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1) WHEN IS REKEV TAMEI?

(a) (Beraisa): When is Rekev Tamei? If the corpse was buried without clothes in a marble casket, or on a stone floor;
(b) If it was buried clothed, or in a wooden casket or on a brick floor, the Rekev is Tahor.
(c) (Ula): Rekev is Tamei only if it came from flesh, sinews and bones.
(d) Question (Rava - Beraisa): Rekev which comes from flesh is Tahor.

1. We infer - if it came from bones, even without flesh, it would be Tamei!

(e) Answer: No - the Beraisa means, Rekev which comes from flesh is Tahor, unless there were bones with the flesh.
(f) Question: But there are no sinews!
(g) Answer: Whenever there are flesh and bones, there are sinews.
(h) (Rav Shemen bar Aba): 2 corpses buried together are Galgalin to each other (each counts as a foreign decaying matter which causes the Rekev of the other to be Tahor).
(i) Question (R. Noson b'Rebbi Ushiya - Beraisa): Rekev which comes from 2 corpses is Tamei.
(j) Answer (Rava): They were buried separately and decayed; they combined to form a spoon's worth of Rekev.

(a) (Rabah bar bar Chanah): If the hair was cut and buried with the corpse, it is Galgalin to the corpse.
(b) (Mishnah): Every part of a corpse is Tamei, except for the teeth, hair and nails; when they are attached, even these are Tamei.
(c) Question (Chizhiyah): Hair and nails of a corpse that are standing to be cut - are they considered as if they are already cut; or, as attached)? (This determines whether they are Tamei; alternatively - whether they are Galgalin to the corpse)
(d) Suggestion: We can infer the answer from Rabah bar bar Chanah.

1. They are only Galgalin because they were cut; if they were only standing to be cut, they would be considered attached!

(e) Rejection: No - Rabah bar bar Chanah was certain, if cut they are Galgalin; he was unsure if they are only standing to be cut.
(f) Question (R. Yirmeyah): Rekev of the heel - is it Tamei?

1. Does the law of Rekev not apply to Rekev of the heel (since this area is dead even in a man's lifetime) - or is there no distinction?

(g) Answer (R. Noson b'Rebbi Ushiya - Beraisa): Rekev which comes from 2 corpses is Tamei.

1. (We answered above, exactly 1 spoonful came from the combined corpses.) If Rekev from the heel is Tahor - perhaps some of the spoonful came from the heel, and the quantity for Tum'ah is lacking!

(h) Rejection: We never had a question if the entire body decayed, and the Rekev came only from the heel (this is surely Tamei).
(i) Clarification of question: If only the heel and the surrounding area decomposed - is the Rekev Tamei?

1. This question is unresolved.

(j) Question #1 (R. Yirmeyah): A fetus in the womb - is it Galgalin to the mother?

1. Do we say, since a fetus is considered as a limb of the mother, it is as part of her body, and is not Galgalin.

(k) Question #2: If we say, a fetus is Galgalin - is semen in the womb Galgalin?

1. Do we say, since the fetus was not yet formed, it is as part of her body?
2. Or, since it came from outside of her, is it not as part if her?

(l) Question (Rav Papa): Is excrement inside her Galgalin?

1. Do we say, since she cannot live without eating, it is as part of her?
2. Or, since it came from outside of her, is it not as part if her?

(m) Question (Rav Acha brei d'Rav Ika): Is skin (Rashi - phlegm: Birkas Rosh - hair (not about to be cut)) Galgalin?
(n) Question (Rav Huna bar Mano'ach): Are phlegm and mucus Galgalin?
(o) Question (Rav Shmuel bar Acha): If all of these are Galgalin - what is the case of Rekev that is Tamei?
(p) Answer (Rav Papa): (Shortly before death), he drank water of (a spring between 2 particular) palm trees (which cleans out all waste); the corpse was anointed with a salve (which removes hair) and cooked in hot water of Teverya.
(q) (Abaye): If the corpse was ground up, it is not considered Rekev.
(r) Question: What if it was ground up and later decayed?

1. If Rekev only depends on flesh, sinews and bones that decay - this is Rekev!
2. Or, perhaps the body must be in its normal state and then decay.

i. This question is unresolved.

(a) (Ula bar Chanina): The following laws do not apply to an incomplete corpse:

1. Rekev;
2. Tefusah (if one moves a full corpse, he must take with it the dirt under it);
3. A burial site (if 3 full corpses are found in close proximity, the area is established as a burial site).

(b) Question (Mishnah): ... (the Tum'ah of) a corpse is stringent - (bones comprising the) majority (of the number of bones in the body, or of stature), a quarter Kav of bones, or a spoon's worth of Rekev imparts Tum'ah to a tent; none of these apply to a live person.

1. Question: What is the case (that a corpse has Rekev, but not a live body)?

i. Suggestion: 1 limb decayed - and by a corpse, such Rekev is Tamei!

(c) Answer: No - the Mishnah did not say, corresponding Rekev of a corpse is Tamei!

1. It only says that there is a case of Rekev by a corpse, but Rekev never applies to a live body.

(d) Question (Rava): If a limb decayed in a person's lifetime, and then he died - is the Rekev Tamei?

1. Was the law received only regarding a corpse that decayed?
2. Or, since he is now dead, the law now applies?

(e) Answer (Mishnah): ... (the Tum'ah of) a corpse is stringent - (bones comprising the) majority (of the number of bones, or of stature), a quarter Kav of bones, or a spoon's worth of Rekev imparts Tum'ah to a tent; none of these apply to a live person.

1. We deduce - Rekev does not apply because he is alive - but after death, Rekev applies!

(f) Rejection: No - the Mishnah did not say that Rekev applies after he dies!

1. It only says that there is a case of Rekev by a corpse, but Rekev never applies to a live body.