Yadayim

("Hands"). Eleventh tractate of Order Tohorot in the Mishnah. Its four chapters deal with the uncleanness of the hands and their purification. The Mishnah describes how the hands can become ritually unclean (either first-degree or second-degree uncleanness), the quantity of water needed to cleanse them, the kinds of vessels which may be used, the ways of pouring water over the hands, and cases of doubtful uncleanness. The last chapter discusses the validity of various offerings, the tithes given by Jews outside the Land of Israel, and several disagreements regarding Ritual Purity and TITHES between the PHARISEES and the SADDUCEES. The subject matter is amplified in the tosefta.

---