Defilement That Makes a Person Liable for the Sanctuary

(Leviticus 5:2-3) "Or a soul that touches any unclean thing." The early elders said: one might think that even one who touched through a secondary degree of impurity should be liable; Scripture says "the carcass of a wild beast, the carcass of a domestic animal, the carcass of a creeping thing" - just as these are distinguished as primary sources of impurity, so a thing that is not a primary source is excluded. Rabbi Akiva said: one might think that even one who touched foodstuffs, liquids, or earthenware vessels should be liable; Scripture says "animal" - just as an animal is distinguished as a primary source of impurity, so these, which are not primary sources, are excluded. And in a matter you learn for one direction, you learn for all the directions it contains. Just as an unclean animal is distinguished in that its touch is separated from its carrying, a primary source of impurity that defiles a person and defiles garments, so I include only what is similar to it. What do I include? I include the lesser quantity of waters of purification and the saddle, whose touch is separated from their carrying, made primary sources that defile a person and defile garments. When Scripture says "any unclean thing," it comes to include the greater quantity of waters of purification, and the couch, whose touch is equal to its carrying, made primary sources that defile a person and defile garments. When Scripture says "any unclean thing," it comes to include one who burns the red cow and the bulls and one who sends away the scapegoat, who defile garments. When Scripture says "any unclean thing," it comes to include the wrappings, the loosened hairs, and the wall - the words of Rabbi Yehuda.