1)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, if the hyssop-twig is too short to reach the Mei Chatas in the jar- one attaches it to a thread that is tied to a spindle (see Tos. Yom-Tov) and dips it in ...

(b)... despite the Pasuk "And he shall take a hyssop-twig and dip it in the water" - since taking via something else is still called taking.

(c)He may not however, then sprinkle it via the thread - because it will wobble from side to side, in which case the water will not fall on the required object (Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)If one did sprinkle it holding the thread, and the water duly fell on the required object, the Haza'ah is Kasher (as is evident from the following Mishnah).

2)

(a)R. Yehudah and R. Shimon disagree with the Tana Kama - in his second ruling, in that, according to them, just as the Haza'ah needs to be direct, so too, does the Tevilah (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.

3)

(a)The Mishnah rules in a case where one sprinkles on ...

1. ... a Tamei person, if it is sprinkled via a thread or a spindle, and one is uncertain as to whether it was the water from the hyssop that fell on him or the water from the thread or from the spindle, or if he sprinkles on ...

2. ... two Tamei vessels simultaneously, and one is uncertain as to whether it was the water from the hyssop that fell on the second vessel or water from the first one, or on ...

3. ... a needle that is lying on a piece of earthenware, and one is subsequently uncertain whether it was the water from the hyssop that fell on it or the water that bounced off the earthenware that - the person, the second vessel and the needle (see Tos. Yom-Tov) remain Tamei as they were ...

(b)... because we apply the principle Ha'amed Tamei al Chezkaso (place the Tamei on its prior Chazakah - of Tum'ah).

(c)The Tana Kama permits sprinkling the Mei Chatas that is contained in a jar with a narrow mouth. We might have thought that it is forbidden - because of the possibility that most of the water squeezes back into the jar, leaving less than the Shi'ur for the Haza'ah (see also Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)According to R. Yehudah - only the first sprinkling is permitted in this fashion, but any subsequent ones.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

4)

(a)In the event that the Mei Chatas diminished, the Kohen is ...

1. ... permitted - to dip only the tips of the Eizov into the jar.

2. ... forbidden - to wipe it on the side of the jar or on the base, to absorb some of the water there, since the water must come on the hyssop via dipping, not squeezing.

(b)We learn the latter ruling from the word - "ve'Taval" (in the Pasuk in Chukas "ve'Taval ba'Mayim Ish Tahor"), from which Chazal infer "ve'Taval", 've'Lo ve'Safag'.

5)

(a)The Mishnah rules that if a Kohen who means to sprinkle in front of him, inadvertently sprinkles ...

1. ... behind him, or vice-versa - the Haza'ah is Pasul.

2. ... in front, but to the side - the Haza'ah is Kasher (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The reason for the former ruling is - because Haza'ah requires the Kohen's intention to perform it (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)The Tana also rules that ...

1. ... a person who does not have Kavanah whilst being sprinkled - is nevertheless Tahor.

2. ... it is permitted to sprinkle on a hundred people or ...

3. ... on a hundred vessels simultaneously.

6)

(a)The Mishnah now draws a distinction between a Kohen who intends to sprinkle on something that is subject to Tum'ah, but actually sprinkled on something that is not, and vice versa. What is meant by something that is ...

1. ... subject to Tum'ah is - a person or Keilim.

2. ... not subject to Tum'ah - an animal or stone vessels.

(b)The Tana rules that if the Kohen intends to sprinkle on something that is not subject to Tum'ah, but actually sprinkled on something that is - he is subsequently forbidden to sprinkle the water that remains on the hyssop without dipping it again in the Mei Chatas; whereas in the reverse case, it is not necessary to dip it in again.

(c)In connection with these rulings, we learn from the Pasuk "ve'Hizah ha'Tahor al ha'Tamei" that - the Kohen must have in mind to sprinkle on something that is Tamei. Otherwise, his Haza'ah is Pasul.

