Nazir 64a

נזיר ס״ד ע״א

Learn Nazir 64a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Floating impurity (טומאה צפה): its sources, the rules for carried and thrown items, and רמי בר חמא's unresolved questions

Overview

The גמרא first asks for the source behind two opinions about doubtful contact with floating impurity. The תנא קמא says such a doubt is always pure, while רבי שמעון says it is impure in vessels but pure in the ground. Each view is drawn from two פסוקים that seem to clash. A ברייתא then teaches that carried or dragged impurities count as resting, so a doubt about them is impure. Thrown items count as moving, so a doubt about them is pure, except for a כזית of a corpse, something that overhangs impurity, and a זב or זבה. רמי בר חמא then asks a ladder of questions about impurity resting on something that floats. The cases are a corpse in a floating vessel, a corpse on a שרץ, a שרץ on a נבלה, and a שרץ on another שרץ. They continue with a שרץ on a melted נבלה, on שכבת זרע, and on מי חטאת floating on water. The גמרא cannot answer any of these questions, and they end in תיקו.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. QuestionWhat is the source for the first opinion?
2. ResponseTwo פסוקים about the שרץ explain the תנא קמא
3. QuestionWhat is רבי שמעון's source?
4. ResponseSpring water versus vessels: the source for רבי שמעון
5. StatementCarried and dragged items count as resting; thrown items do not
6. StatementExceptions to the lenient rule for thrown items
7. ResponseThe last exception includes a זב and a זבה
8. QuestionA corpse inside a floating vessel
9. QuestionA corpse lying on a floating שרץ
10. QuestionA שרץ lying on a floating נבלה
11. QuestionA שרץ lying on another floating שרץ
12. QuestionA שרץ on a dissolved נבלה
13. QuestionA שרץ on שכבת זרע
14. QuestionA שרץ on מי חטאת floating on water
15. ConclusionWe do not know: the questions stay open