurity did not spread out in the house. If the impurity was in the center of the wall, the house is impure, but a person standing above it is pure, because the impurity spread within the house.
If one removed part of the wall from the inside or added to the outer portion of the wall until the impurity was in the inner half of the wall, the house is impure. If he removed part of the wall from the outside or added to the thickness of the inner portion of the wall until the impurity was in the outer half of the wall, the house is pure. If the impurity was placed on the top of the wall, even if it is on the inside, the house is pure.
הלכה ו
בַּיִת הַמְשַׁמֵּשׁ אֶת הַכֹּתֶל יִדּוֹן כִּקְלִפַּת הַשּׁוּם. כֵּיצַד. הַחוֹפֵר שְׁנֵי כּוּכִים אוֹ שְׁתֵּי מְעָרוֹת זוֹ בְּצַד זוֹ עַד שֶׁנִּמְצְאוּ שְׁנֵי בָּתִּים חֲפוּרִים בַּקַּרְקַע וְנַעֲשָׂה בֵּינֵיהֶן כֹּתֶל הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶן וְהָיְתָה טֻמְאָה בַּבָּתִּים וְכֵלִים בַּכֹּתֶל אִם יֵשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן כִּקְלִפַּת הַשּׁוּם טְהוֹרִין. הָיְתָה טֻמְאָה בְּכֹתֶל זֶה וְכֵלִים בַּבָּתִּים אִם יֵשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן כִּקְלִפַּת הַשּׁוּם טְהוֹרִים. הִנֵּה לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁכֹּתֶל בִּנְיָן נִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה וְכֹתֶל הַסֶּלַע אוֹ שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מִגּוּשׁ הָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁיַּחְפֹּר מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן נִדּוֹן כִּקְלִפַּת הַשּׁוּם:
כסף משנה
6.
When there is a structure that serves a wall, as long as there is part of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, the structure is considered as separate from the wall.What is implied? A person dug two burial vaults or two burial caves one next to the other and thus there were two structures dug into the ground with a wall dividing between them. If there is impurity in the structures and keilim in the wall, as long as there is a portion of the wall as thin as a garlic peel covering them, they are pure. If there is impurity in the wall and keilim in the structures, if it is covered by a portion of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, they are pure.
Thus we can learn the following general principles: When there is a wall that was built from building materials, the status of the house depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located. When the wall was made of stone or of the thickness of the earth when one dug from either side, as long as there is part of the wall as thin as a garlic peel, the structure is considered as separate from the wall.
הלכה ז
כֹּתֶל שֶׁחֲצִי עָבְיוֹ בִּנְיָן וְחֶצְיוֹ סֶלַע נִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה:
כסף משנה
7.
When half of the thickness of a wall was constructed and half was a rock, the status of the house depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located.הלכה ח
טֻמְאָה שֶׁהָיְתָה בֵּין קוֹרוֹת הַבַּיִת אֲפִלּוּ אֵין תַּחְתֶּיהָ אֶלָּא כִּקְלִפַּת הַשּׁוּם הַבַּיִת טָהוֹר וְרוֹאִין אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה כְּאִלּוּ הִיא רְצוּצָה בָּאָרֶץ וּמְטַמְּאָה כְּנֶגְדָּהּ בִּלְבַד. וְאִם יֵשׁ בִּמְקוֹמָהּ טֶפַח עַל טֶפַח הַכּל טָמֵא. וְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה נִרְאֵית בְּתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ הַבַּיִת טָמֵא. שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים זֶה עַל גַּבֵּי זֶה וְטֻמְאָה בַּכֹּתֶל שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶן אִם נִרְאֵית שֶׁהִיא לְתוֹךְ אַחַת מֵהֶן הוּא טָמֵא וַחֲבֵרוֹ טָהוֹר וְאִם לָאו נִדּוֹנִין מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה:
כסף משנה
8.
If there was impurity between the beams of the roof of a house, even if there is only a portion of a board as thin as as a garlic peel under it, the house is pure. We consider the impurity as if it were flush in the earth and only the area directly below it or directly above it is impure. If there is a handbreadth by a handbreadth of empty space in its place, everything is impure. Similarly, if the impurity could be seen from the house, the house is impure regardless.If there are two entrances, one on top of the other, and there is impurity in the wall between them, if it can be seen from one of them, that entrance is impure and the other is pure. If not, their status depends on the half of the wall in which the impurity is located.