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THE DAFYOMI DISCUSSION LIST
brought to you by Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Tefach
PB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asked:
Some questions because I am told a tefach is between 8cm and 9.6 cm, re;
size of a tefach.
Has a tefach always been a relative measure based upon the individual
maker's or describer's own hand and thus a relative term/measure? In other
words is it possible for the actual handbreath of a given individual to be
smaller or larger than a tefach/handbreath/fist? Is/has a tefach ever had
an absolute meaning/been a precise common measurement like a an inch/foot
or centimeter/meter--meaning the a particular handbreath of a particular
hand rather than just a handbreath of whoever's hand? I am thinking the
range of 8cm to 9.6cm is based upon observable hands and things made by
persons using their own hands as the measure of a tefach?
How is a tefach taken/made? Across what part of a hand is a tefach? Across
second joint of fingers? Across knuckles of fist? Please is important for m
to know the answers to these quetions.
Thank you,
PB, USA
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The Kollel replies:
Although the concept of the Tefach is generally related to the width of a
hand (along the knuckles, from the fifth to second fingers), it is
nevertheless a standard measure that does not relate directly to the hand
of the measurer or to any particular hand, much like the foot (which does
not relate to the foot of the measurer, but undoubtedly was conceptually
related to the length of a common foot.) In a similar vein, we find that
the measure of a "Beitzah," the size of an egg, is not measured by large
eggs or small eggs but by the average sized egg (Mishnah, Kelim 17:6). The
same should apply here; there was a standard measure.
Of course that does not mean that every Tefach was the same down to the
micrometer; a certain amount of variance would be expected due to the
inherent inaccuracy of the systems of measurement that were used.
Halachically, it seems that such variance was taken into consideration and
was permitted.
The range is due to differences of opinion as to the interpretation of the
Halachah. It varies between 7.6 (Rambam, according to contemporary
archeological sources) to 8 (Rav Chayim Na'eh) to 9.6 (Chazon Ish).
M. Kornfeld
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