(d)This explains the former ruling (forbidding the Kohen to continue sprinkling without dipping in again) - in that since, when dipping in, he did not have in mind to sprinkle on something that is Tamei, both his Tevilah and his Haza'ah are Pasul, and any subsequent Haza'ah requires a fresh Tevilah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

7)

(a)The Mishnah rules that, if the drops drip from the latter Eizov back into the jar containing the Mei Chatas - the Mei Chatas remains Kasher ...

(b)... because the water that remains on the hyssop (and is not sprinkled) is not Pasul ...

(c)... since the first Haza'ah was Pasul.

8)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a case where the Kohen sprinkles Mei Chatas on a Tamei person, who subsequently enters the Beis Hamikdash - and discoveres that it was Pasul.

(b)The Tana rules that, if the Mei Chatas was sprinkled from a public window - he is Patur from a Chatas (see Tos. Yom-Tov), but Chayav if he was sprinkled from a private one.

(c)This distinction is based on the set of principles - Safek Tum'ah bi'Reshus ha'Rabim Tahor; bi'Reshus ha'Yachid, Tamei.

(d)Consequently, he is ...

1. ... Patur from a Chatas in the first case - because since in the R'shus ha'Rabim he has a Chezkas Taharah, he is not obligated to check whether the water was Kasher or not, and is therefore considered an Oneis.

2. ... Chayav Chatas in the second one - because since in the R'shus ha'Yachid, he has a Chezkas Tum'ah, he is obligated to check whether the water was Kasher or not, and is therefore considered a Shogeg.

9)

(a)The previous ruling will differ in a case where the Tamei person who was sprinkled is the Kohen Gadol - inasmuch as he will be Patur, even if the Mei Chatas was sprinkled on him from a private window ...

(b)... because a Kohen Gadol is not Chayav a Chatas for Bi'as Mikdash be'Tum'ah.

(c)We learn this from the Pasuk in Chukas "ve'Nichr'sah ha'Nefesh ha'hi *mi'Toch ha'Kahal"* - which implies that only someone whose sin is equal to that of the Kahal is Chayav Kareis (or Chatas) for entering the Mikdash be'Tum'ah be'Tum'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

10)

(a)What made people slip in front of public windows (see Tos. Yom-Tov) that were near the Beis Hamikdash was - the fact that there was a lot of water from the many people who were sprinkled there ...

(b)... and who were not careful to avoid walking in it (in order not to become Tamei) before entering the Beis-Hamikdash - because since its Mitzvah is completed, the water is no longer Metamei (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

11)

(a)The Tana rules that, during the Haza'ah, a Tamei chopper should be held with the corner of one's garment and not in one's hands - in order to avoid becoming a Rishon le'Tum'ah via the chopper, which is an Av ha'Tum'ah (see Tiferes Yisrael).

(b)He does not become a Sheini via ...

1. ... the corner of his garment - because a person is only subject to Tum'ah via an Av ha'Tum'ah, but not via a V'lad (even with regard to Parah).

2. ... the water that remains on the chopper from the Haza'ah - because since its Mitzvah has been completed, it is no longer Tamei (as we just explained).

12)

(a)With regard to the person who carries the Mei Chatas becoming Tamei [Tiferes Yisrael] see also Tos. Yom-Tov]) the Tana Kama gives as the Shi'ur Haza'ah (in the jar) - sufficient water to sprinkle on the Tamei person/object, besides what the twig will absorb.

(b)R. Yehudah says that we consider the Mei Chatas as if it was on a copper hyssop (which does not absorb), by which he means that - the total Shi'ur includes what the hyssop-twig will absorb.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

13)

(a)When the Tana speaks about someone sprinkling with a Tamei hyssop - he means one that grew in a garden which was picked as a food, and that is therefore subject to Tum'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)In order to be Pasul, it must comprise at least a k'Beitzah (which is the minimum Shi'ur Tum'ah for all foods, both as regards becoming Tamei and being Metamei others [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

(c)The Haza'ah is Pasul too. He learns all this from the Pasuk - "*ve'Hizah ha'Tahor* al ha'Tamei", implying that both the person who sprinkles the Mei Chatas and the Eizov must be Tahor.

