Regarding a limb from a dead or live body without enough flesh, that Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish disagree about, how large is it? The Gemara proves how Reish Lakish thinks the nazir shaves even if it is less than the size of a barley and it is a uniquely derived halacha from a drasha on a verse. When the Mishna says that one begins the count from the beginning, it in unclear whether they mean on day seven of purification or day eight. The Gemara derives from the language of the next Mishna that in this Mishna, the count begins on the eighth day after the sacrifices are brought, in accordance with the opinion of the rabbis, against Rabbi Eliezer. The Mishna now lists all the cases that the nazir doesn’t shave and within that, there are two categories – one where the days aren’t counted as nazirite days, even though the days beforehand aren’t cancelled and a second where it has no effect on the counting of the nazirite days. The Gemara begins to define the cases in the Mishna – what are sechachot and praot? One of the items on the list is one who is in a place outside of Israel, as the rabbis deemed all territory outside of Israel impure. Can we learn from our Mishna the answer to the following question – did the rabbis deem it impure for concerns of graves (gusha) or was it a deterrent to prevent people from leaving Israel (avira)? This attempt is rejected.
This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
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This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
Nazir 54
דְּאָמַר מָר: טוּמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה, בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת. וְאִילּוּ גַּבֵּי נְגִיעָה, אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה, תַּנְיָא: ״(וְכׇל) הַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּעֶצֶם אוֹ בֶחָלָל״, ״בַּעֶצֶם״ — זֶה עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה, ״אוֹ בֶחָלָל״ — זֶה אֵבֶר הַנֶחְלָל מִן הַחַי וְאֵין בּוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹת אֲרוּכָה,
As the Master said: Ritual impurity in a sealed grave breaks through and ascends and breaks through and descends, so that the grave imparts impurity like the corpse itself. While with regard to contact with these sources of impurity, Rav Yehuda said that it is taught in a baraita that the verse “and upon him that touched a bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave” (Numbers 19:18) is expounded as follows: “A bone”; this is a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk. “Or the slain”; this is a limb slain, i.e., severed, from the living, which does not contain enough flesh for it to heal.
״אוֹ בְּמֵת״ — זֶה אֵבֶר הַנֶחְלָל מִן הַמֵּת, ״אוֹ בְקָבֶר״ — אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: זֶה קֶבֶר שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַדִּיבּוּר.
The baraita continues its interpretation of the verse. “Or the dead”; this is a limb slain from a corpse, which is not covered by enough flesh for it to heal were he alive. “Or the grave”; Reish Lakish said: This is a grave that contained a corpse from before the time the command of these halakhot was given to the Jewish people. These graves render people and items ritually impure by contact, but do not carry the halakhot of impurity imparted in a tent.
הַאי אֵבֶר מִן הַמֵּת, הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִי דְּאִית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה הַיְינוּ הַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּעֶצֶם! אֶלָּא דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה, וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי רַחֲמָנָא רַבְּיֵיהּ!
The Gemara asks: With regard to this limb from a corpse, which is listed above as imparting ritual impurity by contact, what are the circumstances of the case? If the limb contains a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk, this is included in the halakha of one who touches a bone, and it was already taught that a bone imparts impurity by contact. Rather, it must be that it does not contain a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk, and even so the Merciful One includes it in the halakhot of impurity, despite the fact that it does not contain enough flesh. This indicates that a nazirite shaves for a limb of this kind, in accordance with the opinion of Reish Lakish.
אָמַר לָךְ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לְעוֹלָם דְּאִית בֵּיהּ. וְאִם אֵינוֹ עִנְיָן לְמַגָּעוֹ — תְּנֵהוּ עִנְיָן לְמַשָּׂאוֹ.
The Gemara responds: In answer to this proof of Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said to you: Actually, you should explain that it does contain a bone the volume of a barley-grain-bulk, and if it does not need to refer to the matter of its contact, as the verse explicitly states: “Anyone who touches a bone,” have it refer to the matter of its carrying, i.e., that one who carries it is also rendered ritually impure.
וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי וְסוֹתֵר וְכוּ׳.
