Keilim 27:2 - 27:3

הבגד מימטמא – for becoming defiled through contact with a corpse and for all the rest of the defilements except for that of treading, because of three fingerbreadth square, because it is appropriate for poor people, and it is derived by implication from as is it written (Leviticus 13:47): “[When an eruptive affection occurs in] a cloth, [of wool or linen fabric].” But for uncleanness by treading, we require something that is appropriate for sitting, and with less than three handbreadths by three handbreadths, it is not appropriate for seating.

השק – that is woven from hair or feathers of goats, its measure whether for someone who had been defiled through contact with a corpse or for treading is not less than four handbreadths by four handbreadths.

ושוין – to defile through defilement of treading/Midras and through defilement by contact with a corpse. A sack, or a hide or a mat.

שייריו ארבעה – regarding this matter, it is stated [by Rabbi Meir] that its remnants are four [handbreadths]. When it became worn out and torn and there remained from it a measurement of four handbreadths, but at the beginning of its weaving, it doesn’t become susceptible to receive ritual defilement until it is completely woven. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Meir.

היה ושה שנים מן הבגד – two handbreadths.

ואחד מן השק – one handbreadth.

טהור – for that which is inferior does not complete the measurement of that which is important, that the inferior’s measurement is greater. But the more highly regarded completes the measurement of the inferior, for even a little bit of that which is highly regarded is susceptible to receive ritual impurity.

מן החמור (more stringent) – that it is sufficient for it in a small measurement.

מן הקל (from a category more lenient) – that requires a greater measurement. And especially like this arrangement that is written in the Mishnah, they combine to the [more] lenient of them: the cloth and the sack, the sack and the hide, the hide and the matting. But the cloth and the hide or the cloth and the matting, or the sack and matting do not combine, for one who attaches them, has annulled his thinking with regard to every person. But however, to make of them a patch on the pack-saddle/cushion – consisting of patches – of a donkey, all of them combine, that from whichever of them will trim a handbreadth and make it a path on the pack-saddle/cushion of a donkey, they combine, for he is not strict for there, if it is from two species.