(d)If the hyssop measures less than a k'Beitzah - the Mei Chatas is Kasher, but the Haza'ah is Pasul.

14)

(a)Finally, the Mishnah talks about one hyssop touching another, and the second one, touching a third, up to a hundred. The Tana is referring to one which measures a k'Beitzah (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)The Tana rules that - even if there are a hundred hyssop-twigs, one touching the other, they are all Tamei ...

(c)... because when it comes to Mei Parah, there are no distinctions regarding V'lados ha'Tum'ah (they are all considered a Rishon).

15)

(a)The Mishnah rules that someone who ...

1. ... is Tahor for Mei Chatas, whose hands (See Tos. Yom-Tov) become Tamei - his body becomes Tamei as well.

2. ... is Tamei for Mei Chatas who touches his friend - his friend becomes Tamei, too.

3. ... becomes Tamei through touching his friend who became Tamei through someone who was Tamei for Mei Chatas - becomes Tamei too ...

(b)... even up to a hundred people.

16)

(a)The outside of a jar that is not made of earthenware becomes Tamei, but not the inside - if it became Tamei through Tamei liquid.

(b)The sole exception to this Halachah - is a vessel that is designated for Mei Chatas.

(c)Despite the fact that, generally one vessel cannot receive Tum'ah from another vessel, the Tana declares that a Tamei vessel for Mei Chatas that touches a vessel that is Tahor - renders it Tamei ...

(d)... even up to a hundred vessels.

17)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a bell and its striker vis-a-vis Tumah and Haza'ah. If one of them is sprinkled, says the Tana, the other one becomes Tahor - provided they are joined ...

(b)... and the same will apply where one of them becomes Tamei (see Tosfos Yom-Tov).

18)

(a)The Tana also rules that - when performing Haza'ah on a reed-spindle (for manufacturing mats) - one must sprinkle the actual spindle and the accompanying weight independently (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(b)But if the Kohen sprinkles on just one of them - it is Tahor.

(c)The Rambam explains the Mishnah's statement Lo Yazeh Lo al ha'Kush ve'Lo al ha'Pikah to mean that - one should sprinkle on neither of the two, but on the metal bar to which the spindle is normally attached (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)A flax-spindle is different however - in that Lechatchilah the spindle and weight are considered joined, in which case (according to the Rambam) Lechatchilah one may sprinkle on one of them.

19)

(a)The Mishnah discusses the leather mattress that one places on a baby's cot and a Malbein - (a wooden dish into which they would fit a leg of a bed, to prevent it from rotting from the moist of the earth), with regard to Tum'ah and Taharah.

(b)The Tana declares ...

1. ... the skin mattress - subject to both Tum'ah and Taharah together with the bed (to which it is attached by means of coils [see Tos. Yom-Tov]).

2. ... the Malbein - not subject to Tum'ah and Taharah together with the bed (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

20)

(a)Finally, the Tana talks about handles of vessels - considering those that are riveted to the vessel (Kaduchos) joined, but not those that merely fit into it (Charukos).

(b)According to R. Yochanan ben Nuri - the latter are considered joined as well.

(c)An example of ...

1. ... Kaduchos is - the wooden or bone handles of knives into which the metal blade is riveted.

2. ... Charukos - is the sharpened spear-head which fits into the hole of the spear.

(d)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.

21)

(a)The list in this Mishnah differs Halachically from the previous one. It begins with Salim she'be'Kantol, Mitah shel Tarbol and and Keren shel Kelivah. Salim she'be'Kantol are baskets that fit on to the back of a donkey (see Tos. Yom-Tov) that normally contain - either fruit or manure.

(b)The plural form (Salim) - is due to the fact that they conprise a pair of baskets that are joined, one hanging on either side of the donkey.

(c)Mitah shel Tarbol (which is made of parts that can be dismantled [Tos. Yom-Tov]) is a sort of metal donkey - with which one threshes the corn (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

(d)Kelivah, in this context, is a stretcher used to bury a dead person (which resembles a chicken coop). The Keren - is a horn-shaped piece of metal to which a cord is attached. The purpose of the cord is to secure the Meis to the stretcher to keep it still.

