Mishnah Makhshirin

1:1. Any liquid that is desired at the start, even though it is not desired at the end, or, if it is desired at the end, even though it was not desired at the start, [it] comes under the law of if water is put [on it] (Leviticus 11:38). Impure liquids transfer impurity [whether their presence] is desired or not desired. [ . . . ]

3:5. [If] one dampens [fruit] in dried clay, R. Simeon says: If there is liquid dripping onto it, it comes under the law of if water is put [on it], and if not, it does not come under the law of if water is put [on it].

[If] one sprinkles [water] in his granary, he need not worry that he put wheat in it that became damp.

[If] one plucks grass with dew on it in order to dampen wheat with it, that does not come under the law of if water is put [on it]; but if he intended it for that, it comes under the law of if water is put [on it].

[If] one takes wheat to grind and rain falls on it, if he is happy [with this] it comes under the law of if water is put [on it]. R. Judah says: It is impossible not to be happy, but if he stood [in the rain intentionally, it comes under the law of if water is put (on it)].

6. [If] one’s olives were placed on the roof and rain fell upon them, if he is happy [with that] it comes under the law of if water is put [on it]. R. Judah says: It is impossible not to be happy, but if he plugged the gutter or turned them [i.e., the olives, it comes under the law of if water is put (on it)].

7. [If] donkey drivers were crossing a river and their sacks fell into the water, if they were happy [with that], it comes under the law of if water is put [on it]. R. Judah says: It is impossible not to be happy, but if they turned [the sacks, it comes under the law of if water is put (on it)].

[If] one’s legs were covered in mud as were the legs of his animal [and] he crossed the river, if he is happy [with being cleansed], it comes under the law of if water is put[on it] [if the water subsequently falls from him onto fruit]. R. Judah says: It is impossible not to be happy, but if he stood [in the river] and washed, then in the case of a person [it later comes under the law of if water is put (on it)]. In the case of a nonkosher animal, it is always impure [the water makes food susceptible to impurity].

8. [. . . If] one takes an animal down [to the river] to drink, the water that comes into its mouth [comes under the law of] if water is put [on it], but the water on its legs does not come under the law of if water is put [on it].

If he hoped that [the water] would wash its legs, even the water that comes up on its legs comes under the law of if water is put [on it]. At a time when [the animal’s legs] are sore or it is threshing, the [water that touches its legs] is always impure.

[If] a deaf-mute, a legally incompetent person, or a minor took [the animal] down [to drink], even if he hoped that [the water] would wash its legs, it does not come under the law of if water is put [on it], because they can act but they have no intention.

Translated by Christine Hayes.