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Keilim 26:3-4

Keilim 26:3

The hand covers worn by thorn gatherers are insusceptible to impurity. A leather belt and knee pads are susceptible to impurity, as are arm bands. Gloves are insusceptible. All finger covers are insusceptible to impurity except for those of fig gathers because they’re used to hold sumac berries (so they’re also receptacles). If one of these finger covers tore so that it can no longer hold the major part of a sumac berry, it is rendered insusceptible to impurity.

Keilim 26:4

If one of a sandal’s straps was broken and then repared, it retains midras impurity. If a second strap broke and was repaired, it is purified of midras impurity but it remains impure from contact with midras. If the second strap broke before the first one could be repaired, the sandal is purified. If the heel broke off, if the toe was removed or if it was torn in two, the sandal is purified. A slipper that breaks in any way is insusceptible to impurity; a shoe that breaks is insusceptible to impurity if it can’t contain the greater part of one’s foot. Rabbi Eliezer says that a shoe that is still on the cobbler’s block is insusceptible to impurity, though the Sages say that it is susceptible. All water skins whose holes have been sealed by tying them are insusceptible to ritual impurity except for those of Arabs (who would tie very difficult knots). Rabbi Meir says that if they’re tied temporarily, they are insusceptible to impurity but if they’re tied permanently, they are susceptible. Rabbi Yosi says that all tied-up water skins are insusceptible to impurity.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz