מסכת כלים

פרק כח משנה ב

פחות משלשה על שלשה

Less than three by three (handbreadths of cloth)

that was designated

to plug with it the bath (some say that this refers to holes in the walls of the bathhouse, others that it is the drain of the tub),

to pour with it the pot (i.e. to use as a potholder),

(or) to wipe clean the millstone (from dust),

whether prepared (by placing it on a peg for this purpose)

whether not prepared (by being placed behind a door),

is tamei (as, while these uses are insignificant, the cloth has not been treated with the disregard of being thrown in the trash, and so still has some value),

these are the words of Rabbi Eliezer;

Rabbi Yehoshua says

whether prepared

whether not prepared,

it is tahor (since the cloth was not stored in a chest, which it would have been if it was still valued);

Rabbi Akiva says

when prepared it is tamei,

that which is not prepared is tahor.

העושה אספלנית

One who made a poultice (a soft, moist mass of material, sometimes comprised of oil, fat, or butter mixed with wax, spread on a cloth or other material and applied to the body to relieve wounds, soreness or inflammation)

whether with a cloth, whether with hide

it is tahor (the cloth or hide is considered ruined by being soiled for this use);

רבי יוסי אומר

Rabbi Yosi says

על העור טהור

for the hide it is tahor (as he held that could not be cleaned, as opposed to the cloth which could);

a masticated poultice (comprised of figs, wheat and flour that has been chewed before being spread on the cloth or leather),

on cloth is tahor (as it could not be cleaned off)

and on hide is tamei (as it could be cleaned);

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says,

also on a cloth will be tamei,

as it can be shaken off (after it dries).