The measure [of a hole] that will render an earthenware utensil tahor [is as follows]: That which was intended for food, its measure is with olives; that which was intended for liquids, its measure is with liquids; with that which was intended for both [food] and [liquids], we apply to it the more stringent [measure] of olives.

A barrel: Its measure [for tumah] is with dried figs, [these are] the words of R’ Shimon. R’ Yehudah says: [Its measure is] with walnuts. R’ Meir says: [Its measure is] with olives. A stewpot and a cooking pot: Their measures are with olives. A flask and a tefi: Their measures are with oil, and a tzartzur’s measure is with water. R’ Shimon says: [The measures of] all three are with seeds. A lamp: Its measure is with oil. R’ Eliezer says: [Its measure is] with a small perutah. A lamp whose mouth has been removed is tahor, and [a lamp] of [unbaked] clay whose mouth has been fired by the wick is tahor.

A barrel that developed a hole, and one repaired it with pitch, and it broke: If the place of the pitch can contain a quarter-log it is tamei, since [the barrel] never lost its designation as a utensil. An earthenware fragment that developed a hole, and one repaired it with pitch, even though it can contain a quarter-log it is tahor, since it lost its designation as a utensil.

A barrel that has fractured and one coated it with dung: Even though one removes the dung and the fragments fall [apart] it is tamei, since it never lost its designation as a utensil. [If the barrel] broke and one glued its fragments [together], or if one brought fragments from elsewhere, and [then] coated them with dung, even though one removes the dung and the fragments remain [together] it is tahor, since it lost its designation as a utensil. [If] it had a fragment that can contain a quarter-log, the entire [barrel] transmits tumah via contact, and opposite [that fragment] transmits tumah via airspace.

[If] one coats a sound earthenware utensil, R’ Meir and R’ Shimon rule [the coating] tamei, but the Sages say: [If] one coats a sound [utensil, then the coating] is tahor, but [if one coats] a fractured [utensil, the coating] is tamei. And the same applies to the reinforcement of a gourd-shell.

The yablis used to coat pithoi: That which touches it is tamei. The stopper of a barrel is not [regarded as] connected. That which touches the coating of an oven is tamei.

A boiler that one coated with mortar or potters’ clay: That which touches the mortar is tamei while [that which touches] the potters’ clay is tahor. A kettle that developed a hole and one repaired it with pitch: R’ Yose rules it tahor because it cannot hold hot [liquids] as [it does] cold [liquids]. And that is how he used to rule concerning utensils of pitch. Copper utensils coated with pitch are tahor, but if [meant] for wine, they are tamei.

A barrel that developed a hole and one repaired it with more pitch than necessary: That which touches the necessary [pitch] is tamei, [while that which touches] the un- necessary [pitch] is tahor. Pitch that dripped onto a barrel: That which touches it is tahor. A wooden or earthenware funnel that was plugged with pitch: R’ Elazar ben Azariah rules [them] tamei; R’ Akiva rules the wooden [funnel] tamei but rules the earthenware [funnel] tahor; R’ Yose rules both of them tahor.