Today's Daf Yomi
September 7, 2021 | א׳ בתשרי תשפ״ב
Masechet Beitzah is dedicated by new friends of Hadran in appreciation of all who find new ways to be marbitzei Torah ba-Rabim ve Rabot.
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This month's learning is sponsored by Leah Goldford in loving memory of her grandmothers, Tzipporah bat Yechezkiel, Rivka Yoda Bat Dovide Tzvi, Bracha Bayla bat Beryl, her father-in-law, Chaim Gershon ben Tzvi Aryeh, her mother, Devorah Rivkah bat Tuvia Hacohen, her cousins, Avrum Baer ben Mordechai, and Sharon bat Yaakov.
Beitzah 7
This is the daf for the first day of Rosh Hashana. For Monday’s daf, click here
Today’s daf is sponsored by Ellen Werlin and Rachel Geballe in honor of the yartzeit of Jim Dinerstein who was a life long learner who taught his daughters to pursue learning and a sense you can always try a new challenge, two ways of many that he inspires them as they learn the daf.
The Gemara brings three more options to explain the sentence: An egg is completed when it exits. A creature who mates during the day will give birth during the day – this statement refers to chickens. What is the halakhic relevance of this sentence? The Gemara discusses the dispute between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel over the requisite amounts for chametz/seor. Where in the Torah did they derive their opinions? And what exactly is the subject of the controversy? What is their point of contention regarding the covering of the blood on Yom Tov?
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דפחיא למאן יהבו ליה ביעי דשחוטה אתא לקמיה דרבי אמי אמר להו מקח טעות הוא והדר
of a live chicken, who has? He sought to purchase eggs of this kind. They gave him eggs of a slaughtered chicken. He came before Rabbi Ami, claiming he had been cheated. Rabbi Ami said to the sellers: This is a mistaken transaction, and it is rescinded; the sale is void.
פשיטא מהו דתימא האי לאכילה קא בעי להו והאי דקאמר דפחיא משום דצריבן למאי נפקא מינה למיתבה ליה ביני ביני קא משמע לן
The Gemara asks: It is obvious that the transaction is void, as he specified exactly what he wanted. The Gemara answers: The ruling is necessary, lest you say that this individual wants them for food rather than for chicks, and that which he said, that he is looking for eggs of a live chicken, he said only because they are hard-shelled, mature eggs. What is the practical difference, i.e., what is this man claiming from the seller according to this rejected interpretation? He is merely demanding to refund him the difference in value between the two types of eggs. Rabbi Ami therefore teaches us that the sale involved a fundamental error, as the eggs of a slaughtered chicken are unfit for incubation. The transaction is therefore void.
ההוא דאמר להו ביעי דדכרא למאן ביעי דדכרא למאן יהבו ליה ביעי דספנא מארעא אתא לקמיה דרבי אמי אמר להו מקח טעות הוא והדר
The Gemara relates a similar incident: A certain person said to vendors: Does anyone have eggs of a chicken that has had relations with a rooster? Does anyone have eggs of a rooster? They gave him eggs that a hen had absorbed from the ground, i.e., which had not been fertilized by a rooster. He came before Rabbi Ami claiming that he had been cheated. Rabbi Ami said to them: This is a mistaken transaction, and it is rescinded.
פשיטא מהו דתימא האי לאכילה קא בעי להו והאי דקאמר דדכרא משום דשמינן טפי למאי נפקא מינה למיתבא ליה ביני ביני קא משמע לן
The Gemara again asks: It is obvious that this is the case. The Gemara explains: The ruling is necessary, lest you say that this person wants the eggs for food, and that which he said, that he wants eggs of a rooster, he said only because they are fatter. What is the practical difference; i.e., what is this man claiming from the seller according to this rejected interpretation? He is merely demanding that they should refund him the difference in value between the two types. Rav Ami therefore teaches us that this is not the case; rather, the sale is void.
ואי בעית אימא מאי עם יציאתה נגמרה עם יציאת רובה נגמרה וכדרבי יוחנן דאמר רבי יוחנן ביצה שיצאה רובה מערב יום טוב וחזרה מותרת לאכלה ביום טוב
The Gemara suggests another explanation of Rav’s statement. And if you wish, say instead: What is the meaning of the claim: An egg is fully formed upon its emergence? It means that it is fully formed with the emergence of most of it, in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan. As Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is taught in a baraita that in the case of an egg, most of which emerged from the chicken on a Festival eve, and the egg returned inside the mother and was finally laid on the Festival itself, it is permitted to eat this egg on the Festival. Since most of the egg had emerged before the Festival began, it is considered to have been laid the day before.
