Derasha 151 on Vayikra 11:24

TT #153 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 24

The Complete Passuk

וּלְאֵלֶּה תִּטַּמָּאוּ כָּל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּנִבְלָתָם יִטְמָא עַד־הָעָרֶב:

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 11 with Rashi

English: And the following shall make you impure—whoever touches their carcass shall be impure until evening.

Source Citation

Chullin 126b.

E-Daf.com — Chullin 126b (Tsurras Hadaf)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

כָּל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּנִבְלָתָם. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, בְּנִבְלָתָם וְלֹא בְּקוֹלִית סְתוּמָה, יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ נִקְּבָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר הַנּוֹגֵעַ יִטְמָא, אֶת שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לִגַּע טָמֵא וְאֶת שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לִגַּע טָהוֹר.

Type of Learning

Textual precision — The wording limits impurity to contact with a carcass in a condition that can actually be touched.

What Is Learned

A closed hollow bone does not convey the stated impurity because the inner material cannot be touched; a perforated bone can.