Niddah 49b

נדה מ״ט ע״ב

Learn Niddah 49b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Tests for a cracked clay pot, limbs and extra fingers in טומאה, מדרס versus טמא מת, and who may judge or testify.

Overview

This amud covers several short topics. First, a ברייתא gives tests for a cracked clay pot: does the crack let liquid in (כונס משקה) or only seep out (מוציא משקה)? רבי יהודה floods an upside-down pot or sets it on a fire. רבי יוסי uses hot ash instead of fire, and steady dripping is also a sign. עולא explains that the תנא קמא and רבי יהודה disagree about water that gets in only by force. Next the גמרא explains lines of the משנה. A limb with a nail spreads טומאה even through an אהל. An extra finger with a bone but no nail does not, unless it lines up with the other fingers. Anything fit for מדרס can get טמא מת, but measuring containers like a סאה get only טמא מת, since they are not meant for sitting. Then two new משניות follow. A ממזר and a גר may judge money cases but not capital cases, and each one needs its own source. Someone blind in one eye may testify but may not judge, and the גמרא begins to ask whose opinion this follows.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. Statementרבי יהודה's test: turn the pot upside down and flood it
2. StatementA second test: put the pot on the fire
3. Statementרבי יוסי: use hot ash, not fire
4. StatementA sign: dripping drop after drop
5. QuestionWhat is the difference between the תנא קמא and רבי יהודה?
6. Responseעולא: they disagree about water forced in
7. StatementA limb with a nail versus a limb with only a bone
8. StatementAn extra finger with a bone but no nail
9. StatementOnly when the extra finger is out of line with the others
10. StatementWhatever can become impure through treading can become impure from a corpse
11. QuestionWhat does the second half of the מדרס line come to include?
12. ResponseAnswer: measuring containers like a סאה and a תרקב
13. ProofA ברייתא proves that only seats get מדרס impurity
14. StatementNew משנה: who may judge capital cases and money cases
15. Statementרב יהודה: The משנה's line includes a ממזר
16. ChallengeThis was already taught in another משנה
17. ResolutionOne source includes a גר, the other a ממזר
18. ResolutionWhy the גר case alone would not be enough
19. ConclusionWhy the ממזר case alone would not be enough, so both are needed
20. Statementמשנה: Every judge can be a witness, but not every witness can be a judge
21. QuestionWho is included by 'fit to testify but not to judge'?
22. Responseרבי יוחנן: It includes someone blind in one eye
23. QuestionWhose opinion does this follow?