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Ohalos 10:7-11:1

Ohalos 10:7

Let’s say that the pot was placed along the threshold in such a manner that if it were raised, it would touch the lintel with an opening of a handbreadth. If there’s impurity below, inside or above the pot, the impurity extends upwards and downwards. If the pot was a handbreadth off the ground, then if there’s impurity below the pot or in the house, what is below the pot and in the house is rendered unclean. If the impurity is inside or above the pot, everything is rendered unclean. If the raised pot wouldn’t touch the lintel with an opening of a handbreadth, or if it’s flush to the lintel, then if there’s impurity below the pot, only what’s below the pot is unclean.

Ohalos 11:1

Let’s say that a house cracked into two parts. If there’s impurity in the outer part, utensils in the inner part remain clean. If the impurity is in the inner part, utensils in the outer part remain clean. Beis Shammai say that this is only when the split is four handbreadths wide (about 12”) but Beis Hillel say it’s when the split is any size. Rabbi Yosi says in the name of Beis Hillel that it’s when the split is one handbreadth wide.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz