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Tameh Liquid in a Sponge

Keilim (9:4) | Yisrael Bankier | 9 hours ago

The Mishnah (9:4) teaches that if a sponge that absorbed tameh liquid fell into an oven, then the oven would become tameh.

The Bartenura explains the necessity of this Mishnah. The first point is that ordinarily keilim can only become tameh from being in contact with an av ha'tumah -- a source of tumah. We have however learnt previously that by way of a rabbinic gezeira, tameh liquids can make keilim tameh. The next point is that one might not expect the oven in this case to become tameh. That is because the tameh liquid is absorbed inside the sponge. Nevertheless, since the sponge it designed to both absorb and squeeze out the liquid, the oven is tameh. The Tifferet Yisrael explains that because of this, the liquid is considered like resting in a kli rather than being absorbed.

The explanation above is provided by the Tosefta. The Mishnah itself however explains that the reason why the oven is tameh is because "the tumah will come out in the end". It would seem that the Bartenura, having cited the wording of the Tosfeta, understands that the Mishnah reason is the same as the Tosefta. The Tosfot Anshei Shem, citing the Chazon Nachum, however understands that they are two different explanations.

The Chazon Nachum's proof is from the Raavad's comment on the Rambam. The Rambam explains that the reason why the oven is tameh, using the wording of our Mishnah, is that the liquid will eventually leave. The Raavad however argues that this is mistake, since the reason is like the Tosefta, that the sponge is designed to absorb and expel liquid. The Kesef Mishnah finds the attack of the Raavad difficult, considering that the Rambam was simply citing the Mishnah.

The Chazon Nachum explains that for a sponge, due to its usage, it is considered like a vessel that is containing liquid. Contrast this with a wick that absorbed tameh oil, or an earthenware vessel that absorbed tameh liquid. These are not designed to contain the liquid in their material, even though the liquid is extracted once absorbed. In that case, it is only if the liquid will come out that the oven becomes tameh; it is if the liquid is already present and not absorbed. That explains the next Mishnah that discusses pottery that absorbed tameh liquid and fell into in an oven. Note there that it is only if the oven was fired up and whose heat would thereby bring out the absorbed liquid, that the oven would become tameh. Similarly, that Tosefta explains that with the wick, that it is only if the wick was lit that the oven would become tameh.

The Chazon Nachum continues that even though the Mishnah stated that the reason is because "the tumah will come out in the end", the Raavad however understood that that was much that language used to explains the case of the pottery. Nevertheless, the reason behind the case of the sponge is different.

The Grach (cited in Iyunim, Ryzman) however understands that both reasons of the Mishnah and Tosefta are needed together. He explains once a tameh liquid is absorbed, it loses its status a "mashke" -- as being independently considered liquid. In other words, there are two issues to be addressed to determine whether this oven is tameh. One is whether the tameh liquid is exposed and inside the space of the oven and the other is whether there is even tameh liquid at all. The rationale of the Tosefta related to the use of the sponge, is important to establish that the absorbed liquid is not batel (annulled) -- they are considered as liquid resting in a kli. The rationale of the Mishnah that the tumah will leave, is necessary to make that liquid already considered exposed.

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