4. “There is a doubt if the water has been used, there is a doubt if it
has not been used; there is a doubt if it be the prescribed quantity,
there is a doubt if it be not the prescribed quantity: there is a doubt if
it be (legally) unclean, there is a doubt if it be (legally) clean?” “In
doubting he is clean,” because the Sages said, “if there be a doubt of his
hands being unclean, or imparting uncleanness, or being clean, he is
clean.” R. José said, “if there be a doubt of cleanness it is
uncleanness.” “How?” “His hands are clean, and before him are two unclean
loaves, it is doubtful if he touched them, it is doubtful if he did not
touch them: his hands are unclean, and before him are two clean loaves, it
is doubtful if he touched them, it is doubtful if he did not touch them?”
“His hands are one unclean and one clean.” “And before him are two clean
loaves: he touched one of them, it is doubtful if he touched the unclean,
it is doubtful if he touched the clean?” “His hands are clean.” “And
before him are two loaves, one unclean and one clean, he touched one of
them, it is doubtful if he touched the unclean, it is doubtful if he
touched the clean?” “His hands are one unclean and one clean.” “And before
him are two loaves, one unclean and one clean, he touched both of them, it
is doubtful if it were the unclean (loaf) with the unclean (hand), or the
clean (loaf) with the clean (hand), or the clean loaf with the unclean
(hand), or the unclean loaf with the clean hand?” “The hands remain as
they were, and the loaves as they were.”(765)
Chapter III
1. “Whosoever puts his hands into a house smitten with leprosy?” “His
hands are unclean in a primary degree.”(766) The words of R. Akiba. But
the Sages say, “his hands are unclean in a secondary degree.”(767)
“Whatever renders garments unclean at the time of contact, renders hands
unclean in a primary degree.” The words of R. Akiba. But the Sages say,
“in a secondary degree.” They said to R. Akiba, “where do we find the
hands (unclean) in a primary degree?” “Everywhere,” he said to them; “and
how is it possible for them to be unclean in a primary degree, unless his
body is unclean, excepting this.”(768) “Victuals, and vessels which are
unclean through liquids, render hands unclean in a secondary degree.” The
words of R. Joshua. But the Sages say, “that which is unclean through a
source of uncleanness,(769) renders the hands unclean; but derived
uncleanness(770) does not render the hands unclean.” Rabban Simeon, the
son of Gamaliel, said, “it happened that a woman came before my father.
She said to him, ‘my hands entered into the hollow of an earthen vessel.’
He said to her, ‘my daughter, from what was its uncleanness?’ But I did
not hear what she said to him.” The Sages said, “the thing is clear, that
which is unclean through a source of uncleanness renders the hands
unclean; but derived uncleanness does not render the hands unclean.”
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