One who makes a new light hole, its minimum size is that of a hole made by the large drill of the Temple chamber. The remains of a light-hole [the size is] two fingerbreadths high by a thumb-breadth broad. The following is considered the remains of a light-hole: a window that a person had blocked up but had not been able to finish [being blocked up]. [A hole] that was bored by water, or by reptiles or eaten away by salt: the minimum size is that of a fist. If he intended to use it, its minimum size is one handbreadth square; For lighting its minimum size is that of a hole made by the drill. The holes in grating or lattice-work may be joined together to form [an opening] the size of a hole made by the drill, according to the opinion of Bet Shammai. Bet Hillel says: unless there is a hole of the size made by the drill in one place. [The above applies] for purposes of allowing the uncleanness to come in or to go out. Rabbi Shimon says: only for allowing the uncleanness to come in; but for allowing the uncleanness to go out [the minimum size] is one handbreadth square.
[With regard to] a window made for letting in air, its minimum size is that of a hole made by the drill. If a house was built outside it, its minimum size becomes one handbreadth square. If a roof was placed at the height of the middle of the window, the minimum size of the lower part is one handbreadth square and of the upper part that of a hole made by the drill.
[With regard to] a hole in the door: Its minimum size is that of a fist, the words of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Tarfon says: one handbreadth square. If the carpenter had left a space at the bottom or the top [of the door] or if one had shut [the door] but not closed it tightly, or if the wind blew it open, the minimum size is that of a fist.
One who makes a place for a rod, for tongs, or a lamp, the minimum size is whatever is needful, according to the word of Bet Shammai. Bet Hillel says: one handbreadth square. [If it was made] for a peep-hole, for speaking through to his fellow, or for [human] use, the minimum size is one handbreadth square.
The following [objects serve to] reduce [the area of a square] handbreadth:[A portion] of less than an olive-size of flesh [of a corpse] reduces [the opening for uncleanness that is] caused by a quarter of a kav of bones [from a corpse]; [A portion] of less than a barley-corn size of bone reduces [the opening for uncleanness that is] caused by an olive-sized portion of flesh; Less than an olive-sized portion of a corpse, Less than an olive-sized portion of carrion, Less than a lentil-sized portion of sheretz; Less than an egg-sized portion of food; Produce growing next to the window, A cobweb having substance; The carcass of a clean bird that he did not intend to eat, And the carcass of an unclean bird that had been intended [for food] that had not been rendered susceptible [to uncleanness], or which had been rendered susceptible [to uncleanness] but had not been intended [for food].
The following do not reduce [the area of the window]: Bone does not reduce [the area] for [other] bones; Nor [corpse] flesh for [other] flesh; Nor an olive-sized [portion] of a corpse; Nor an olive-sized portion of carrion; Nor a lentil-sized portion of reptile; Nor an egg-sized portion of food; Nor produce growing in the windows; Nor a cobweb having no substance; Nor the carcass of a clean bird which had been intended [for food]; Nor the carcass of an unclean bird which had been intended [for food] and had been rendered susceptible to uncleanness; Nor warp and woof threads that have negaim; Nor a brick from a bet haperas, the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say: the brick can reduce, because the dust [of the bet haperas] is clean. This is the general rule: what is clean reduces [the area], and what is unclean does not reduce it.
הָעוֹשֶׂה מָאוֹר בַּתְּחִלָּה, שִׁעוּרוֹ מְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ גָּדוֹל שֶׁל לִשְׁכָּה. שְׁיָרֵי הַמָּאוֹר, רוּם אֶצְבָּעַיִם עַל רֹחַב הַגּוּדָל. אֵלּוּ הֵן שְׁיָרֵי הַמָּאוֹר, חַלּוֹן שֶׁסְּתָמָהּ וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לְגָמְרָהּ. חֲרָרוּהוּ מַיִם אוֹ שְׁרָצִים אוֹ שֶׁאֲכָלַתּוּ מַלַּחַת, שִׁעוּרוֹ מְלֹא אֶגְרוֹף. חָשַׁב עָלָיו לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, שִׁעוּרוֹ פוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. לְמָאוֹר, שִׁעוּרוֹ מְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ. הַסְּרִיגוֹת וְהָרְפָפוֹת מִצְטָרְפוֹת כִּמְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ, כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּאי. בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בְמָקוֹם אֶחָד מְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ. לְהָבִיא הַטֻּמְאָה וּלְהוֹצִיא הַטֻּמְאָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, לְהָבִיא הַטֻּמְאָה, אֲבָל לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה בְּפוֹתֵחַ טָפַח:
One who makes a new light hole, its minimum size is that of a hole made by the large drill of the Temple chamber. The remains of a light-hole [the size is] two fingerbreadths high by a thumb-breadth broad. The following is considered the remains of a light-hole: a window that a person had blocked up but had not been able to finish [being blocked up]. [A hole] that was bored by water, or by reptiles or eaten away by salt: the minimum size is that of a fist. If he intended to use it, its minimum size is one handbreadth square; For lighting its minimum size is that of a hole made by the drill. The holes in grating or lattice-work may be joined together to form [an opening] the size of a hole made by the drill, according to the opinion of Bet Shammai. Bet Hillel says: unless there is a hole of the size made by the drill in one place. [The above applies] for purposes of allowing the uncleanness to come in or to go out. Rabbi Shimon says: only for allowing the uncleanness to come in; but for allowing the uncleanness to go out [the minimum size] is one handbreadth square.
חַלּוֹן שֶׁהִיא לַאֲוִיר, שִׁעוּרָהּ מְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ. בָּנָה בַיִת חוּצָה לָהּ, שִׁעוּרָהּ בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. נָתַן אֶת הַתִּקְרָה בְאֶמְצַע הַחַלּוֹן, הַתַּחְתּוֹן בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח, וְהָעֶלְיוֹן מְלֹא מַקְדֵּחַ:
[With regard to] a window made for letting in air, its minimum size is that of a hole made by the drill. If a house was built outside it, its minimum size becomes one handbreadth square. If a roof was placed at the height of the middle of the window, the minimum size of the lower part is one handbreadth square and of the upper part that of a hole made by the drill.
הַחוֹר שֶׁבַּדֶּלֶת, שִׁעוּרוֹ מְלֹא אֶגְרוֹף, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר, בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. שִׁיֵּר בָּהּ הֶחָרָשׁ מִלְּמַטָּן אוֹ מִלְמַעְלָן, הֱגִיפָהּ וְלֹא מֵרְקָהּ, אוֹ שֶׁפְּתָחַתּוּ הָרוּחַ, שִׁעוּרוֹ מְלֹא אֶגְרוֹף:
[With regard to] a hole in the door: Its minimum size is that of a fist, the words of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Tarfon says: one handbreadth square. If the carpenter had left a space at the bottom or the top [of the door] or if one had shut [the door] but not closed it tightly, or if the wind blew it open, the minimum size is that of a fist.
הָעוֹשֶׂה מָקוֹם לְקָנֶה, וּלְאִסְפָּתִי, וּלְנֵר, שִׁעוּרוֹ כָּל שֶׁהוּא, כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּאי. בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, בְּפוֹתֵחַ טֶפַח. לָזוּן אֶת עֵינָיו, וּלְדַבֵּר עִם חֲבֵרוֹ, וּלְתַשְׁמִישׁ, בְּפוֹתֵחַ טָפַח:
One who makes a place for a rod, for tongs, or a lamp, the minimum size is whatever is needful, according to the word of Bet Shammai. Bet Hillel says: one handbreadth square. [If it was made] for a peep-hole, for speaking through to his fellow, or for [human] use, the minimum size is one handbreadth square.