ואיכא דאמר מאי עם יציאתה נגמרה עם יציאת כולה נגמרה עם יציאת כולה אין אבל רובה לא ולאפוקי מדרבי יוחנן
And some say the following explanation: What is the meaning of the expression: Fully formed upon its emergence? It means that it is fully formed upon the emergence of all of it. The Gemara infers: Upon the emergence of all of it, yes, it is fully formed at this stage; however, if only most of it came out the day before, no, it is not considered fully formed. And this reading serves to exclude the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan. In any case, Rav’s statement can correspond to this statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan.
גופא השוחט את התרנגולת ומצא בה ביצים גמורות מותרות לאכלן בחלב רבי יעקב אומר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות
§ Apropos the halakhic status of eggs found inside a slaughtered chicken, the Gemara discusses the matter itself: In the case of one who slaughters a chicken and finds inside it fully formed eggs, it is permitted to eat these eggs with milk. Rabbi Ya’akov says: If the eggs were still attached by sinews, it is prohibited to eat them with milk, as they are considered meat.
מאן תנא להא דתנו רבנן האוכל מנבלת עוף טהור מן השלל של ביצים מן העצמות ומן הגידין ומן הבשר שנתלש מן החי טהור
The Gemara asks: Who is the tanna who taught this halakha that the Sages taught in a baraita: One who eats one of the following parts of the unslaughtered carcass of a kosher bird: From a cluster of eggs that are still attached to it by sinews, or from its bones, or from the sinews, or from meat that has been detached from a live animal, is ritually pure because none of these are considered part of the meat of the bird, and therefore they do not impart the ritual impurity of an animal carcass.
מן האשכול של ביצים מן הקורקבן ובני מעיין או שהמחה את החלב וגמעו טמא
However, if one ate from the ovary of its eggs, which contains very small eggs that do not possess any of the regular characteristics of eggs, or if he took a piece of the craw or the intestines, or if he melted the fat of a dead bird and swallowed it, he is ritually impure from the impurity imparted by the unslaughtered carcass of a bird.
מאן תנא מן השלל של ביצים טהור אמר רב יוסף דלא כרבי יעקב דאי כרבי יעקב האמר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות
Who is the tanna who taught that if one ate from a cluster of eggs he is pure, which indicates that eggs still attached by sinews to the chicken are not considered part of the meat of the bird? Rav Yosef said: This ruling is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ya’akov. For if you say it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ya’akov, didn’t he say: If the eggs were attached by sinews it is prohibited to eat them with milk, indicating that he considers these eggs meat of the chicken.
אמר ליה אביי ממאי דלמא עד כאן לא קאמר רבי יעקב התם אלא לענין אסורא אבל לענין טומאה לא
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: From where do you draw this conclusion? Perhaps Rabbi Ya’akov stated that these eggs are part of the chicken only there, with regard to the prohibition against eating the eggs with milk; however, perhaps with regard to ritual impurity he did not say that these eggs are considered part of the chicken.
וכי תימא לענין טומאה נמי נגזור אפושי טומאה הוא ואפושי טומאה מדרבנן לא מפשינן
And if you say that with regard to ritual impurity let us also issue a decree and be stringent in a case of uncertainty and therefore rule that these attached eggs should be considered part of the chicken, this would serve to proliferate impurity, and we do not proliferate impurity that is by rabbinic law. One does not declare an item ritually impure by rabbinic law merely because uncertainty has arisen with regard to its status.
ואיכא דאמרי מאן תנא מן האשכול של ביצים טמא אמר רב יוסף רבי יעקב היא דאמר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות אמר ליה אביי ממאי דאשכול מהנך דתליא באשכול דלמא אשכול גופיה
And some say a different version of this discussion, according to which the question is: Who is the tanna who taught that if one eats from the ovary of its eggs he is ritually impure? Rav Yosef said: It is Rabbi Ya’akov, who said: If the eggs were attached by sinews, they are prohibited. Abaye said to him: From where do you know that the term ovary means: From these eggs that are hanging from the ovary; perhaps it is referring to the ovary itself, the part of the flesh of the bird where the eggs develop?
