Search

Nazir 54

Want to dedicate learning? Get started here:

English
עברית
podcast placeholder

0:00
0:00




podcast placeholder

0:00
0:00




Summary

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.

Today’s daily daf tools:

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-grainbulk. “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-grainbulk, 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-grainbulk, 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.

Today’s daily daf tools:

Delve Deeper

Broaden your understanding of the topics on this daf with classes and podcasts from top women Talmud scholars.

For the Beyond the Daf shiurim offered in Hebrew, see here.

New to Talmud?

Check out our resources designed to help you navigate a page of Talmud – and study at the pace, level and style that fits you. 

The Hadran Women’s Tapestry

Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories. 

I attended the Siyum so that I could tell my granddaughter that I had been there. Then I decided to listen on Spotify and after the siyum of Brachot, Covid and zoom began. It gave structure to my day. I learn with people from all over the world who are now my friends – yet most of us have never met. I can’t imagine life without it. Thank you Rabbanit Michelle.

Emma Rinberg
Emma Rinberg

Raanana, Israel

I start learning Daf Yomi in January 2020. The daily learning with Rabbanit Michelle has kept me grounded in this very uncertain time. Despite everything going on – the Pandemic, my personal life, climate change, war, etc… I know I can count on Hadran’s podcast to bring a smile to my face.
Deb Engel
Deb Engel

Los Angeles, United States

I’ve been studying Talmud since the ’90s, and decided to take on Daf Yomi two years ago. I wanted to attempt the challenge of a day-to-day, very Jewish activity. Some days are so interesting and some days are so boring. But I’m still here.
Wendy Rozov
Wendy Rozov

Phoenix, AZ, United States

After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.

Madeline Cohen
Madeline Cohen

London, United Kingdom

A friend mentioned that she was starting Daf Yomi in January 2020. I had heard of it and thought, why not? I decided to try it – go day by day and not think about the seven plus year commitment. Fast forward today, over two years in and I can’t imagine my life without Daf Yomi. It’s part of my morning ritual. If I have a busy day ahead of me I set my alarm to get up early to finish the day’s daf
Debbie Fitzerman
Debbie Fitzerman

Ontario, Canada

I started learning Daf Yomi because my sister, Ruth Leah Kahan, attended Michelle’s class in person and suggested I listen remotely. She always sat near Michelle and spoke up during class so that I could hear her voice. Our mom had just died unexpectedly and it made me feel connected to hear Ruth Leah’s voice, and now to know we are both listening to the same thing daily, continents apart.
Jessica Shklar
Jessica Shklar

Philadelphia, United States

Michelle has been an inspiration for years, but I only really started this cycle after the moving and uplifting siyum in Jerusalem. It’s been an wonderful to learn and relearn the tenets of our religion and to understand how the extraordinary efforts of a band of people to preserve Judaism after the fall of the beit hamikdash is still bearing fruits today. I’m proud to be part of the chain!

Judith Weil
Judith Weil

Raanana, Israel

I started at the beginning of this cycle. No 1 reason, but here’s 5.
In 2019 I read about the upcoming siyum hashas.
There was a sermon at shul about how anyone can learn Talmud.
Talmud references come up when I am studying. I wanted to know more.
Yentl was on telly. Not a great movie but it’s about studying Talmud.
I went to the Hadran website: A new cycle is starting. I’m gonna do this

Denise Neapolitan
Denise Neapolitan

Cambridge, United Kingdom

I heard the new Daf Yomi cycle was starting and I was curious, so I searched online for a women’s class and was pleasently surprised to find Rabanit Michelle’s great class reviews in many online articles. It has been a splendid journey. It is a way to fill my days with Torah, learning so many amazing things I have never heard before during my Tanach learning at High School. Thanks so much .

Martha Tarazi
Martha Tarazi

Panama, Panama

When I began the previous cycle, I promised myself that if I stuck with it, I would reward myself with a trip to Israel. Little did I know that the trip would involve attending the first ever women’s siyum and being inspired by so many learners. I am now over 2 years into my second cycle and being part of this large, diverse, fascinating learning family has enhanced my learning exponentially.

Shira Krebs
Shira Krebs

Minnesota, United States

A friend mentioned that she was starting Daf Yomi in January 2020. I had heard of it and thought, why not? I decided to try it – go day by day and not think about the seven plus year commitment. Fast forward today, over two years in and I can’t imagine my life without Daf Yomi. It’s part of my morning ritual. If I have a busy day ahead of me I set my alarm to get up early to finish the day’s daf
Debbie Fitzerman
Debbie Fitzerman

Ontario, Canada

I started learning at the beginning of this cycle more than 2 years ago, and I have not missed a day or a daf. It’s been challenging and enlightening and even mind-numbing at times, but the learning and the shared experience have all been worth it. If you are open to it, there’s no telling what might come into your life.

Patti Evans
Patti Evans

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.

Julie Mendelsohn
Julie Mendelsohn

Zichron Yakov, Israel

I was inspired to start learning after attending the 2020 siyum in Binyanei Hauma. It has been a great experience for me. It’s amazing to see the origins of stories I’ve heard and rituals I’ve participated in my whole life. Even when I don’t understand the daf itself, I believe that the commitment to learning every day is valuable and has multiple benefits. And there will be another daf tomorrow!

Khaya Eisenberg
Khaya Eisenberg

Jerusalem, Israel

I started learning Daf Yomi inspired by תָּפַסְתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַסְתָּ, תָּפַסְתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַסְתָּ. I thought I’d start the first page, and then see. I was swept up into the enthusiasm of the Hadran Siyum, and from there the momentum kept building. Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur gives me an anchor, a connection to an incredible virtual community, and an energy to face whatever the day brings.

Medinah Korn
Medinah Korn

בית שמש, Israel

I started learning at the start of this cycle, and quickly fell in love. It has become such an important part of my day, enriching every part of my life.

Naomi Niederhoffer
Naomi Niederhoffer

Toronto, Canada

Hadran entered my life after the last Siyum Hashaas, January 2020. I was inspired and challenged simultaneously, having never thought of learning Gemara. With my family’s encouragement, I googled “daf yomi for women”. A perfecr fit!
I especially enjoy when Rabbanit Michelle connects the daf to contemporary issues to share at the shabbat table e.g: looking at the Kohen during duchaning. Toda rabba

Marsha Wasserman
Marsha Wasserman

Jerusalem, Israel

I learned daf more off than on 40 years ago. At the beginning of the current cycle, I decided to commit to learning daf regularly. Having Rabanit Michelle available as a learning partner has been amazing. Sometimes I learn with Hadran, sometimes with my husband, and sometimes on my own. It’s been fun to be part of an extended learning community.

Miriam Pollack
Miriam Pollack

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

While vacationing in San Diego, Rabbi Leah Herz asked if I’d be interested in being in hevruta with her to learn Daf Yomi through Hadran. Why not? I had loved learning Gemara in college in 1971 but hadn’t returned. With the onset of covid, Daf Yomi and Rabbanit Michelle centered me each day. Thank-you for helping me grow and enter this amazing world of learning.
Meryll Page
Meryll Page

Minneapolis, MN, United States

Since I started in January of 2020, Daf Yomi has changed my life. It connects me to Jews all over the world, especially learned women. It makes cooking, gardening, and folding laundry into acts of Torah study. Daf Yomi enables me to participate in a conversation with and about our heritage that has been going on for more than 2000 years.

Shira Eliaser
Shira Eliaser

Skokie, IL, United States

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-grainbulk. “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-grainbulk, 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-grainbulk, 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.

Want to follow content and continue where you left off?

Create an account today to track your progress, mark what you’ve learned, and follow the shiurim that speak to you.

Clear all items from this list?

This will remove ALL the items in this section. You will lose any progress or history connected to them. This is irreversible.

Cancel
Yes, clear all

Are you sure you want to delete this item?

You will lose any progress or history connected to this item.

Cancel
Yes, delete