22)

(a)The Tana rules that both the above items and those that follow - are considered joined as regards Tum'ah, but not as regards Haza'ah (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'Chibur le'Tum'ah ... ' and 'le'Hazayah').

(b)The next three items on the list are ...

1. ... Keranin shel Yotz'ei Derachim' - animals' horns made into sections that fit into one another (Yom-Tov) that travelers take with them on a journey as drinking flasks.

2. ... Shalsheless ha'Miftechos - a bunch of keys, and ...

3. ... 'Sh'lal ha'Kovsin - clothes that a laundry-man stitches loosely together (a small one together with a large one, to prevent the former from getting lost).

(c)The last item on the list is Beged she'Hu Tafur be'Kil'ayim - two pieces of woolen cloth that have been sewn together using linen thread ...

(d)... and which, like Sh'lal shel Kovsin - stands to be taken apart (in this case, due to the Isur of Sha'atnez).

23)

(a)The Tana rules that the lid of a water-urn - that is attached to a chain (that is, in turn, attached to the urn, is considered joined to the urn.

(b)According to Beis Shamai, it is considered joined regarding Tum'ah, but not regarding Haza'ah, whereas Beis Hillel - consider it joined regarding Hazayah as well.

24)

(a)One of the three people listed by the Mishnah, who are disqualified from performing Haza'ah is a woman (see Tos. Yom-Tov DH 'ha'Kol ... '. The other two are - a Tumtum (someone whose sexual organs are covered by a layer of skin) and an Androginus (someone who is bisexual) ...

(b)... who are disqualified because they have the Din of Safek Ishah.

25)

(a)We learn this from the Pasuk "ve'Taval ba'Mayim *Ish* Tahor" (implying "Ish", 've'Lo Ishah'). "Tahor" on the other hand, comes to *include* - a child.

(b)Although this Pasuk is speaking about Tevilah - the Torah compares Haza'ah to Tevilah (as we learned earlier).

(c)To assist a small child who does not have Da'as (see Tos. Yom-Tov) perform the Haza'ah, a woman is ...

1. ...permitted to hold the jar whilst he performs Haza'ah, but ...

2. ... not to hold his hand to help him perform the Tevilah or the Haza'ah.

26)

(a)We learn from the Pasuk ...

1. ... "ve'Hizah ha'Tahor al ha'Tamei *ba'Yom* ha'Shelishi *u'va'Yom* ha'Shevi'i" that - Haza'ah that is performed by night is Pasul, and from ...

2. ... "ve'Taval ba'Mayim Ish Tahor, ve'Hizah ... " ... that - Tevilah is compared to Haza'ah (and is therefore Pasul too).

(b)The Mishnah therefore validates a Tevilah and Haza'ah that are performed by day (see Tos. Yom-Tov), but disqualifies a case where the Tevilah is performed by day and the Haza'ah by night or vice-versa.

(c)We learn from the Pasuk "ve'Chit'o ba'Yom ha'Shavi'i ... ve'Rachatz Besaro ba'Mayim" that - a Tamei person who requires Haza'ah on the third and seventh days Tovels again after the Haza'ah ...

(d)And when the Tana says that he may Tovel by night and be sprinkled by day - he is talking about a case where the second Tevilah was postponed to a subsequent day (see Tos. Yom-Tov).

27)

(a)The earliest that Haza'ah may be performed ...

1. ... Lechatchilah is - Haneitz ha'Chamah (sunrise).

2. ... Bedi'eved - Amud-ha'Shachar (dawn-break).

(b)We learn from the combination of the Pesukim in Nechemyah "va'Anachnu Osim bi'Melachah ... me'Alos ha'Shachar ve'ad Tzeis ha'Kochavim" and "ve'Hayah Lanu ha'Laylah Mishmar ve'ha'Yom Melachah" that - the day begins at Amud-ha'Shachar.