Chullin 107

פקתא דערבות כגון אתון דלא שכיחי לכו מיא משו ידייכו מצפרא ואתנו עלייהו לכולא יומא איכא דאמרי בשעת הדחק אין שלא בשעת הדחק לא ופליגא דרב ואיכא דאמרי אפילו שלא בשעת הדחק נמי והיינו דרב

the valley of Aravot [pakta da’aravot], where there was a shortage of water: People such as you, for whom water is scarce, should wash your hands in the morning and stipulate with regard to them for the entire day. Some say that Rabbi Avina maintains that in exigent circumstances, yes, one should act in this manner, but when one is not in exigent circumstances, he should not do so. And according to this explanation, Rabbi Avina disagrees with the opinion of Rav, who permitted this practice to all. And some say that Rabbi Avina ruled that one may do so even when not in exigent circumstances, and Rabbi Avina’s opinion is identical to that of Rav.

אמר רב פפא האי אריתא דדלאי אין נוטלין ממנו לידים דלא אתו מכח גברא ואי מיקרב לגבי דולא דקאתו מכח גברא נוטלין ממנו לידים

Rav Pappa said: With regard to this irrigation channel [arita dedalla’ei], into which water is poured from a river using buckets, and which then transports the water to the fields, one may not wash his hands in it. The reason is that this water does not come from a person’s force, i.e., it is not poured on the hands by a direct act, as it moves by force of the current in the channel. But if one draws his hands near the bucket itself, in such a manner that the water poured on his hands comes from a person’s force before it begins to flow in the channel, then one may wash his hands with it.

ואי בזיע דולא בכונס משקה מילף לייפי ומטביל בה את הידים ואמר רבא כלי שניקב בכונס משקה אין נוטלין ממנו לידים

And if the bucket in which the water is drawn from the river is perforated with a hole large enough to enable liquid to enter the vessel when it is placed in the river, the presence of this hole connects the water in the channel to the water in the river, as they touch through that hole. And therefore, one may immerse his hands in that channel as he would in the river itself. Yet the perforated bucket is invalid for the washing of the hands by pouring, since it is no longer considered a vessel. As Rava says: With regard to a vessel that is perforated with a hole large enough to enable liquid to enter, one may not wash his hands with it.

ואמר רבא כלי שאין בו רביעית אין נוטלין ממנו לידים איני והאמר רבא כלי שאין מחזיק רביעית אין נוטלין ממנו לידים הא מחזיק אף על גב דלית ביה

And Rava says: With regard to a vessel that does not have a quarter–log of water in it, one may not wash his hands with it. The Gemara asks: Is that so? But doesn’t Rava say: With regard to a vessel that cannot contain a quarter–log of water, one may not wash his hands with it. It may be consequently inferred that as long as the vessel can contain a quarter-log, one may use it even if it does not currently have a quarter-log in it.

לא קשיא הא לחד הא לתרי דתניא מי רביעית נוטלין לידים לאחד ואפילו לשנים

The Gemara answers: This is not difficult; this former statement, requiring a quarter-log of actual water, is referring to washing for one person, whereas that latter statement, requiring only that the vessel have a capacity of a quarter-log, is referring to washing for two people. If a vessel originally contained a quarter-log of water, then even if less than that amount remains after one person has washed his hands, a second individual may use the remainder, which is considered fit based on the water’s original volume. As it is taught in a baraita: With a quarter–log of water, one may wash the hands of one individual, and even those of two.

אמר ליה רב ששת לאמימר קפדיתו אמנא אמר ליה אין אחזותא אמר ליה אין אשיעורא אמר ליה אין

Rav Sheshet said to Ameimar: Are you particular about the vessel used for washing hands, that it be wholly intact? Ameimar said to him: Yes. Rav Sheshet further inquired: Are you also particular about the appearance of the water, that it be normal? Ameimar again said to him: Yes. Rav Sheshet further asked: Are you particular about the measure of water, that it be no less than one quarter-log? Ameimar said to him: Yes.