§ The mishna taught with regard to any nazirite who became impure from one of the listed sources of impurity: And a priest sprinkles the ashes of the red heifer on him on the third and on the seventh days, and he negates all the previous days he counted toward his naziriteship, and he does not begin counting a fresh term of naziriteship until after he becomes pure and brings his offerings.
אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: הָא דְּקָתָנֵי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״, בַּשְּׁבִיעִי קָאֵי — עַד דְּעָבֵיד הֶעֱרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ, וּמַנִּי — רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הִיא. אוֹ דִילְמָא בַּשְּׁמִינִי קָאֵי, וּמַאי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״ — עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא קׇרְבְּנוֹתָיו. וּמַנִּי — רַבָּנַן הִיא?
A dilemma was raised before the Sages: What is the meaning of that which is taught that a nazirite does not start counting until he is purified? Does the mishna refer to one who is standing on the seventh day of his purification and mean: Until he performs the requisite waiting for sunset? And whose opinion is it? It is the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who rules that a nazirite starts counting from the eighth day, even before he brings his offerings. Or perhaps it is referring to one who is standing on the eighth day. And then, what is the meaning of: Until he is purified? It means: Until he brings his offerings. And who is the author of this opinion? It is the Rabbis, who maintain that he begins his fresh period of naziriteship only after he has sacrificed his offering of impurity (see 18b).
תָּא שְׁמַע, מִדְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: ״מַתְחִיל וּמוֹנֶה מִיָּד״, הָא רֵישָׁא מַאי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״ — עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא קׇרְבְּנוֹתָיו, וּמַנִּי — רַבָּנַן הִיא דְּאָמְרִי: נְזִירוּת דְּטׇהֳרָה עַד שְׁמִינִי לָא חָיְילָא.
The Gemara answers: Come and hear a resolution of this dilemma from the fact that it teaches in the latter clause of the next mishna that a nazirite who does not have to bring an offering starts counting immediately after the conclusion of his seven days of purification. The Gemara infers from this mishna: If so, what is the meaning of the different term used in the first clause: Until he is purified? It means until he brings his offerings, and whose opinion is it? It is that of the Rabbis, who say that the naziriteship of purity does not commence until the eighth day.
מַתְנִי׳ אֲבָל הַסְּכָכוֹת, וְהַפְּרָעוֹת, וּבֵית הַפְּרָס,
MISHNA: The previous mishna listed the sources of ritual impurity for which a nazirite must shave. This mishna adds: However, the nazirite does not shave for these: The hanging branches over a corpse, i.e., a tree overhanging a body that a nazirite passes, but it is uncertain which branches are over a corpse; and the projecting stones from fences when the place of the impurity is unknown; and a beit haperas, a place that contained a grave and was plowed. In the latter case, the entire area around the grave is impure from a corpse due to an uncertainty, as it might contain human bones.
וְאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים, וְהַגּוֹלֵל, וְהַדּוֹפֵק, וּרְבִיעִית דָּם, וְאֹהֶל, וְרוֹבַע עֲצָמוֹת, וְכֵלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּמֵת, וּבִימֵי סְפָרוֹ, וּבִימֵי גְמָרוֹ — עַל אֵלּוּ אֵין הַנָּזִיר מְגַלֵּחַ.
The mishna continues its list: And the land of the nations, i.e., a nazirite left Eretz Yisrael for another land. The Sages decreed that all land outside of Eretz Yisrael is ritually impure. And the grave cover; and the grave walls upon which the cover rests; and a quarter-log of blood from a corpse; and a tent; and a quarter-kav of bones of a corpse; and vessels that are touching a corpse. And if the nazirite is in the days of his counting, i.e., the seven days a leper must count after purification from his leprosy; or in his days of full leprosy, when he is a full-fledged leper, for these the nazirite does not shave. This is the case even if he is rendered impure by one of the sources listed in the previous mishna.
וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי,
And in those cases listed that involve ritual impurity from a corpse, one sprinkles the purification water upon him on the third and on the seventh days of his purification,
וְאֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר אֶת הַקּוֹדְמִים, וּמַתְחִיל וּמוֹנֶה מִיָּד, וְקׇרְבָּן אֵין לוֹ. בֶּאֱמֶת אָמְרוּ: יְמֵי הַזָּב וְהַזָּבָה וִימֵי הֶסְגֵּרוֹ שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ עוֹלִין לוֹ.
and he does not negate the earlier days of his naziriteship, but they are considered part of his naziriteship term. And he starts counting the rest of his naziriteship to complete his term immediately after his purification, and he has no obligation to sacrifice an offering of impurity for these sources of ritual impurity. Actually they said an ancient tradition that these days of the impurity of the zav (Leviticus 15:1–15) and the zava (Leviticus 15:25–30) and the days of the confinement of a leper before he is confirmed as a full-fledged leper (Leviticus 13:4–5) count for him toward the period of his naziriteship.
גְּמָ׳ וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַסְּכָכוֹת — אִילָן הַמֵּיסֵךְ עַל הָאָרֶץ. וּפְרָעוֹת — הַיּוֹצְאוֹת מִן הַגָּדֵר.
GEMARA: The Gemara explains the terms hangings and projections by citing a mishna (Oholot 8:2). And these are the hangings: A tree that overhangs the earth. And the projections are stones that protrude from a fence.
וְאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים. אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: אֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים, מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא גָּזְרוּ עָלֶיהָ, אוֹ דִילְמָא מִשּׁוּם גּוּשָּׁא גָּזְרוּ עָלֶיהָ?
§ The mishna further taught: And the land of the nations does not render a nazirite obligated to shave, despite the fact that it is considered ritually impure. The Gemara inquires with regard to the nature of this impurity. A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Did the Sages decree the land of the nations impure with regard to the air, i.e., is one rendered impure merely by being there? Or perhaps they decreed it impure with regard to the earth, i.e., one who touches the ground or overlays it becomes impure.
תָּא שְׁמַע: וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי. וְאִי אָמְרַתְּ מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא, הַזָּאָה לְמָה לִי?
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear a resolution to this question from the mishna, which lists one who enters the land of the nations and states: And one sprinkles on him on the third and on the seventh days. And if you say that the decree was with regard to the air, why do I need this sprinkling? He neither touched something ritually impure nor overlaid it.
אֶלָּא לָאו, מִשּׁוּם גּוּשָּׁא? לָא, לְעוֹלָם אֵימָא לָךְ מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא, וְכִי קָתָנֵי — אַשְּׁאָרָא.
Rather, is it not with regard to the earth that the land of the nations was decreed impure? The Gemara rejects this proof: No, actually I could say to you that the decree is due to the air, and when the mishna teaches that he receives the sprinkling, it is referring to the other items listed in the mishna, e.g., the grave cover, the grave walls, and a quarter-log of blood.
הָכִי נָמֵי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, מִדְּקָתָנֵי: וְכֵלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּמֵת. הָנֵי כֵּלִים בְּנֵי הַזָּאָה אִינּוּן? אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ אַשְּׁאָרָא.
The Gemara comments: So too, it is reasonable that this is the case, from the fact that the mishna also teaches: And vessels that are touching a corpse. Now do people who touch these vessels require sprinkling? Does one who touches a vessel that is ritually impure from a corpse require the sprinkling of purification water? This individual is impure only until that evening. Rather, learn from this that the halakha that he is sprinkled on the third and on the seventh days does not refer to all the cases in the mishna but only to some of the others.
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I had dreamed of doing daf yomi since I had my first serious Talmud class 18 years ago at Pardes with Rahel Berkovitz, and then a couple of summers with Leah Rosenthal. There is no way I would be able to do it without another wonderful teacher, Michelle, and the Hadran organization. I wake up and am excited to start each day with the next daf.
Irvine, United States
I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.
Dover Heights, Australia
Jerusalem, Israel
Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.
Newton, United States
Mamaroneck, NY, United States
I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!
Minnesota, United States
In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!
Pittsburgh, United States
Berlin, Germany
It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.
Beit Shemesh, Israel
I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!
