The Mishnah
שקלים ח׳Shekalim 8
Perek 8 of 8 in Shekalim — 8 mishnayot
Mishnah 1א׳
כָּל הָרֻקִּין הַנִּמְצָאִים בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם טְהוֹרִין, חוּץ מִשֶּׁל שׁוּק הָעֶלְיוֹן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה, שֶׁבָּאֶמְצַע טְמֵאִין וְשֶׁבַּצְּדָדִין טְהוֹרִין. וּבִשְׁעַת הָרֶגֶל, שֶׁבָּאֶמְצַע טְהוֹרִין וְשֶׁבַּצְּדָדִין טְמֵאִין, שֶׁמִּפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן מֻעָטִין מִסְתַּלְּקִין לַצְּדָדִין:
Any saliva found in Jerusalem is pure [i.e. assumed to not be from a zav, whose saliva defiles people or vessels], except that which is found in the upper market [since defiled persons would congregate there]; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosi says: During other times of the year, whatever saliva is found in the middle of the road is deemed [to be from] impure [persons], while saliva found at the sides of the road is deemed [to be from] pure [persons]. But in the season of the festivals, the saliva found in the middle of the road is assumed to be pure, whereas the saliva found on the sides of the road is assumed to be impure, since impure persons are in the minority at festival time, and because they are in the minority, they move over to the sides of the road.
Mishnah 2ב׳
כָּל הַכֵּלִים הַנִּמְצָאִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם דֶּרֶךְ יְרִידָה לְבֵית הַטְבִילָה טְמֵאִין. דֶּרֶךְ עֲלִיָּה, טְהוֹרִין, שֶׁלֹּא כְּדֶרֶךְ יְרִידָתָן עֲלִיָּתָן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, כֻּלָּן טְהוֹרִין, חוּץ מִן הַסַּל וְהַמַּגְרֵפָה וְהַמְּרִצָּה הַמְיֻחָדִין לַקְּבָרוֹת:
All vessels found in Jerusalem on the path leading down to the house of immersion are [assumed to be] impure, but those found on the path up are [deemed] pure. For the path leading down is not the same path leading up; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosi says: All vessels are [deemed to be] pure, except for the basket, shovel, and crusher which are reserved for use in burial-places.
Mishnah, Torat Emet 357 edition, via Sefaria — public domain
English: Sefaria Community Translation — CC0