איכא דאמרי הכי אמר ליה אמנא ואחזותא קפדינן אשיעורא לא קפדינן דתניא מי רביעית נוטלין לידים לאחד ואפילו לשנים

Some say that this is what Ameimar said to him: We are particular about the wholeness of the vessel and about the water’s appearance, but we are not particular about the water’s measure, as it is taught in a baraita: With a quarter–log of water one may wash the hands of one individual, and even those of two. The baraita indicates that there is no need for a quarter-log for each individual.

ולא היא שאני התם משום דקאתו משירי טהרה

The Gemara notes: And it is not so, i.e., one cannot derive from the baraita that the measure of water is immaterial. It is different there because there the water comes from the remainder of a measure initially sufficient for purity. If there was not initially a quarter-log, the water is unfit for even one person.

אתקין רב יעקב מנהר פקוד נטלא בת רביעתא אתקין רב אשי בהוצל כוזא בת רביעתא

The Gemara relates: Rav Ya’akov from Nehar Pekod prepared a glass vessel that could contain a quarter–log of water for washing his hands. Rav Ashi in Huzal likewise prepared an earthenware vessel that could contain a quarter–log.

ואמר רבא מגופת חבית שתקנה נוטלין ממנה לידים תניא נמי הכי מגופת חבית שתקנה נוטלין ממנה לידים חמת וכפישה שתקנן נוטלין מהם לידים שק וקופה אף על פי שמקבלים אין נוטלין מהם לידים

And Rava says: If one prepared the stopper of a barrel for use as a vessel by hollowing it out until it contained a quarter-log, one may wash his hands with it, even though it was not originally designated for this function. This ruling is also taught in a baraita: If one prepared the stopper of a barrel for this purpose, one may wash his hands with it. Likewise, with regard to a ḥemet and a kefisha, types of leather wineskins, that one prepared for this purpose, one may wash his hands with them, as they were initially designed to hold liquids. But with regard to a sack and a basket, even if they can contain water, one may not wash his hands with them, as no sack or basket is designed to hold water, and most cannot.

איבעיא להו מהו לאכול במפה מי חיישינן דלמא נגע או לא

A dilemma was raised before the Sages: What is the halakha with regard to eating with a cloth [mappa] on one’s hands, rather than washing them to purify them? Are we concerned that perhaps he will touch the food with his hands, or not?

תא שמע וכשנתנו לו לרבי צדוק אוכל פחות מכביצה נוטלו במפה ואוכלו חוץ לסוכה ואין מברך אחריו מאי לאו הא כביצה בעי נטילת ידים

The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a mishna (Sukka 26b): And when they gave Rabbi Tzadok on the festival of Sukkot less than an egg-bulk of food, he took the food in a cloth, and he ate it outside the sukka, as he held one is not obligated to eat food of this amount in a sukka. And he did not recite a blessing after eating it, since less than an egg-bulk does not satisfy the verse: “And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10). What, is it not to be inferred that consequently, if one eats an egg-bulk, it requires washing of the hands, even if one uses a cloth?

דלמא הא כביצה בעי סוכה ובעי ברכה

The Gemara rejects this: Perhaps one can conclude from that mishna only that consequently, if one eats an egg-bulk he needs to do so in a sukka and needs to recite a blessing after eating; but he can still use a cloth instead of washing his hands.

תא שמע דשמואל אשכחיה לרב דקאכיל במפה אמר ליה

The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from an incident where Shmuel found Rav eating with a cloth rather than washing his hands, and Shmuel said to him:

עבדין כדין אמר ליה דעתי קצרה עלי

Do we act in this manner? Rav said to Shmuel: I did wash my hands, but as I am delicate I do not wish to hold food in my bare hands; therefore I covered them with a cloth.

