For the source text click/tap here: Nazir 55
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Although a nazir cannot allow himself to become tameh met, not all situations of tum’at met will force him to begin his nezirut over again.
According to the Mishna there are many cases where the nazir may formally become tameh met, but he will not need to begin his nezirut over again, rather he will have to wait a week and undergo the process of taharah .
One such case is tum’at eretz ha-amim – the ritual defilement of foreign lands. There are two suggestions made by the Gemara to explain this enactment of the Sages. Tum’at eretz ha-amim is either mishum avira – “because of its air” – or mishum gusha – “because of its earth.” Rashi explains these positions as technical statements.
The Gemara is asking whether a person must step on the ground outside of the land of Israel to become tameh, or whether even traveling through its air would be enough to subject the individual to rabbinic tum’ah.
We explore the halachic issues in leaving Eret Yirsoel for Eretz Ha’Amim