The Sadducees say: We have a complaint against you, Perushim, for you say that holy scrolls render tamei hands [that touch them] and heretical books do not render tamei hands [that touch them]. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai said: Is this the only thing we have against the Perushim? Why, they say [that] the bones of a donkey are tahor, but the bones of Yochanan the High Priest are tamei. They said to him: Their tumah is on account of their affection, so that a person should not make the bones of his father and mother into spoons. He said to them: [As regards] holy scrolls, too, their tumah is on account of their affection, but heretical books, which are not [held] dear, do not render tamei hands [that touch them].

The Sadducees say: We have a complaint against you, Perushim, for you declare as tahor a stream [of pouring liquid]. The Perushim say: We have a complaint against you, Sadducees, for you rule tahor a canal of water that flows from a cemetery. The Sadducees say: We have a complaint against you, Perushim, for you say: If my ox or my donkey causes damage, they are liable. But if my slave or maidservant causes damage, they are not liable. If I am liable for the damages of my ox or donkey, regarding whom I am not responsible for their mitzvos, is it not logical that I should be liable for damages of my slave or maidservant, regarding whom I am responsible for their mitzvos? They said to them: No. You can say so [regarding] my ox and my donkey, which have no understanding. But can you say so [regarding] my slave and maidservant, who do have understanding? For if I anger them, he will go and set fire to someone’s haystack and I will be liable to pay.

A Galilean Sadducee said: I have a complaint against you, Perushim, for you write the [name of the] ruler together with [the name of] Moses in a bill of divorce. The Perushim say: We have a complaint against you, Galilean Sadducee, for you write [the name of the] ruler together with the Name [of God] in one column; moreover, you write the [name of the] ruler above and the Name [of God] below, As it says: ‘‘And Pharaoh said: Who is Hashem that I should heed His voice to send out Israel.’’ And when he was smitten, what did he say?: ‘‘Hashem is the righteous One.’’

Anything that is a yad, but not a shomer, contracts tumah and conveys tumah, but does not combine. A shomer, even if it is not a yad, contracts tumah, conveys tumah, and combines. [Anything that is] not a shomer and not a yad neither contracts tumah nor conveys tumah.