תנור תחלתו ארבע – an undefined oven is made like a larger pot which lacks a rim at the bottom of the vessel, and they fasten it with plaster on the ground, and the floor of the ground is the bottom of the oven. But even though that of itself it lacks a receptacle, it is nevertheless impure, for the All-Merciful assigned it by its insides, and behold it has an inside.

תחלתו ארבעה – the height of the oven is not less than four handbreadths.

ושייריו – if it was large and it became defiled and afterwards was broken, it would not be purified until there would not be in its remnants four [handbreadths].

במה דברים אמורים – that its beginning and its remnants would be four [handbreadths].

בגדול – that is made to bake and to roast with it in the manner of overs.

אבל בקטן – that is made for young children to play in.

תחלתו כל שהוא – but not exactly any small amount, for less than a handbreadth is not anything (see Talmud Hullin 124a).

ושייריו ברובו – In the Gemara in the chapter: “The Hide and the Grease”/העור והרוטב [Chapter 9 of Tractate Hullin 124a] it raises a question on our Mishnah that is here, that less than a handbreadth, of what is it worth? And it (i.e., the Gemara) answers, that the “remnant” that is referred to is the majority of the large [oven], and it is not about the small over. And We raise the objection, that with a large [oven]. And we raise the objection, regarding a large [oven], surely it states “and its remnants” are four [handbreadths], for it surely teaches: “Under what circumstances?” with a large [oven], implying that the Sages did not dispute with the first Tanna/teacher (i.e., Rabbi Meir) regarding a large [oven] at all. And it answers: This one is speaking about an oven of seven [handbreadths] and that one is [speaking of] an oven of nine [handbreadths], that is to say, something of seven [handbreadths] whose remnants are the majority/larger part, and even though there aren’t four [handbreadths] and there is no oven with less than four [handbreadths], for since, from its outset, it was an important vessel which used its remnants, even though they were not so worthy, and with an oven of nine [handbreadths] where its majority/larger part is a large measure, it defiles with its remnants with four [handbreadths] at its outset.

משתגמר מלאכתו – it refers to the beginning of the oven. From when does the oven become defiled? From when its manufacture is complete.

משיסיקנו (from when he will heat it – sufficiently] – even though that with the rest of earthenware vessels, it is sufficient for them with the smelting of the kiln (as seen at the conclusion of Chapter 4, Mishnah 4 of Tractate Kelim) an oven that requires to attach/glue it with plaster to be interwoven in order to contain its heat, its manufacture is not complete until it can heat sufficiently. But however, it doesn’t require large heating in order to bake bread in it, but rather in order to bake cakes made of spongy dough, dough that its mixture is soft that is made like a sponge and only a small amount of heating is sufficient for it.

משיסיק את החדש כדי לאפות בישן – that the new [oven] in order to bae in it cakes made of spongy dough requires greater heating from the old [oven]. But if the new [oven] was heated with a lesser/smaller heating, that with a heating like this, the old [oven] would be appropriate to bake in it the cakes made of spongy dough, that is when its manufacture is complete. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yehuda.

כירה (a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots) – a place of placing over the fire two pots. But sometimes they place the pots to cook within it and sometimes on top of it.

תחלתה שלש – its height is no less than three fingers-breadth.

משתיגמר מלאכתה- from when it become defiled initially, from when its manufacture is complete.

ביצה קלה – the egg of a chicken. But why do they call it a light (easily boiling) egg? That this is easier to cook more than all the eggs.

טרופה – that it is beaten and broken in a bowl (i.e., scrambled).

ונתונה באלפס (and placed in a tightly-covered pot) – that was already warmed, for it is boiled quickly.

הכופח – the measurement of the placing over the fire of one pot, and its heat is greater than the heat of the portable stove with caves for two pots, and sometimes they bake bread in it.

שיעורו כתנור – in order to bake cakes made of spongy dough (i.e., four handbreadths).

שיעורו ככירה – to make a light boiled egg.

האבן היוצא – they are used to attaching a stone to the oven that projects outward from it in order that it will be for it a handle, and it is compared to an oven. But if the oven is defiled, the stone is [also] defiled, and the bread that came in contact with it is defiled because it is a handle for the oven, as it is written (Leviticus 11:35): “[Everything on which the carcass of any of them falls shall be impure:] an oven or stove shall be smashed. They are impure and impure they shall remain for you,” for everything that is in your needs, to include the handles which are needed for the vessel.

