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Keilim 11:9-12:1

Keilim 11:9

Let’s say that an earring that was pot-shaped on the bottom and lentil-shaped on the top separated into its component parts. The pot-shaped half is susceptible to ritual impurity, being a utensil with a receptacle; the lentil-shaped half is susceptible by itself (because it’s still usable) and the hook of the earring is insusceptible. If an earring made up of a cluster of beads comes apart, its component parts are not susceptible to impurity.

Keilim 12:1

A ring for a person is susceptible to ritual impurity; one for animals or utensils and all other rings are not susceptible. A beam for arrows (i.e., used as a target) is susceptible to impurity but one used for prisoners (as a fetter) is insusceptible. Neck irons are susceptible to impurity. A chain with a built-in place for a lock is susceptible to impurity but one that is used to tie things up is insusceptible. The chain used by wholesale sellers is susceptible to impurity but the one used by homeowners is insusceptible. Rabbi Yosi said that a homeowner’s chain is insusceptible to impurity when it attaches with one lock but if it attaches with two, or if he attached a snail-shaped hook to the end, then it is susceptible.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz