All movable items convey tumah when they are as thick as a goad. R’ Tarfon said: ‘‘May I bury my children if this is not a mistaken ruling, which a listener heard and misunderstood. A farmer was once walking with his goad on his shoulder, when one end formed an ohel over a grave. [The Sages] declared him tamei because the uten-sils sheltered a corpse.’’ R’ Akiva said: ‘‘I will emend [the ruling] so that the words of the Sages remain valid. All movable objects convey tumah upon the person who carries them when they are as thick as a goad; upon themselves even if they are very thin; and upon an-other person or other utensils when they are a handbreadth wide.’’