אֵלּוּ מְמַעֲטִין אֶת הַטֶּפַח. פָּחוֹת מִכַּזַּיִת בָּשָׂר מְמַעֵט עַל יְדֵי רֹבַע עֲצָמוֹת, וּפָחוֹת מֵעֶצֶם כַּשְּׂעֹרָה מְמַעֵט עַל יְדֵי כַזַּיִת בָּשָׂר. פָּחוֹת מִכַּזַּיִת מִן הַמֵּת, פָּחוֹת מִכַּזַּיִת מִן הַנְּבֵלָה, פָּחוֹת מִכָּעֲדָשָׁה מִן הַשֶּׁרֶץ, פָּחוֹת מִכַּבֵּיצָה אֳכָלִים, הַתְּבוּאָה שֶׁבַּחַלּוֹן, וְכָכַי שֶׁיֶּשׁ בָּהּ מַמָּשׁ, וְנִבְלַת הָעוֹף הַטָּהוֹר שֶׁלֹּא חִשַּׁב עָלֶיהָ, וְנִבְלַת עוֹף הַטָּמֵא שֶׁחִשַּׁב עָלֶיהָ וְלֹא הִכְשִׁירָהּ, אוֹ הִכְשִׁירָהּ וְלֹא חִשַּׁב עָלֶיהָ:
The following [objects serve to] reduce [the area of a square] handbreadth:[A portion] of less than an olive-size of flesh [of a corpse] reduces [the opening for uncleanness that is] caused by a quarter of a kav of bones [from a corpse]; [A portion] of less than a barley-corn size of bone reduces [the opening for uncleanness that is] caused by an olive-sized portion of flesh; Less than an olive-sized portion of a corpse, Less than an olive-sized portion of carrion, Less than a lentil-sized portion of sheretz; Less than an egg-sized portion of food; Produce growing next to the window, A cobweb having substance; The carcass of a clean bird that he did not intend to eat, And the carcass of an unclean bird that had been intended [for food] that had not been rendered susceptible [to uncleanness], or which had been rendered susceptible [to uncleanness] but had not been intended [for food].
אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵינָן מְמַעֲטִים. אֵין הָעֶצֶם מְמַעֵט עַל יְדֵי עֲצָמוֹת, וְלֹא בָשָׂר עַל יְדֵי בָשָׂר, וְלֹא כַזַּיִת מִן הַמֵּת, וְלֹא כַזַּיִת מִן הַנְּבֵלָה, וְלֹא כָעֲדָשָׁה מִן הַשֶּׁרֶץ, וְלֹא כַבֵּיצָה אֳכָלִים, וְלֹא תְבוּאָה שֶׁבַּחַלּוֹנוֹת, וְלֹא כָכַי שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ מַמָּשׁ, וְלֹא נִבְלַת הָעוֹף הַטָּהוֹר שֶׁחִשַּׁב עָלֶיהָ, וְלֹא נִבְלַת עוֹף הַטָּמֵא שֶׁחִשַּׁב עָלֶיהָ וְהִכְשִׁירָהּ, וְלֹא הַשְּׁתִי וְהָעֵרֶב הַמְנֻגָּעִים, וְלֹא לְבֵנָה מִבֵּית הַפְּרָס, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, הַלְּבֵנָה מְמַעֶטֶת, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֲפָרָהּ טָהוֹר. זֶה הַכְּלָל, הַטָּהוֹר מְמַעֵט, וְהַטָּמֵא אֵינוֹ מְמַעֵט:
The following do not reduce [the area of the window]: Bone does not reduce [the area] for [other] bones; Nor [corpse] flesh for [other] flesh; Nor an olive-sized [portion] of a corpse; Nor an olive-sized portion of carrion; Nor a lentil-sized portion of reptile; Nor an egg-sized portion of food; Nor produce growing in the windows; Nor a cobweb having no substance; Nor the carcass of a clean bird which had been intended [for food]; Nor the carcass of an unclean bird which had been intended [for food] and had been rendered susceptible to uncleanness; Nor warp and woof threads that have negaim; Nor a brick from a bet haperas, the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say: the brick can reduce, because the dust [of the bet haperas] is clean. This is the general rule: what is clean reduces [the area], and what is unclean does not reduce it.