כי סליק רבי זירא אשכחינהו לרבי אמי ורבי אסי דקאכלי בבלאי חמתות אמר תרי גברי רברבי כוותייכו ליטעו בדרב ושמואל הא דעתי קצרה קאמר

The Gemara further relates: When Rabbi Zeira left Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael, he found Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi eating bread while covering their hands with worn pieces of wineskins, rather than washing them. Rabbi Zeira said to them: Could two great men such as yourselves err with regard to the incident of Rav and Shmuel related above? After all, Rav said to Shmuel: I am using a cloth because I am delicate; he did wash his hands beforehand.

אשתמיטתיה הא דאמר רב תחליפא בר אבימי אמר שמואל התירו מפה לאוכלי תרומה ולא התירו מפה לאוכלי טהרות ורבי אמי ורבי אסי כהנים הוו

The Gemara notes: It escaped Rabbi Zeira’s mind that Rav Taḥlifa bar Avimi said that Shmuel said: The Sages permitted the consumption of bread while the hands are wrapped with a cloth rather than washed, specifically to priests who partake of teruma, as they are careful not to touch the bread with their hands. But they did not permit the use of a cloth in this manner to non-priests, even those who are particular to eat non-sacred food in a state of ritual purity, as they do not maintain the same level of diligence as priests. And since Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi were priests, it was permitted for them to eat with a cloth.

איבעיא להו אוכל מחמת מאכיל צריך נטילת ידים או לא תא שמע דרב הונא בר סחורה הוה קאי קמיה דרב המנונא בלם ליה אומצא ואכיל אמר ליה אי לאו דרב המנונא את לא ספינא לך

A dilemma was raised before the Sages: If one eats by means of another feeding him, without himself touching the food, does he need to wash hands before eating or not? The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from the following incident where Rav Huna bar Seḥora was standing before Rav Hamnuna and serving him. Rav Huna bar Seḥora cut a slice of meat for Rav Hamnuna and placed it in his mouth, and he ate it. Rav Huna bar Seḥora said to Rav Hamnuna: Were you not Rav Hamnuna, I would not feed you in this fashion.

מאי טעמא לאו משום דזהיר ולא נגע לא דזריז קדים ומשי ידיה מעיקרא

The Gemara infers from this episode: What is the reason that it was permitted for Rav Hamnuna to eat in such a manner? Is it not because he was careful not to touch the food with his hands? This indicates that someone may be fed even without washing his hands. The Gemara rejects this: No, one can say that he was vigilant and went ahead and washed his hands at the outset.

תא שמע דאמר רבי זירא אמר רב לא יתן אדם פרוסה לתוך פיו של שמש אלא אם כן יודע בו שנטל ידיו והשמש מברך על כל כוס וכוס ואינו מברך על כל פרוסה ופרוסה ורבי יוחנן אמר מברך על כל פרוסה ופרוסה

The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from that which Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said: A person may not place a slice of bread into the mouth of the attendant serving at a meal unless he knows that he has washed his hands. And it was also stated that the attendant recites a blessing over each and every cup of wine presented to him at a meal. This is because he never knows if he will receive another cup, and he cannot intend that his initial blessing apply to a cup he does not know he will receive. But he does not recite a blessing over each and every slice of bread given to him. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says that he must recite a blessing over each and every slice he receives.

אמר רב פפא בשלמא דרב ורבי יוחנן לא קשיא הא דאיכא אדם חשוב הא דליכא אדם חשוב

Rav Pappa said: Granted, the apparent contradiction between the opinions of Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan is not difficult; one can resolve it by saying that this statement of Rav, that the attendant need not recite a blessing for every slice of bread, is referring to a case where there is an important person at the meal. Since the attendant is confident that the important person will ensure the attendant receives enough to eat, his initial blessing applies to each slice he receives. And that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan is referring to a meal where there is no important person. Since the attendant is not confident that he will receive another slice, he must recite a new blessing whenever he does receive one.