לא אמרו – that more than a handbreadth for an oven and from three fingers-breadth for a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots is not considered an attachment, other than when the stone is between the stove and the wall. Because it hinders it for one cannot bring the oven near to the wall and it presses the house, therefore, more than a handbreadth stands to be taken. But at the side of the house, even larger than the handle is to the oven. But the Halakah is not according to Rabbi Yehuda.

והשאר טהור – as it is taught in the Sifra/Torat Kohanim (i.e., the Halakhic Midrash on the Book of Leviticus), it is possible that I earn more than that of its measure, as the inference teaches us, “they are impure” (Leviticus 11:35).

עטרת כירה – round building made on the top of the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots/כירה in order to preserve its heat.

טהורה – but if the portable stone on feet with caves for two pots became impure, the crown did not become impure, for the crown is not considered as attached to the portable stove with caves for two pots.

טירת התנור (the surrounding of an oven/brick-work/fender) – the courtyard of the oven, it is the language of (Genesis 25:16): “[These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names] by their villages and their encampments: [twelve chieftains of as many tribes].” It is ap lace in front of the oven that is surrounded by partitions where they place in it the bread when they detach/ shovel out bread from [where it sticks to] the oven.

בזמן שהוא גבוהה ארבעה – as the measure of the height of the oven (which is four handbreadths) at its outset.

אפילו על שלש אבנים – that its attachment/connection was not done well but rather, it is lying only on three stones and is glued the oven, it is considered an attachment.

בית הפך (socket/cruse) – a place that is made on the sides of the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots that they place upon it a cruse of oil to make tepid/cool.

בית תבלין – a place where they place in it the spices.

בית הנר – a place where they place in it the lamp.

מיטמאין במגע – if an unclean reptile came in contact within the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots, these places became unclean through the defilement of the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots. And similarly, if one of these places became defiled through contact with the unclean reptile, the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots became impure with them, for they are considered like the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots and they are one thing regarding the matter of defilement through physical contact.

ואין מיטמאין באויר – if an unclean reptile was suspended in the airspace of the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots but did not come in contact with it, even though it is defiled, for an earthenware vessel becomes defiled through airspace, they are [ritually] pure, for they are not attached to it other than through the matter of physical contact. Because from the Torah, they are not attached to it, but the Rabbis decreed upon them defilement, as the Rabbis made an indication/sign not to defile it by airspace, in order that they not burn upon them heave-offering and Holy Things.

ור' שמעון מטהר – [Rabb Shimon declares it pure] even through physical contact. Every place where defilement did not come in contact with it for each and every vessel is separate/independent. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Meir.

תנור שהוסק מאחוריו – that the oven does not become susceptible to receive defilement until it is heated, and if it is not heated from the inside, but rather from the outside, it is considered heating.

או הוסק שלא לדעתו – [even from the inside].

או שהוסק בבית האומן – prior to the completion of the manufacture of its being made.

טמא – we have the reading. But there are books that we have the reading, that it is pure, and this is a blunder/confusion.

מוסף התנור (chimney-piece of the oven) – the addition of the oven that they at its top in order to preserve its heat.

מפני שהוא סומך עליו את השפוד (because it supports the roasting-spit on it) – of meat, for they regularly roast meat on it, and it is a thing that is necessary for the oven. And the All-Merciful states (Leviticus 11:35): “and unclean they shall remain for you,” to everything that are your needs, as we expounded above [in Mishnah 2 of Chapter 5 of Tractate Kelim].

מפני שהוא אופה בו כשהוא נדחק – when he has many forced laborers and he the need for a great deal of bread. But for Rabbi Yohanan [HaSandlar], the reason of the first Tanna/teacher is not sufficient for him because he rests the roasting-spin upon it, and he holds that we require that the additional usage would like the usage of the body of the oven.

מוסף היורה של שולקי זיתים (rim around a boiler in the ground of olive seethers) – it is the manner of those who seethe/thoroughly boil olives and dyers that have large boilers and they make for them a rim of plaster on the border that water will rise upon it at the time of their foaming. But the seething of olives is unclean/impure, because addition/rim Is needed for the vessel and we use it.