Hashmonaim, Israel
Richmond, CA, United States
I tried Daf Yomi in the middle of the last cycle after realizing I could listen to Michelle’s shiurim online. It lasted all of 2 days! Then the new cycle started just days before my father’s first yahrzeit and my youngest daughter’s bat mitzvah. It seemed the right time for a new beginning. My family, friends, colleagues are immensely supportive!
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
In early January of 2020, I learned about Siyyum HaShas and Daf Yomi via Tablet Magazine’s brief daily podcast about the Daf. I found it compelling and fascinating. Soon I discovered Hadran; since then I have learned the Daf daily with Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. The Daf has permeated my every hour, and has transformed and magnified my place within the Jewish Universe.
San Francisco, CA , United States
I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.
Mitspe, Israel
Minneapolis, MN, United States
I started learning at the beginning of this Daf Yomi cycle because I heard a lot about the previous cycle coming to an end and thought it would be a good thing to start doing. My husband had already bought several of the Koren Talmud Bavli books and they were just sitting on the shelf, not being used, so here was an opportunity to start using them and find out exactly what was in them. Loving it!
Borehamwood, United Kingdom
I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!
Teaneck NJ, United States
I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!
Minnesota, United States
I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.
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With Rabbanit Dr. Naomi Cohen in the Women’s Talmud class, over 30 years ago. It was a “known” class and it was accepted, because of who taught. Since then I have also studied with Avigail Gross-Gelman and Dr. Gabriel Hazut for about a year). Years ago, in a shiur in my shul, I did know about Persians doing 3 things with their clothes on. They opened the shiur to woman after that!
Haifa, Israel
Nazir 54
דְּאָמַר מָר: טוּמְאָה בּוֹקַעַת וְעוֹלָה, בּוֹקַעַת וְיוֹרֶדֶת. וְאִילּוּ גַּבֵּי נְגִיעָה, אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה, תַּנְיָא: ״(וְכׇל) הַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּעֶצֶם אוֹ בֶחָלָל״, ״בַּעֶצֶם״ — זֶה עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה, ״אוֹ בֶחָלָל״ — זֶה אֵבֶר הַנֶחְלָל מִן הַחַי וְאֵין בּוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹת אֲרוּכָה,
As the Master said: Ritual impurity in a sealed grave breaks through and ascends and breaks through and descends, so that the grave imparts impurity like the corpse itself. While with regard to contact with these sources of impurity, Rav Yehuda said that it is taught in a baraita that the verse “and upon him that touched a bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave” (Numbers 19:18) is expounded as follows: “A bone”; this is a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk. “Or the slain”; this is a limb slain, i.e., severed, from the living, which does not contain enough flesh for it to heal.
״אוֹ בְּמֵת״ — זֶה אֵבֶר הַנֶחְלָל מִן הַמֵּת, ״אוֹ בְקָבֶר״ — אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: זֶה קֶבֶר שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַדִּיבּוּר.
The baraita continues its interpretation of the verse. “Or the dead”; this is a limb slain from a corpse, which is not covered by enough flesh for it to heal were he alive. “Or the grave”; Reish Lakish said: This is a grave that contained a corpse from before the time the command of these halakhot was given to the Jewish people. These graves render people and items ritually impure by contact, but do not carry the halakhot of impurity imparted in a tent.
הַאי אֵבֶר מִן הַמֵּת, הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִי דְּאִית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה הַיְינוּ הַנּוֹגֵעַ בַּעֶצֶם! אֶלָּא דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ עֶצֶם כִּשְׂעוֹרָה, וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי רַחֲמָנָא רַבְּיֵיהּ!
The Gemara asks: With regard to this limb from a corpse, which is listed above as imparting ritual impurity by contact, what are the circumstances of the case? If the limb contains a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk, this is included in the halakha of one who touches a bone, and it was already taught that a bone imparts impurity by contact. Rather, it must be that it does not contain a bone that is a barley-grain–bulk, and even so the Merciful One includes it in the halakhot of impurity, despite the fact that it does not contain enough flesh. This indicates that a nazirite shaves for a limb of this kind, in accordance with the opinion of Reish Lakish.
