The Nature of Nullification Legal Fiction or Metaphysical Transformation?

(7) Rabbi Eliezer says: Terumah can be removed [if it falls into a mixture] of one hundred and one [times its size]. Rabbi Joshua says: in a hundred and more, and this 'more' has no definite measure. Rabbi Yosi ben Meshullam says: this 'more' must be a Kav [specific unit of volume] to a hundred Se'ah, a sixth [of the Se'ah] renders it a prohibited mixture.

(1) If a Se'ah [specific unit of volume] of impure Terumah [produce consecrated for priestly consumption] fell into less than a hundred [Se'ah] of Chulin [non-sacred produce], or into Ma'aser Rishon [first tithe, which must be given to the Levite], or into Ma'aser Sheni [second tithe, which must be eaten in Jerusalem], or into Hekdesh [consecrated donation], whether these were impure or pure, they must all [be left to] rot. If the Se'ah [of Terumah] was pure, [the mixture] should be sold to priests at the price of Terumah, excluding the value of that Se'ah [itself]. If it fell into Ma'aser Rishon, he should declare Terumat Ma'aser [a portion of the tithes that is given to the priest]. And if it fell into Ma'aser Sheni or into Hekdesh, they must be redeemed. If the Chulin was impure, it may be eaten in small quantities, or roasted, or kneaded with fruit juice, or divided into pieces of dough so that there is not in any one place [a piece of dough] the size of an egg.

(2) If a Se'ah of impure Terumah fell into a hundred [Se'ah] of pure Chulin, Rabbi Eliezer says: [a Se'ah] must be set aside as Terumah and burned, for I say that the Se'ah that fell in is the Se'ah that was brought up. But the Sages say: it may be brought up and eaten in small quantities, or roasted, or kneaded with fruit juice, or divided into pieces of dough so that there is not in any one place [a piece of dough] the size of an egg.

(3) If a Se'ah of pure Terumah fell into a hundred [Se'ah] of impure Chulin, it may be eaten in small quantities, or roasted, or kneaded with fruit juice, or divided into pieces of dough so that there is not in any one place [a piece of dough] the size of an egg.

(4) If a Se'ah of impure Terumah fell into a hundred Se'ah of pure Terumah: Beit Shammai prohibits, but Beit Hillel permits. Beit Hillel said to Beit Shammai: since pure [Terumah] is forbidden to non-priests and impure [Terumah is forbidden] to priests, then just as pure [Terumah] may be brought up, so too may impure [Terumah] be brought up. Beit Shammai answered them: No! If lenient Chulin, which is permitted to non-priests, may allow us to bring up pure [Terumah that fell into it], does stringent Terumah, which is forbidden to non-priests, allow us to bring up impure [Terumah that fell into it]? After they agreed, Rabbi Eliezer said: it should be set aside as Terumah and burned. But the Sages say: it has disappeared on account of its being a minor [portion of the mixture].

(5) If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into a hundred [of Chulin], and he lifted it out and it fell into [Chulin] elsewhere: Rabbi Eliezer says: it renders it a prohibited mixture as though it were certainly Terumah. But the Sages say: it renders it a prohibited mixture only according to proportion.

(6) If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into less than a hundred [of Chulin], and rendered it a prohibited mixture, and part of the prohibited mixture [then] fell into another place: Rabbi Eliezer says: it renders [that second mixture] prohibited as if certain Terumah [had fallen in]. But the Sages say: the mixture renders [another mixture] prohibited only according to proportion. And that which is leavened [with Terumah] renders other dough leavened [as if with Terumah] only according to proportion. And drawn water disqualifies a Mikvah [ritual bath] also only according to proportion.

(7) If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into a hundred [of Chulin] and he lifted [a Se'ah] out and then another fell in, and he lifted another out and another fell in, this is permitted until the amount of Terumah exceeds that of the Chulin.

(8) If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into a hundred [of Chulin], and before he could take it out another fell in, this is forbidden. Rabbi Shimon permits it.

(9) If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into a hundred [of Chulin], and they were ground up and reduced [in bulk], just as the Chulin was reduced so too the Terumah was reduced, and it is permitted. If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into less than a hundred [of Chulin] and they were ground up and increased in bulk, just as the Chulin increased so too the Terumah increased, and it is forbidden. If it is known that the kernels of Chulin were better than those of Terumah, it is permitted. If a Se'ah of Terumah fell into less than a hundred [of Chulin], and [more] Chulin fell in afterwards, if it was unintentional it is permissible, but if intentional it is forbidden.

(1) Terumah [a portion of a crop given to a Kohen, priest, pl. Kohanim, which becomes holy upon separation, and can only be consumed by Kohanim or their household] and Terumat Ma'aser [a tenth of the tithe given to a Levi, Levite, which must, in turn, be given to a Kohen and which becomes holy upon separation, and can only be consumed by Kohanim or their household] of Demai [produce from which it is uncertain whether tithes were already taken], Challah [a portion of a batch of bread dough given to a Kohen which becomes holy upon separation, and can only be consumed by Kohanim or their household] and Bikkurim [first-fruits that must be brought to the Temple in Jerusalem and given to the Kohen] are nullified in one hundred and one parts, and they are mixed together and require elevation. Orlah [the fruit of a tree during the first three years after its planting, the consumption or usage of which is forbidden] and Kilayim [the product of forbidden crossbreeding] of the vineyard are nullified in two hundred and one parts, and they are mixed together, and they do not require elevation. Rabbi Shimon says, they are not mixed together. Rabbi Eliezer says, they are mixed with the giver of flavor, but not to forbid.