ושל צבעים טהור – for they don’t use it in order that they don’t use its dye. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yohanan HaSandlar.

מעפר ולמטן מיטמא במגע – if the unclean reptile touched/came in contact with the oven from within above from the dirt, what is below from the dirt is defile. But if the unclean reptile was suspended in the airspace and did not touch the walls of the oven from inside it, it did not defile anything other than what is above from the dirt [-line].

בור (cistern) – a pit below the earth.

דות (cellar) – it is made like a cistern, but it is a building that is above from the ground.

ונתן שם אבן – between the pit and the wall of the oven, to support the oven that it should not fall into the pit/cistern.

אם מסיק מלמטה – if when he kindles the flame from below within the cistern, the oven is heated from its insides from above through its rims, it is impure. But if not, that it is not heated from the heating of the flame that is below within the cistern, it Is pure. But the disagreement of Rabbi Yehuda and the Rabbis is specifically through the first heating which is the completion of the construction of the oven and through that heating, it is susceptible to receiving defilement, Rabbi Yehuda holds that the oven should be attached to the ground with the first heating, as it is written (Leviticus 11:35): “[And if any of those falls into an earthen vessel,] everything inside it shall be unclean and – the vessel – itself you shall break,” but the language of נתיצה/breaking up (as in Leviticus 11:35 – תנור וכירים יותץ /and [the vessel] itself you shall break) other than that which is attached to the round, for when something falls that is carried, it is the language of שבירה/breaking but not the language of נתיצה/cutting out or breaking up, therefore, if the oven is heated through its rim from the heating that is within the cistern, it is considered as attached to the cistern and we call it יותץ/broken up/cut out, but if it is not heated from the heating of the cistern, it is chipped off and standing and it is impossible to apply to it further יותץ/broken up/cut out.

וחכמים אומרים הואיל וניסוק מכל מקום טמא (since it is heated from any place, it is unclean) – as it stated in Scripture (Leviticus 11:35): “and unclean they shall remain for you/וטמאים יהיו לכם,” nevertheless, but even if he heated it when it is suspended upon the neck of a camel, it is heated, and its construction has been completed with that. But everyone admits that with the second heating after its construction has been completed, that it is defiled even on the neck of the camel. And the Halakha is according to the Sages.

תנור שנטמא – an oven that is made like large pot that lacks rims and is carried, when one comes to affix it, one attaches it to the ground and affixes plaster from the outside and makes it thick in order that it will preserve its heat/warmth, and we call it plastering that he plasters it and attaches it.

כיצד מטהרים אותו – how much should be its breaking so that it purifies it.

חולקו לשלשה – to the vessel itself from the inside. For if it is into two parts, the larger part is impure, for it is the majority.

וגורר את הטפילה – [he scrapes off the plaster] that is glued to it, for it is also attaches it.

עד שיהא בארץ – meaning to say, he lowers it down until the ground. Alternatively, it refers to dividing it, and it is not sufficient when dividing it until its majority, but dividing until it reaches the ground.

ולא עד שיהא בארץ – but not to divide it until below it is near the ground.

אלא ממעטו מבפנים – unitl there should not remain four handbreadths which is the measure of the beginning of the oven. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Meir.

צריך להסיעו – even though he divided it, he did not purify it until he separates the parts from each other. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Shimon.

הגדול טמא- because there is the majority of the oven.

חתכו חוליות לרחבו (if he burned clay of an oven into tiles breadthwise) – like he cuts the tube of a reed.

פחות מארבעה טפחים – if there is in the burned clay less than for handbreadths and it comes from a large oven where there isn’t a majority. But if there is four handbreadths, it is impure, even though it is a minority.

מרחו בטיט (if he smeared plaster over it) – it requires heating like a new oven.

הרחיק ממנו את הטפלה (if he removed from it the plaster) – paste of plaster that he made, and he did not attach it to the oven, but rather, removed [the plaster] from it.

שנתן חול או צרור –[and he placed sand or stones] between the plaster and the oven, and through this the oven preserves its warmth and one we bake in it.

הנדה והטהורה אופות בו – for the plastering is not considered an attachment to the oven, since it is distanced from it.

והוא טהור – and it is not susceptible to receive [ritual] impurity .

