[If there is] a kneading trough that is on an incline, and there is dough on top and [batter containing] liquid that can moisten on the bottom: three pieces [that equal] an egg’s volume do not com-bine, but two do combine. R’ Yose says: Even two [doughs] do not combine, unless they press liquid. And if the liquid was standing, even [if each piece of dough was] like the size of mustard [seed] they combine. R’ Dosa says: Separated [pieces of] food do not combine.

[If] a stick is covered with tamei liquids, once it makes contact with a mikveh, it is tahor; [these are] the words of R’ Yehoshua. But the Sages say: Until he immerses it com-pletely. A stream [of liquid], [a flow running down] a slope, and liquid sufficient to moisten are not considered a connection for conveying tumah, nor for [producing] taharah. [Liquid in] a crevice is considered a connection for [conveying] tumah and for [producing] taharah.

From when are olives [susceptible] to contracting tumah? From when they exude the moisture of the holder, but not the mois-ture of the porous box; [this is] according to the words of Beis Shammai. R’ Shimon says: The measure [at which] moisture [ren-ders the olives susceptible] is three days. Beis Hillel say: When three [olives] stick to one another. Rabban Gamliel says: When their processing is finished; and the Sages state [their position] as he said.

If he finished harvesting [his olives], but intends to purchase [more]; [or] if he finished purchasing, but intends to borrow [more]; [or] if there befell him a mourning, or a banquet, or a compelling situation, [then] even if zavs or zavahs walk upon them, they are tahor.  If tamei beverages fell upon them, only the place in which they came into contact [with the olives] is tamei; and the moisture that seeps from them is tahor.

When their processing is finished, they are susceptible [to tumah]. If beverages fell upon them, they are tamei. The moisture that seeps from them, R’ Eliezer regards it as tahor, while the Sages regard it as tamei. R’ Shimon said: They did not argue con-cerning the moisture that seeps from the olives, which is tahor. But concerning what did they argue? Concerning [the moisture] that comes from the pit, that R’ Eliezer regards as tahor, while the Sages regard it as tamei.

One who finished his olives and left over one porous box, should place it in the presence of a Kohen; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: He should bring the key immediately. R’ Shimon says: From the time [he finishes] to [the same] time [the next day].

[If] one places olives in a crusher, in order that they soften so that they should be easier to crush, they are susceptible [to tu-mah]. [If he left them there] in order that they soften so that he may salt them, Beis Shammai say: They are suscep-tible; but Beis Hillel say: They are not susceptible. [If] one squashes olives with his tamei hands, he has made them tamei.

[If] one places his olives on the roof in order to cure them individually, [then] even if they are [piled] to the height of a cubit, they have not become susceptible. [If] he put them in the house so that they should decay but he [intends] in the future to take them up to the roof, [or] if he put them on the roof so that they should decay or so that he will then open them, they are sus-ceptible. [If] he put them into the house until he [is able to] safeguard his roof or until he can bring them to another place, they have not become susceptible.

[If] he wanted to take from them [enough for] one press or [for] two presses, Beis Shammai say: He may cut in tumah but must cover in taharah. Beis Hillel say: He may even cover in tumah. R’ Yose says: He may dig with metal spades and bring to the pressing house in tumah.

[If] a [dead] sheretz is found in the mill, only the place which it touched is tamei. If there was liquid floating, everything is tamei. If [the dead sheretz] was found on top of the leaves, they should ask the pressers [if they can] say: “We did not touch.” If dead sheretz was touching the compressed mass, even by a hair, it is tamei.

[If the dead sheretz] was found on top of chunks and it is touching the volume of an egg, it is tamei. [If] there were chunks on top of chunks, then even if it is touching the volume of an egg, only the place that it touched is tamei. [If] it was found between the wall and the olives, they are tahor. [If] it was found on the roof, the [olives in the] holder are tahor. [If] it was found in the holder, the [olives on the] roof are tamei. [If] it was found burnt on the olives, and similarly [in the case of] a singed garment, it is tahor; for all [cases concerning] tumah follow the time at which they were found.