(2) Terumah can [add volume to achieve the minimum to] neutralize Orlah, and Orlah can [add volume to achieve the minimum to] neutralize Terumah. How so? A Se'ah [a specific unit of volume] of Terumah which fell into one hundred [Se’ah of normal foodstuff], and afterwards three Kavin of Orlah or three Kavin of mixed seed in the vineyard fell in; this is [an instance] where Terumah can neutralize Orlah, and Orlah can neutralize Terumah.

(3) Orlah can neutralize Kilayim, and Kilayim [neutralize] Orlah, and Orlah [neutralize] Orlah. How so? A Se’ah of Orlah which falls into two hundred [Se’ah of normal foodstuff] and afterwards more than a Se’ah of Orlah [falls in], or more than a Se’ah of Kilayim of the vineyard; this is [a case] where Orlah can neutralize Kilayim, and Kilayim [can neutralize] Orlah, and Orlah [can neutralize] Orlah.

(4) All that cause fermentation, or season, or make a mixture Meduma [mixture of Chullin, permitted foodstuff, and Terumah that is forbidden to non-Kohanim] when mixed with Terumah or with Orlah or with Kilayim of the vineyard, is prohibited. Bet Shammai say, it also defiles. But Bet Hillel say, it does not defile unless it has [the volume of] an egg.

(5) Dostai, of the village of Yitmah, was one of the disciples of Bet Shammai, and he said, I received a tradition from Shammai the elder who said, it [one of the items mentioned above] never defiles unless it contains [the volume of an] egg.

(6) And concerning what they said, All that cause fermentation, or season, or make a mixture Meduma when is [the rule applied] stringently? [In the case of] a species [mixed] with its [like] species. [When is the rule applied sometimes] leniently and [sometimes] stringently? [In the case of] a species [mixed] with a different kind of species. How so? If leaven of wheat fell into wheat dough and there is enough to cause leavening, whether there is enough to neutralize in one hundred and one, or there is not enough to neutralize in one hundred and one, it is prohibited. If there is not enough to neutralize in one hundred and one, whether there is enough to cause leavening or there is not enough to cause leavening, it is prohibited.

(7) How is [this teaching of “All that cause fermentation, or season, or make a mixture Meduma” applied to yield both] a lenient and a strict ruling, [in the case of] one kind [of produce] mixed with [produce] of the same kind? Crushed beans [of Terumah] that were cooked with lentils [which are not Terumah], and they contain enough to impart flavor [to the lentils], whether there was [enough Terumah] to be neutralized in one hundred and one, or whether there is not [enough Terumah] to be neutralized in one hundred and one, it is forbidden [and this is the strict ruling]; if there is not enough of them to impart flavor [to the lentils], whether there was [enough Terumah] to be neutralized in one hundred and one, or whether there is not [enough Terumah] to be neutralized in one hundred and one, it is permitted [and this is the lenient ruling].

(8) If leaven of Chullin has fallen into dough, and there is enough to make it ferment, and after that leaven of Terumah or Kilayim of the vineyard [fell in], and there was enough to cause leavening, [the dough] is prohibited.

(9) If leaven of Chullin has fallen into dough and caused it to ferment, and after that leaven of Terumah or Kilayim of the vineyard fell in, and there was enough to cause leavening, [the dough] is prohibited. [But,] Rabbi Shimon permits it.

(10) Spices of two or three [categories of prohibitions], of one species, or of three different species of spices [of one category of prohibition], render a mixture prohibited by combining together. Rabbi Shimon says, the mixture of two or three categories of prohibition of one species, or two species of one category of prohibition do not combine together.

(11) Leaven of Chullin, and of Terumah that fell into a dough and individually, each does not have a sufficient quantity to cause fermentation, but taken together, they did cause fermentation: Rabbi Eliezer says, I go after the last one that fell; but the Sages say, regardless of whether the forbidden leaven fell in first, or last, never does the dough become prohibited, unless there is a sufficient amount to cause fermentation on its own.

(12) Yoezer, a man of Birah, was one of the disciples of the House of Shammai, and he said, I asked Rabban Gamliel the Elder, as he was standing at the Eastern Gate, and he said, regardless of whether the forbidden fell in first, or last, never does the dough become prohibited, unless there is a sufficient amount to cause fermentation on its own.

(14) If leaven of Terumah and leaven of Kilayim of the vineyard fell into a dough and each individually does not have enough of a quantity to effect fermentation, but together, they did cause fermentation, the dough is prohibited to non-Kohanim, and permitted to Kohanim. Rabbi Shimon allows to both non-Kohanim and Kohanim.

(15) If spices of the Terumah and if Kilayim of the vineyard have fallen into a pot, and each individually does not have a sufficient quantity to properly season, but together, they did cause proper seasoning, it is forbidden to non-Kohanim, but permitted to Kohanim. Rabbi Shimon allows it to both Kohanim and non-Kohanim.