מכל מקום הא קאמר אלא אם כן יודע שנטל ידיו שאני שמש דטריד

In any case, Rav first says that one should not place a slice into the attendant’s mouth unless he knows that he has washed his hands. This indicates that one who is fed by another must wash his hands. The Gemara responds: The case of an attendant is different, as he is occupied with his duties and may touch the food inadvertently. Therefore, he specifically may not eat without washing his hands.

תנו רבנן לא יתן אדם פרוסה לשמש בין שהכוס בידו בין שהכוס בידו של בעל הבית שמא יארע דבר קלקלה בסעודה והשמש שלא נטל ידיו אסור ליתן פרוסה לתוך פיו

§ The Sages taught in a baraita: A person who is a guest may not give a slice of bread from the meal in front of him to the attendant serving, whether a cup is in the attendant’s hand or a cup is in the host’s hand, lest a mishap occur at the meal. The host might become angry or distracted by the concern that there will not remain enough food for his guests, and the cup will fall from his hand. If the cup is in the attendant’s hand, he might drop it while accepting food from the guest. And with regard to an attendant who has not washed his hands, it is prohibited to place a slice of bread into his mouth.

איבעיא להו מאכיל צריך נטילת ידים או אינו צריך

§ A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Does one who feeds another need to wash his hands, since his hands are touching the food? Or perhaps he does not need to wash his hands, as he himself is not eating.

תא שמע דתני דבי מנשה רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר אשה מדיחה את ידה אחת במים ונותנת פת לבנה קטן אמרו עליו על שמאי הזקן שלא רצה להאכיל בידו אחת וגזרו עליו שיאכיל בשתי ידיו

The Gemara suggests: Come and hear a resolution to the dilemma from that which the school of Menashe taught that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: A woman may rinse one hand in water on Yom Kippur, so that she does not touch food before she has washed her hands in the morning, and give bread to her minor son, without concern about violating the prohibition against bathing on Yom Kippur. They said about Shammai the Elder that he did not want to feed his children with even one hand on Yom Kippur, to avoid having to wash it. But due to concerns about the health and well-being of his children, they decreed that he must feed them with two hands, forcing him to wash both. Apparently one who feeds another must wash his hands, even though he himself is not eating.

אמר אביי התם משום שיבתא

Abaye said: The reason for the washing there is not on account of the food specifically. Rather, it is due to an evil spirit named Shivta, who contaminates hands that have not been washed in the morning. As long as one washes his hands in the morning, perhaps he need not wash them again to feed another.

תא שמע דאבוה דשמואל אשכחיה לשמואל דקא בכי אמר ליה אמאי קא בכית דמחיין רבאי אמאי דאמר לי קא ספית לבראי ולא משית ידיה ואמאי לא משית אמר ליה הוא אכיל ואנא משינא

The Gemara further suggests: Come and hear a resolution to the dilemma from the following incident, as Shmuel’s father found the young Shmuel crying, and said to him: Why are you crying? Shmuel replied: Because my teacher struck me. His father asked: Why did he strike you? Shmuel responded: My teacher said to me: You are feeding my son, but you did not wash your hands. His father asked: And why did you not wash your hands? Shmuel said to him: Only he, the teacher’s son, is eating, and I must wash my hands?

אמר ליה לא מיסתייה דלא גמיר מימחא נמי מחי והלכתא אוכל מחמת מאכיל צריך נטילת ידים מאכיל אינו צריך נטילת ידים

Shmuel’s father said to him: Is it not enough that your teacher did not learn the halakha properly, that he even strikes you on account of his error? One who feeds another need not wash his hands if he himself is not eating. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is that one who eats by means of another feeding him needs to wash his hands, even though he does not touch the food. But one who feeds another does not need to wash his hands.

מתני׳ צורר אדם בשר וגבינה במטפחת אחת ובלבד שלא יהו נוגעין זה בזה רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר שני אכסנאין אוכלין על שלחן אחד זה בשר וזה גבינה ואין חוששין

MISHNA: A person may bind meat and cheese in one cloth, provided that they do not come into contact with each other. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Two unacquainted guests [akhsena’in] may eat together on one table, this one eating meat and that one eating cheese, and they need not be concerned lest they come to violate the prohibition of eating meat and milk by partaking of the food of the other.