אָמַר לָךְ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לְעוֹלָם דְּאִית בֵּיהּ. וְאִם אֵינוֹ עִנְיָן לְמַגָּעוֹ — תְּנֵהוּ עִנְיָן לְמַשָּׂאוֹ.
The Gemara responds: In answer to this proof of Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said to you: Actually, you should explain that it does contain a bone the volume of a barley-grain-bulk, and if it does not need to refer to the matter of its contact, as the verse explicitly states: “Anyone who touches a bone,” have it refer to the matter of its carrying, i.e., that one who carries it is also rendered ritually impure.
וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי וְסוֹתֵר וְכוּ׳.
§ The mishna taught with regard to any nazirite who became impure from one of the listed sources of impurity: And a priest sprinkles the ashes of the red heifer on him on the third and on the seventh days, and he negates all the previous days he counted toward his naziriteship, and he does not begin counting a fresh term of naziriteship until after he becomes pure and brings his offerings.
אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: הָא דְּקָתָנֵי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״, בַּשְּׁבִיעִי קָאֵי — עַד דְּעָבֵיד הֶעֱרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ, וּמַנִּי — רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הִיא. אוֹ דִילְמָא בַּשְּׁמִינִי קָאֵי, וּמַאי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״ — עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא קׇרְבְּנוֹתָיו. וּמַנִּי — רַבָּנַן הִיא?
A dilemma was raised before the Sages: What is the meaning of that which is taught that a nazirite does not start counting until he is purified? Does the mishna refer to one who is standing on the seventh day of his purification and mean: Until he performs the requisite waiting for sunset? And whose opinion is it? It is the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who rules that a nazirite starts counting from the eighth day, even before he brings his offerings. Or perhaps it is referring to one who is standing on the eighth day. And then, what is the meaning of: Until he is purified? It means: Until he brings his offerings. And who is the author of this opinion? It is the Rabbis, who maintain that he begins his fresh period of naziriteship only after he has sacrificed his offering of impurity (see 18b).
תָּא שְׁמַע, מִדְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: ״מַתְחִיל וּמוֹנֶה מִיָּד״, הָא רֵישָׁא מַאי ״עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר״ — עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא קׇרְבְּנוֹתָיו, וּמַנִּי — רַבָּנַן הִיא דְּאָמְרִי: נְזִירוּת דְּטׇהֳרָה עַד שְׁמִינִי לָא חָיְילָא.
The Gemara answers: Come and hear a resolution of this dilemma from the fact that it teaches in the latter clause of the next mishna that a nazirite who does not have to bring an offering starts counting immediately after the conclusion of his seven days of purification. The Gemara infers from this mishna: If so, what is the meaning of the different term used in the first clause: Until he is purified? It means until he brings his offerings, and whose opinion is it? It is that of the Rabbis, who say that the naziriteship of purity does not commence until the eighth day.
מַתְנִי׳ אֲבָל הַסְּכָכוֹת, וְהַפְּרָעוֹת, וּבֵית הַפְּרָס,
MISHNA: The previous mishna listed the sources of ritual impurity for which a nazirite must shave. This mishna adds: However, the nazirite does not shave for these: The hanging branches over a corpse, i.e., a tree overhanging a body that a nazirite passes, but it is uncertain which branches are over a corpse; and the projecting stones from fences when the place of the impurity is unknown; and a beit haperas, a place that contained a grave and was plowed. In the latter case, the entire area around the grave is impure from a corpse due to an uncertainty, as it might contain human bones.
וְאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים, וְהַגּוֹלֵל, וְהַדּוֹפֵק, וּרְבִיעִית דָּם, וְאֹהֶל, וְרוֹבַע עֲצָמוֹת, וְכֵלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּמֵת, וּבִימֵי סְפָרוֹ, וּבִימֵי גְמָרוֹ — עַל אֵלּוּ אֵין הַנָּזִיר מְגַלֵּחַ.
