Ohalos 10:3-4

Ohalos 10:3

If part of the impurity is in the house and part is opposite the hatch, the house is rendered unclean and what’s opposite the impurity is rendered unclean; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says that the house is rendered unclean but what’s opposite the impurity remains clean. Rabbi Yosi says that if there’s enough impurity that it can be divided with one part defiling the house and the other part defiling what’s opposite the impurity, then both are rendered unclean. If this isn’t the case, then the house is rendered unclean but what’s opposite the impurity remains clean.

Ohalos 10:4

Let’s say that there are hatchways one above the other, each with an opening of a handbreadth. If there’s impurity in the house, what’s opposite the hatches remains clean. If the impurity is opposite the hatches, the house remains clean. If the impurity is in the house or opposite the hatches, if something susceptible to impurity was placed in either the upper or the lower hatch, everything is rendered unclean. If the object is insusceptible to impurity, then what’s below it is rendered unclean while what’s above it remains clean.