Keilim 17:4-5

Keilim 17:4

The pomegranate-sized hole that purifies a utensil is one through which a cluster of three can pass. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that the hole in a sifter or a sieve must be one that a pomegranate would fall through when he picks up the utensil and walks with it; for a basket, it must be one that a pomegranate would fall through when he slings it behind him. As far as other vessels that can’t hold pomegranates, like a quarter-kav or eighth-kav measure and small round baskets, the size of a purifying hole must be the major part of them; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Shimon says the size of a purifying hole in such utensils must be such that olives would pass through. If the sides of these utensils are broken, then the hole must be sufficient for olives to fall through. If such utensils are chipped, they are measured as they are.

Keilim 17:5

The pomegranates under discussion are neither small nor large; they are medium-sized. The pomegranates of Badan were mentioned in halacha in that they prohibit other pomegranates in any amount (if the former are orlah mixed with other pomegranates, because the pomegranates of Badan were particularly significant); this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri said that pomegranates of Badan were mentioned in the context of the purifying holes of utensils. Rabbi Akiva said that they were mentioned for both reasons: they're used as the measure of purifying holes in utensils and they prohibit other pomegranates in any amount. Rabbi Yosi said that the pomegranates of Badan and the leeks of Geva were mentioned in halacha only to say that they must be tithed everywhere with definite tithes.