[Avodah] Machshirin 2:4

[Chana Luntz]

RSS writes:

> In Machshirin 2:4, the Mishna talks about a case where one is
> laundering b'gadim in tamei water.  The footnote (Reb Artscroll)
> discusses why somebody would ever do that, and they note that: "A
> rishon doesn't have the capacity to convey tumah to people or
> utensils (including garments)," only food and other liquids.  OK.
> 
> We know that's true with a rishon in general, but we also know that a
> _liquid_ rishon _is_ m'tamei people or keilim.
> 
> And, in fact, in Machshirin 4:10 the Mishna warns about accidentally
> putting tamei wet logs into an oven, davka for the reason that the
> wetness on the logs might be m'tamei the earthenware oven (because,
> d'rabbanan, tamei liquids are m'tamei keilim).
> 
> So, what am I missing?  How do we explain 2:4?

Well I don't understand Reb Artscroll (as you have quoted him), but my
assumption regarding the intent of the Mishna in Machshirin 2:4 would be
that the begadim were already tamei before they got washed (eg they had
kesamim and the like on them or had been worn by an av hatumah) and that is
why the water was necessarily tamei (even if it hadn't been before, although
maybe it would be sensible to use already tamei water to wash a beged that
is tamei).  Why would one assume that the begadim were tahor prior to their
washing?

But I agree, I can't explain Reb Artscroll, unless for some reasons they
were talking d'orisa, because I believe that a liquid rishon being metamei
people or keilim is only d'rabbanan.  But I can't understand why they would
be only talking on that level (unless it has something to do with the bitel
that is going on in this Mishna vis a vis the mei geshamim -but even so, I
don't understand the relevance of the comment).  However, as I am not seeing
it inside, and relying on your citation, so I may be missing something.

> -- Sholom

Regards

Chana