Yaddayim chapter 1

Unit 9: Mishna 4 — Kinds of vessels required for washing

Text Version Audio Version

Mishna - Yaddayim 1:5

הַמַּיִם שֶׁהַנַּחְתּוֹם מַטְבִּיל בָּהֶן אֶת הַקְּלוֹסְקִין — פְּסוּלִין. כְּשֶׁהוּא מֵדִיחַ בָּהֶן אֶת יָדָיו — כְּשֵׁרִים. הַכֹּל כְּשֵׁרִים לִתֵּן לַיָּדַיִם, אֲפִלּוּ חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן. מַנִּיחַ חָבִית בֵּין בִּרְכָּיו וְנוֹטֵל, וּמַטֶּה חָבִית עַל צִדָּהּ וְנוֹטֵל. וְהַקּוֹף נוֹתֵן לַיָּדַיִם. רַבִּי יוֹסֵה פּוֹסֵל בִּשְׁנֵי אֵלּוּ.

Water which a baker immersed Kiloskin in them — unusable. [If] he rinsed his hands in them — usable. Everyone is elligble to provide water for the hands, even a deaf person [who never learned to communicate], a fool, and a child. Someone can place the container between his knees and pour, or tilt the container on its side and pour. And a monkey [may] provide for the hands. Rabbi Yose disallows these [last] two.

Kiloskin, a specialty bread crafted by professional bakers, involves dipping the prepared dough into water within a vessel before pressing it into a pan for baking. Although the water remains clean and the intent is only to moisten the dough, this action is considered "work," rendering the water unfit for hand-washing.

However, if someone dips their hands into water solely to wet them, so the dough does not stick to their hands while kneading, this is not considered using the water for work. Since the person is merely taking water out with their hands without directly utilizing it for a task, the water in the vessel remains suitable for hand-washing.

As outlined in the introduction, maintaining mindfulness of one’s hands is a crucial aspect of hand-washing. Additionally, the Mishna has established that the vessel used must be specifically designated as a vessel, and the water must be clean and not previously used for another purpose. One might therefore assume that a person pouring water onto another’s hands requires specific intent and understanding. However, this is not the case: even someone without learning or comprehension, or even a monkey or ape, can pour water to facilitate hand-washing.

To wash both hands simultaneously while using minimal water, a person has two options. They can position a container between their knees to allow water to flow onto both hands, or they can tilt the container on its side, quickly placing their hands under the flowing water to wash them.

Rabbi Yose disputes the validity of the last two methods mentioned in this Halacha: water flowing from a container without direct human action and water poured by a non-human, such as a monkey. The Tosefta clarifies that if a person opens a spigot to release water onto their hands, and the component to which the spigot is connected contains at least a quarter-Log of water, the hands are considered purified. However, Rabbi Yose insists on direct human involvement, such as pouring from a cask held between the knees, for the hand-washing to be valid.*Tosefta Yaddayim 1:6

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

Given that Rabbi Yose’s minority opinion, which requires direct human involvement for hand-washing, is not followed, can a modern faucet be used independently for hand-washing? Does the pipe directly connected to the faucet’s release mechanism hold at least a quarter-Log of water?
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?