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There was a discussion about using “Machtzulos - mats” for schach. A mishna discussing the tumah of “Chotzlos” was referenced.

Summary

Question: What are Chotzlos?

Rav Avdimi bar Hamduri: Marzuvli.

Question: What are Marzuvli?

Rabbi Abba: Mazbeli. (A sack of coarse material that’s packed with leaves that can sometimes be used as a cushion. Rabbi Dosa says it can become tamei meis because it’s a keili, but not midras, because it is not made to be used as a cushion. But the Chachomim hold that tumas midras also applies).

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Chotzlos are mats.

Reish Lakish thereby follows his principle as we find:

Reish Lakish: May my suffering provide atonement to Rabbi Chiya and his sons [he so admired them that he wished to take upon himself any of their potential suffering] because in the beginning [of the second temple period] when the Torah was being forgotten (there were many great sages at the time, but the Torah Center of the nation was in Bavel, and in Eretz Yisroel there was a good deal of ignorance) Ezra [with the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah] went up and established it again. It was again forgotten (when the Chachomim fled Eretz Yisroel due to the persecution of the Tzeduki Chashmonai Kings) and Hillel Habavli went up and established it again. Hillel renewed the Torah that was on the verge of being forgotten in Eretz Yisroel. It was once again forgotten (after the war of Beitar when the Romans ravaged all of Eretz Yisroel leaving no places for talmidim to gather) so Rabbi Chiya and his sons [Yehuda and Chizkiyah] went up and established it again (they established Torah schools across the country and raised up a generation of Torah students).

Rabbi Chiya and his sons taught: Rabbi Dosa and the Chachomim agree regarding mats of Usha; they are potentially tamei midras (they’re made of a soft material and are used for sitting or lying on). The mats of Teveriah cannot become tamei with midras.

Their debate is only regarding other small mats. Rabbi Dosa is of the opinion that since they’re not made for sitting on, they’re like the mats of Teveriah. The Chachomim hold that since it happens sometimes that people use them as a seat, they're like the mats of Usha. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate