Red clay, enough for the seal of packing sacks — [these are] the words of R’ Akiva. But the Sages say: Enough for the seal of letters. Manure or fine sand, enough to fertilize a cabbage stalk — [these are] the words of R’ Akiva. But the Sages say: Enough to fertilize a leek. Coarse sand, enough to put on a full trowel of lime; a reed, [large] enough to make a pen, but if it was thick or cracked, enough to cook with it the most easily cooked eggs, beaten and put in a stew pot.

Bone, enough to make a spoon. R’ Yehudah says: Enough to make with it a tooth [of a key]. Glass, enough to scrape the point of a weaver’s needle. A pebble or stone, [large] enough to throw at a bird. R’ Eliezer bar Yaakov says: [Large] enough to throw at an animal.

A shard, [large] enough to place between one board and another — [these are] the words of R’ Yehudah. R’ Meir says: [Large] enough to pick up fire therewith. R’ Yose says: [Large] enough to contain a quarter-log. Said R’ Meir: Although there is no proof to the matter, there is an intimation of the matter: And there shall not be found among its pieces a shard with which to pick up fire from the hearth (Isaiah 30:14). R’ Yose retorted: Is there proof from there? [The verse concludes,] Or to scoop up water from a pit (ibid).

Said R’ Akiva: From where do we learn that [an object of] idolatry transmits tumah-contamination by carrying, like a menstruant? For it is stated: Cast them away like a menstruant. ‘‘Go out!’’ shall you say to it (Isaiah 30:22). Just as a menstruant transmits tumah-contamination by carrying, so does [an object of] idolatry transmit tumah-contamination by carrying.