תנור שבא מחותך – that the artisan made it board/plank by board/plank in order to attach them together through rims, and they are crowns/wreaths that they call TZIRKELAAH, like the kind that we make for jugs when we place in them wine. And for those crowns/wreaths and rims – the Tanna/teacher calls למודין/frames.

ונתנן עליו והוא טהור נטמא – after he placed upon it the frame and the oven was pure from the outset because it was a series of boards/planks and there was no attachment. It returned to be susceptible to receive defilement through these frames when they attach them.

סילק את למודיו – and the boards/planks were taken apart one from the other, there is no greater breaking up/cutting out than this, and the oven becomes pure, even though he restored the frames a second time, they do not receive [ritual] impurity for the frames do not bring defilement other than only the first time when it comes in pieces from the house of the artisan.

מרחו בטיט [he plastered it with plaster] – for this oven for the frames do not bring him the defilement, but it defiles through the plastering with plaster.

ואין צריך להסיקו – [he doesn’t need to heat it] like all the other ovens, for it doesn’t become susceptible to receive defilement until he heats them, because it was already heated the first time when it comes in pieces from the house of the artisan.

חתכו חוליות – when he cut it for the oven breadthwise into pieces, and placed one tile on top of another tile.

ונתן חול בסין חוליא לחוליא – and plastered it with plaster and made it plaster in the manner that they that make for ovens.

ר' אליעזר מטהר – for since there is sand between the fissures, it is like it is broken.

וחכמים מטמאין – for the plaster makes all of it one and connects/attaches all of the fissures, and even though there is sand between each tile.

וזהו תנורו של עכנאי – therefore it is called “The Oven of Akhnai,” that they encircled it with Halakhot like this snake and defiled it (see Tractate Berakhot 19a and Tractate Bava Metzia 59b). עכנא is a snake, that its custom is to make itself like a circle and to have its tail enter into its mouth, such is how they surrounded with responses and proofs of Rabbi Eliezer and the Sages each with the other, on this oven. And at the end, because Rabbi Eliezer was an individual [opinion] against the majority (i.e., the Sages), the law was decided like the Sages and not according to Rabbi Eliezer. And they brought all of the pure things that Rabbi Eliezer declared pure and burned them in fire and the decided to excommunicate him, because he encouraged dispute against the majority view.

יורות הערביין (cauldrons/improvised fire places of the Arabs/a cavity in the ground laid out with clay) – they are made to break bread, as will be explained further on.

של בן דינאי – My Rabbis explained the name of a person who would make these ovens (see Tractate Sotah, Chapter 9, Mishnah 9). And I heard that is on account of the fact that they judged many laws.

של אבן ושל מתכת טהור – [an oven] that is of stone is completely pure, and that of metal is pure from the law of an earthenware vessel, which does not defile from its airspace, and it has purity.

וטמא משום כלי מתכות – that it becomes susceptible to receive defilement from its outside and becomes a primary source of ritual impurity. But if it is attached to the ground, it does not defile, for all that is attached to the ground, behold it is like the ground, except for an oven and a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots which are of earthenware, as it is written concerning them (Leviticus 11:35): “[Everything on which the carcass of any of them falls shall be unclean:] an oven or stove shall be smashed,” that which has breaking up/cutting out.

ניקב נפגם נסדק – and he made a treatment of plaster to close up the perforation or the damage or the crack. Or he made at its mouth a supplement of plaster, it is impure, like the law of an earthenware oven.

וכן בכירה – and similarly, the measurement of a perforation of a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots, in order that the flame can exude through it, like the measurement of the earthenware oven.

ועשה לה פטפוטין (if he made legs for the stove – so that it no longer rests immediately on the ground) – here it does not teach: “that he made for it plaster/paste” [because] they don’t make plaster/paste for a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots that was perforated, damaged or cracked like they do for an oven, but rather, when it was perforated or damaged, the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots is in the place of the perforation to make legs for the stove, they are the legs of the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots, like TRIPID in the foreign language, that the portable stove on feet with caves for two pots sits on these legs for the stove.

מרחה בטיט – [if he spread plaster over it] it is pure, for the spreading/smearing of plaster on it, has no effect other than with an oven that they bread read inside it, but not with a portable stove on feet with caves for two pots, because they don’t bake or cook within this portable stove on feet with caves for two pots itself, but they leave it it within it or on top of the pot. But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Yehuda.