Any wooden utensil that broke into two parts is tahor, except for a folding table, a variety platter, and the folding bench of a householder. R’ Yehudah says: Also, the mageis and the Babylonian kod are the same as they. At what point do wooden utensils [become susceptible to] contracting tumah? A bed and a cradle [become tamei] when one smooths them with the skin of a fish. If he decided not to smooth them, they are tamei [right away]. R’ Meir says: A bed [becomes tamei] from when one weaves three battim into it.

W ooden baskets [become susceptible to tumah] from when [the craftsman] secures [their rims] and trims them. But [those made] of [strips of] palm [leaves], even though he did not trim them from the inside, are tamei, since they are thus kept. A [reed] basket [becomes susceptible to tumah] when he secures [its rim] and trims it, and finishes [fashioning] its hanging cord. A case for [holding] flasks, and a case for [holding] cups, even though he did not trim them from the inside, are tamei, since they are thus kept.

Small sifters and women’s baskets [are susceptible to tumah] from when [the craftsman] secures [their rims] and trims [them]. Large baskets and large bins [are susceptible] from when he makes two coils around their circumference. The screen of a sifter, a sieve, and the pan of a balance [are susceptible to tumah] from when he makes one coil around their circumference. A basket [is susceptible] from when he attaches two rings around its circumference, and the “strap basket,” from when he attaches one ring to it.

At what point do leather utensils [become susceptible to] contracting tumah? A shepherd’s pouch, from when [the craftsman] edges [it] and trims [it] and he inserts its drawstrings. R’ Yehudah says: From when he attaches its loops. A [leather tanner’s] apron, from when he edges [it], and trims [it], and attaches its sashes. R’ Yehudah says: From when he attaches its rings. A [leather bed] spread, from when he edges it and trims it. R’ Yehudah says: From when he attaches its strings. A pillow and a mattress of leather [are susceptible] from when he fully stitches [them] and trims [them]. R’ Yehudah says: From when he sews them, and leaves over in them [a space] smaller than five handbreadths.

A petilyah is tamei. But a chasina is tahor. [Fruit] covers made of leaves are tahor. But those made of twigs are tamei. A wrap, into which one places [fruits] and from which one removes [them], is tamei. But if he cannot do so without tearing it or untying it, it is tahor.

The [leather] glove of winnowers, of wayfarers, [or] of flax workers, is tamei. But [the glove] of dyers or blacksmiths is tahor. R’ Yose says: Also, the [glove] of bean grinders is the same as they. This is the general rule: [A glove] that is meant to hold [things] is tamei. [But that which is used] because of perspiration is tahor.

The blinders of an ox and its muzzle, the madaf of bees, and a fan: these are tahor. The cover of a jewelry box is tamei. [But] the cover of a clothing chest is tahor. The cover of a chest, the cover of a teni, a carpenter’s press, the cushion [placed] under a chest and its covering, the case of a scroll, the housing of a door bolt, the housing of a lock, the housing of a mezuzah, cases of lyres, cases of harps, the form of turban makers, the play-horse of a singing minstrel, the reviis of a woman-wailer, a poor man’s sunshade, the supports of a bed, the form of a tefillin casing, and the form of garment makers: These are tahor. This is the general rule, R’ Yose says: Any [utensil that] services the servitors of people [both] when [they are] in use, and when [they are] not in use is tamei. But any [utensil] that is only [of service to the servitors of people] when [they are] in use is tahor.

The sheath of a sword, [of] a knife, or [of] a double-edged knife; the case of a shears, [of] a scissors, or [of] a razor; the case of an applicator [or of] a container for eye cream; the case of a stylus [or] a compartment case; a case for an [astronomical] tablet and a skurtya; a quiver for arrows, and a quiver for broad arrows: These are tamei. [Regarding] the case of a symponia, when one puts [the symponia into the case] from on top, [the case] is tamei. [But if he inserts it] from the side, it is tahor. [Regarding] a case of flutes, R’ Yehudah rules it tahor because he inserts it from its side. The cover of a mace, a bow, or a spear: these are tahor. This is the general rule: That which is made to [serve as] a casing is tamei. [But that which is made] to [serve as] a cover is tahor.

The measure of all householders’ utensils [to lose their tumah] is [a hole] the size of pomegranates. R’ Eliezer says: [Their measure depends on] what they are. The measure of gardeners’ baskets is [a hole] the size of bundles of vegetables. [The measure of baskets] of householders is [a hole the size of bundles of] straw. [The measure of baskets of] bathhouse attendants is [a hole the size of bundles of] thin straw. R’ Yehoshua says: The [measure] for all of these [utensils] is [a hole] the size of pomegranates.

The measure of a skin-bottle [to lose its tumah] is [a hole the size of] balls of warp thread. [Although] it cannot hold [balls of] warp thread, [nonetheless,] since it can hold [balls of] weft thread, it is tamei. [Concerning] a dish-holder, [although] it cannot hold dishes, [nonetheless,] since it can hold platters, it is tamei. [Concerning] a chamber pot, [although] it can no longer hold liquids, [nonetheless,] since it can still hold excrement, it is [still] tamei. Rabban Gamliel rules it tahor since [people] do not keep it.

T he measure of bread baskets [to lose their tumah] is [a hole the size of] loaves of bread. [Concerning] apifiyaros [baskets], [if] one made reeds for them from their bottom to the top for support, they are tahor. [If] one made a rim of any kind for it, it is [susceptible to becoming] tumah. R’ Shimon says: If it cannot be lifted up by its rim, it is not susceptible to tumah.

The pomegranates of which [the Rabbis] spoke [are] three attached to one another. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: [Concerning] a sifter or sieve: [a hole through which a pomegranate would fall] when one takes it and extends it; and [concerning] a basket: [a hole through which a pomegranate would fall] when one slings [it] behind him. [Concerning] all other utensils that cannot hold pomegranates, such as a quarter [-kav measure], a half of a quarter [-kav measure], and small sifters, their measure [to lose their tumah] is when the greater part of them [is perforated]; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Shimon says: The size of olives. [If] they were broken, their measure [to lose their tumah] is [a hole the size] of an olive. [If] they wore away, their measure [to lose their tumah] is any amount.

The pomegranate of which [the Rabbis] spoke [is] neither small nor large, but of medium size. [If so,] in what regard were the pomegranates of Badan mentioned? That [a forbidden pomegranate of Badan] prohibits [an entire mixture] in any amount, [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yochanan ben Nuri says: [They were mentioned in regard] to measuring with them [holes] in utensils. R’ Akiva says: It was mentioned for this and for that: to measure with them [holes in] utensils and that [a forbidden pomegranate of Badan] prohibits [an entire mixture] in any amount. R’ Yose said: The pomegranates of Badan and the leeks of Geva were not mentioned except in the regard that they should be tithed as certain maaser everywhere.