גמ׳ וכי נוגע זה בזה מאי הוי צונן בצונן הוא אמר אביי נהי דקליפה לא בעי הדחה מי לא בעי

GEMARA: The mishna teaches that one may bind meat and cheese together in one cloth, provided that they do not come into contact with each other. The Gemara asks: And if they come into contact with each other, what of it? It is a case of one cold food in contact with another cold food, and they would not absorb substances from one another. Abaye said: Granted that cold foods do not require the peeling of the place where they came into contact, as they do not absorb substances from one another. Nevertheless, don’t they require rinsing in water? The Sages therefore decreed against the contact of even cold meat and cheese, lest one come to eat them without rinsing them first.

רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר שני אכסנאין אוכלין על שולחן וכו׳ אמר רב חנן בר אמי אמר שמואל לא שנו אלא שאין מכירין זה את זה אבל מכירין זה את זה אסור

§ The mishna teaches that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Two guests may eat together on one table, this one eating meat and that one eating cheese. Rav Ḥanan bar Ami says that Shmuel says: They taught this halakha only in a case where the guests do not know each other, as they will not eat of each other’s food. But in a situation where they know each other, it is prohibited for them to eat together at the same table.

תניא נמי הכי רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר שני אכסנאים שנתארחו לפונדק אחד זה בא מן הצפון וזה בא מן הדרום זה בא בחתיכתו וזה בא בגבינתו אוכלין על שלחן אחד זה בשר וזה גבינה ואין חוששין

That opinion is also taught in a baraita: Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: If two guests roomed in one inn, this one coming from the north and that one coming from the south, this one coming with his piece of meat and that one coming with his cheese, they may eat together on one table, this one eating meat and that one cheese, and they need not be concerned.

ולא אסרו אלא בתפיסה אחת תפיסה אחת סלקא דעתך אלא כעין תפיסה אחת

The baraita adds: And the Sages prohibited this practice only if they both eat from one parcel. The Gemara adds: Can it enter your mind that the baraita is actually referring to a case where they eat from one parcel? This is obviously prohibited. Rather, it prohibits eating even in a manner as though they were eating from one parcel, i.e., when the diners are somewhat acquainted with each other, since neither would mind if the other ate from his food.

אמר ליה רב יימר בר שלמיא לאביי שני אחין ומקפידין זה על זה מהו

§ It was stated above that if two diners are acquainted with each other they may not eat meat and cheese on the same table. Rav Yeimar bar Shelemya said to Abaye: If these diners are two brothers, but they are each particular not to let one another eat of his food, what is the halakha? May they eat separate dishes of meat and cheese at a single table?

אמר ליה יאמרו כל הסריקין אסורין וסריקי בייתוס מותרין

Abaye said to him: Your question evokes that of Baitos ben Zunin. The Sages prohibited the baking of elaborately decorated Syrian cakes for Passover, lest people tarry in their preparation and the cakes become leavened. Baitos wished to prepare the cakes in a way that would not lead to a violation of any prohibition, and yet the Sages prohibited it, because people will say: All the decorated Syrian cakes are forbidden, but the Syrian cakes of Baitos are permitted? Here too, to avoid confusion, we will not allow exceptions to the rule.

ולטעמיך הא דאמר רבי אסי אמר רבי יוחנן מי שאין לו אלא חלוק אחד מותר לכבסו בחולו של מועד יאמרו

Rav Yeimar responded: But according to your reasoning, one may refute that which Rabbi Asi said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Although the Sages prohibited laundering on the intermediate days of a Festival, one who has only one shirt is permitted to launder it on the intermediate days of a Festival. Here too, one can claim: People will say metaphorically: