Yaddayim chapter 1

Unit 6: Mishna 2b — Kinds of vessels required for washing

Text Version Audio Version

Mishna - Yaddayim 1:2

וְלֹא יִתֵּן לַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּחָפְנָיו מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מְמַלִּין, וְאֵין מְקַדְּשִׁים, וְאֵין מַזִּין מֵי חַטָּאת, וְאֵין נוֹתְנִים לַיָּדַיִם אֶלָּא בְּכֶלִי. וְאֵין מַצִּילִין בְּצָמִיד פָּתִיל, אֶלָּא כֵּלִים — שֶׁאֵין מַצִּילִין מִיַּד כְּלִי חֶרֶס אֶלָּא כֵּלִים.

And one does not provide [water] for his friend from his cupped hands, since [they] do not draw, nor sanctify, nor sprinkle purification water, nor provide for the hands except with a vessel. And one does not rescue with a tightly sealed cover [alone], but only [with] vessels — since there is no rescue from earthenware except [with] vessels.

The reference to "sanctification" and "purification water" relates to the process of purification after contact with a deceased body, which is not the focus of this tractate nor this specific Halacha. This Halacha was adapted from Mishna Parah to address hand washing, but the editing appears incomplete, as references to "sanctification" and "purification water" remain and are not relevant here.

The parallel source in Mishna Parah:

Mishna - Parah 5:5

בְּכָל הַכֵּלִים מְקַדְּשִׁים אֲפִלּוּ בִכְלֵי גְלָלִים, בִּכְלֵי אֲבָנִים, בִּכְלֵי אֲדָמָה. וּבִסְפִינָה מְקַדְּשִׁים בָּהּ. אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁים לֹא בְדָפְנוֹת הַכֵּלִים, וְלֹא בְשׁוּלֵי הַמַּחַץ, וְלֹא בִמְגוּפַת הֶחָבִית, וְלֹא בְחָפְנָיו — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מְמַלִּין, וְאֵין מְקַדְּשִׁים, וְאֵין מַזִּין מֵי חַטָּאת אֶלָּא בַכֶּלִי. אֵין מַצִּילִין בְּצָמִיד פָּתִיל, אֶלָּא כֵלִים — שֶׁאֵין מַצִּיל מִיַּד כְּלִי חֶרֶס אֶלָּא כֵלִים.

All vessels can be used to sanctify, even vessels [made] of dung, stone, [or] earthenware. And one sanctifies with a boat. [They] do not sanctify from the walls of vessels, nor from the hem of a Machatz, nor from the stopper of a barrel, and not from his cupped hands — since [they] do not draw, nor sanctify, nor sprinkle purification water except with a vessel. One does not rescue with a tightly sealed cover [alone], but only [with] vessels — since there is no rescue from earthenware except [with] vessels.

The final part clarifies that vessels have an additional unique property in purity laws: a tightly sealed cover protects their contents from ritual impurity, unlike non-vessel items. If a sealed, non-impure vessel is placed within an impure earthenware vessel, its contents remain pure. This Halacha applies solely to containers classified as vessels.

Introduction

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Why during the First Temple period?

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Key Idea: Quarter-Log

The quarter-Log, is measured in cubic finger-breadths, with a dispute over its volume. Shmuel states*Jerusalem Talmud Pesachim 10:1: “Two by two by one and five-sixths,” yielding 7⅓ cubic finger-breadths. Rav Chisda states*Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 109a: “Two by two by two and seven-tenths,” yielding 10.8 cubic finger-breadths.

Modern authorities dispute the size of a finger-breadth. Some measure it by pressing a finger against a surface, widening it by over 12% compared to a natural finger-breadth. An average natural finger-breadth, without pressure, is estimated at 1.9 cm*Yad Peshutah: Hilchoth Eiruvin 1:13, resulting in a quarter-Log of 50.299 mL (1.7 US fl oz) for Shmuel and 74.077 mL (2.504 US fl oz) for Rav Chisda. Rav Chisda’s stricter view, is generally preferred for Halachic stringency.

Others calculate larger finger-breadths, yielding a quarter-Log of about 79 mL*Rabbi Yosef Qafih: Hilchoth Eiruvin 1:13 (2.671 US fl oz) or even greater volumes for Rav Chisda’s measure.
Key Idea: Tumath Yaddayim: — Ritual hand impurity, instituted by the sages.
Background information: First Temple Period — Roughly 850BCE to ~500BCE.
Background information: Second Temple Period — Roughly 430 BCE to 70CE.
Background information: Terumah — A small percentage of produce donated by farmers to Priests. An institution of the Torah.
Background information: Priests — The male descendants of Aharon from the tribe of Levi who work in the Temple, and do not own their own land.
Background information: Mikveh — A body of naturally occurring water which remove ritual impurity. An institution of the Torah.

Next Unit

Extra Material

Discussions
Additional Ideas

One hundred pairs of hands?

According to the smaller measure for a quarter-Log (7⅓ cubic finger-breadths), sufficient water exists to wash two pairs of hands held closely together. Doubling this to a half-Log (14⅔ cubic finger-breadths) suffices for four pairs of hands, reflecting a linear progression in water usage. A full Log could then wash eight pairs of hands and, in practice, extend to ten pairs, as residual water accumulates after each washing.

However, the Mishnah’s claim that a Log could suffice for one hundred pairs of hands is impractical. Even with the larger measure of a quarter-Log (10.8 cubic finger-breadths, yielding 43.2 cubic finger-breadths for a Log), the water available per pair of hands—each typically comprising ten fingers—is less than half a cubic finger-breadth (approximately 0.432 cubic finger-breadths per pair, or 0.0432 per finger). This amount is insufficient for effective washing beyond a limited number of people. Thus, the Mishna’s reference to “one hundred” is hyperbolic, indicating that a Log can suffice for the hand-washing of many people, but not much more than ten.

The number of pairs of hands a Log of water can wash depends on hand size relative to the average finger-breadth, the efficiency of water pouring, and whether washing extends to the knuckles or wrists. Using Shmuel’s calculation or Rav Chisda’s, a Log comprises 29⅓ or 43.2 cubic finger-breadths, respectively. For hands of typical size washed to the knuckles, with efficient pouring and hands held close together or lined up in a row to maximize efficiency, a Log typically suffices for 10–11 pairs. For larger hands, scaled to a proportionally larger finger-breadth, 14 to 17 pairs can be washed with an optimal technique, as the required water volume increases with finger-breadth size.
Points to Ponder

The mention of a boat as a vessel for purification water in Mishna Parah raises a question: why is it noted there but not here? Could a tiny boat not function like a cup for the purpose of hand-washing?
Further Reading
- Mishnayoth Khati - Order of Taharoth vol ii.
- Mishnayoth HaRambam - Mossad HaRav Kook - Orders of Kodashim/Taharoth.

Introduction

Why during the First Temple period?

Extra Material

One hundred pairs of hands?