The mishna continues its list: And the land of the nations, i.e., a nazirite left Eretz Yisrael for another land. The Sages decreed that all land outside of Eretz Yisrael is ritually impure. And the grave cover; and the grave walls upon which the cover rests; and a quarter-log of blood from a corpse; and a tent; and a quarter-kav of bones of a corpse; and vessels that are touching a corpse. And if the nazirite is in the days of his counting, i.e., the seven days a leper must count after purification from his leprosy; or in his days of full leprosy, when he is a full-fledged leper, for these the nazirite does not shave. This is the case even if he is rendered impure by one of the sources listed in the previous mishna.
וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי,
And in those cases listed that involve ritual impurity from a corpse, one sprinkles the purification water upon him on the third and on the seventh days of his purification,
וְאֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר אֶת הַקּוֹדְמִים, וּמַתְחִיל וּמוֹנֶה מִיָּד, וְקׇרְבָּן אֵין לוֹ. בֶּאֱמֶת אָמְרוּ: יְמֵי הַזָּב וְהַזָּבָה וִימֵי הֶסְגֵּרוֹ שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ עוֹלִין לוֹ.
and he does not negate the earlier days of his naziriteship, but they are considered part of his naziriteship term. And he starts counting the rest of his naziriteship to complete his term immediately after his purification, and he has no obligation to sacrifice an offering of impurity for these sources of ritual impurity. Actually they said an ancient tradition that these days of the impurity of the zav (Leviticus 15:1–15) and the zava (Leviticus 15:25–30) and the days of the confinement of a leper before he is confirmed as a full-fledged leper (Leviticus 13:4–5) count for him toward the period of his naziriteship.
גְּמָ׳ וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַסְּכָכוֹת — אִילָן הַמֵּיסֵךְ עַל הָאָרֶץ. וּפְרָעוֹת — הַיּוֹצְאוֹת מִן הַגָּדֵר.
GEMARA: The Gemara explains the terms hangings and projections by citing a mishna (Oholot 8:2). And these are the hangings: A tree that overhangs the earth. And the projections are stones that protrude from a fence.
וְאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים. אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: אֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים, מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא גָּזְרוּ עָלֶיהָ, אוֹ דִילְמָא מִשּׁוּם גּוּשָּׁא גָּזְרוּ עָלֶיהָ?
§ The mishna further taught: And the land of the nations does not render a nazirite obligated to shave, despite the fact that it is considered ritually impure. The Gemara inquires with regard to the nature of this impurity. A dilemma was raised before the Sages: Did the Sages decree the land of the nations impure with regard to the air, i.e., is one rendered impure merely by being there? Or perhaps they decreed it impure with regard to the earth, i.e., one who touches the ground or overlays it becomes impure.
תָּא שְׁמַע: וּמַזֶּה בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי. וְאִי אָמְרַתְּ מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא, הַזָּאָה לְמָה לִי?
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear a resolution to this question from the mishna, which lists one who enters the land of the nations and states: And one sprinkles on him on the third and on the seventh days. And if you say that the decree was with regard to the air, why do I need this sprinkling? He neither touched something ritually impure nor overlaid it.
אֶלָּא לָאו, מִשּׁוּם גּוּשָּׁא? לָא, לְעוֹלָם אֵימָא לָךְ מִשּׁוּם אַוֵּירָא, וְכִי קָתָנֵי — אַשְּׁאָרָא.
Rather, is it not with regard to the earth that the land of the nations was decreed impure? The Gemara rejects this proof: No, actually I could say to you that the decree is due to the air, and when the mishna teaches that he receives the sprinkling, it is referring to the other items listed in the mishna, e.g., the grave cover, the grave walls, and a quarter-log of blood.
הָכִי נָמֵי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, מִדְּקָתָנֵי: וְכֵלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּמֵת. הָנֵי כֵּלִים בְּנֵי הַזָּאָה אִינּוּן? אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ אַשְּׁאָרָא.
The Gemara comments: So too, it is reasonable that this is the case, from the fact that the mishna also teaches: And vessels that are touching a corpse. Now do people who touch these vessels require sprinkling? Does one who touches a vessel that is ritually impure from a corpse require the sprinkling of purification water? This individual is impure only until that evening. Rather, learn from this that the halakha that he is sprinkled on the third and on the seventh days does not refer to all the cases in the mishna but only to some of the others.
