Chullin 25a

חולין כ״ה ע״א

Learn Chullin 25a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 25a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How a כלי חרס differs from other vessels in becoming טמא (airspace versus outside), and the opposite rules for unfinished and flat vessels of wood and metal.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier rule: a כלי חרס makes everything inside it טמא, even if it is packed with mustard seeds that never touch its walls. רב אדא בר אהבה then argues by קל וחומר that a כלי חרס should also become טמא from its outside. The גמרא answers from the פסוק of צמיד פתיל: a sealed כלי חרס stays טהור. Next the גמרא suggests that all other vessels should become טמא from their airspace. The word תוכו limits airspace טומאה to a כלי חרס, and the גמרא shows that the פסוק has four uses of תוכו, enough for every lesson drawn from it. A last קל וחומר tries to free other vessels from טומאה through their outside, but the צמיד פתיל פסוק shows that other vessels become טמא even when sealed. A new משנה then teaches that some things are טהור in wood but טמא in metal, and the reverse. A ברייתא explains that this refers to unfinished vessels and flat vessels, defines unfinished wooden vessels, and begins the list for metal ones, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. StatementEven a vessel full of mustard seeds
2. ChallengeA קל וחומר: should a clay vessel become impure from its outside?
3. ResolutionThe פסוק of the sealed cover blocks the קל וחומר
4. ChallengeThe reverse קל וחומר: should all vessels become impure from their airspace?
5. ResolutionThe word 'its inside' limits airspace טומאה to a כלי חרס
6. ChallengeBut the word תוכו was already used for another lesson
7. ResolutionThere are four uses of תוכו, enough for four lessons
8. ChallengeMaybe other vessels should not become impure from their outside
9. ResolutionOnly an earthenware vessel is saved by a seal
10. StatementThe משנה: pure in wood, impure in metal, and the reverse
11. StatementUnfinished and flat vessels of wood and metal
12. StatementWhich wooden vessels count as unfinished
13. ChallengeIsn't the hollowing rule obvious?
14. ResolutionThe rule is needed for a partly hollowed vessel
15. StatementStarting the list of unfinished metal vessels