וכי תימא אשכול גופיה מאי למימרא מידי דהוה אקורקבן ובני מעיין דאף על גב דבשר נינהו כיון דאיכא אינשי דלא אכלי איצטריך לאשמועינן הכא נמי כיון דאיכא אינשי דלא אכלי איצטריך לאשמועינן
And if you say: If it is referring to the ovary itself, what is the purpose of stating this? It is obvious that the ovary itself is meat. One can answer as follows: Just as it is in the case of the craw and the intestines, that even though they are meat according to all opinions, since there are people who do not eat them, it was necessary to teach us that they have the status of meat; here, too, with regard to an ovary, since there are people who do not eat it, it was necessary to teach us that it may not be eaten with milk. Therefore, this argument does not prove that this version of the discussion is incorrect.
תנו רבנן כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום כל שתשמישו בלילה נולד בלילה כל שתשמישו בין ביום ובין בלילה נולד בין ביום ובין בלילה כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום זו תרנגולת כל שתשמישו בלילה נולד בלילה זו עטלף כל שתשמישו בין ביום ובין בלילה אדם וכל דדמי ליה
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: Any species whose intercourse occurs only in the hours of the day is born only by day; any species whose intercourse occurs only at night is born only by night; any species whose intercourse occurs either by day or by night is born either by day or by night. The Gemara elaborates: Any species whose intercourse occurs by day is born by day, this is referring to a chicken. Any species whose intercourse occurs by night is born by night, this is a bat. Any species whose intercourse occurs either by day or by night, this means a human being and all that are similar to him.
אמר מר כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום זו תרנגולת למאי נפקא מינה לכדרב מרי בריה דרב כהנא דאמר רב מרי בריה דרב כהנא בדק בקנה של תרנגולין מערב יום טוב ולא מצא בה ביצה ולמחר השכים ומצא בה ביצה מותרת
The Master said: Any species whose intercourse occurs by day is born by day, this is a chicken. The Gemara asks: What is the practical halakhic difference of this statement? The Gemara answers: The halakhic difference is with regard to that which Rav Mari, son of Rav Kahana said, as Rav Mari, son of Rav Kahana said: If one examined a chicken’s nest on a Festival eve and did not find an egg in it, and the following day, on the Festival, he rose early and found an egg in it, the egg is permitted, as it can be assumed it was not laid that night.
והלא בדק אימר לא בדק יפה יפה ואפילו בדק יפה אימר יצתה רובה וחזרה הואי וכדרבי יוחנן
The Gemara asks: But didn’t he examine the nest before the Festival and fail to find an egg there? If so, the egg must have been laid on the Festival. The Gemara answers: Say that he did not examine very carefully. And even if he did examine carefully, you can say that most of the egg emerged on the eve of the Festival and returned inside its mother, and this ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan. This baraita shows that the halakha does not take into account the possibility that a chicken could lay an egg at night.
איני והא אמר רבי יוסי בן שאול אמר רב בדק בקנה של תרנגולת מערב יום טוב ולא מצא בה ביצה ולמחר השכים ומצא בה ביצה אסורה התם בדספנא מארעא
The Gemara asks: Is that so? But didn’t Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul say that Rav said: If one examined a chicken’s nest on a Festival eve and did not find an egg in it, and the following day he rose early and found an egg in it, it is prohibited? This indicates that a chicken might indeed lay an egg at night. The Gemara answers: There it is referring to an egg that the chicken absorbed from the earth, i.e., one that was not formed by male fertilization. An egg that is not produced by intercourse can be laid at night as well.
אי הכי דרב מרי נמי אימא מארעא ספנא בדאיכא זכר בהדה בדאיכא זכר נמי אימא מארעא ספנא אמר רבינא גמירי כל היכא דאיכא זכר לא ספנא מארעא
The Gemara challenges this: If so, in Rav Mari’s case too, you can say that the chicken absorbed from the earth and laid the egg during the night of the Festival. How, then, could Rav Mari permit the egg? The Gemara answers: There it is referring to a case where there is a male with it. The Gemara asks: Even where there is a male with it, one can also say that it absorbed from the earth rather than from the male. The Gemara answers that Ravina said: It is learned as a tradition that anywhere that a male is present, a chicken does not absorb from the earth.
ועד כמה אמר רב גמדא משמיה דרב כל היכא
The Gemara asks: Until where exactly is it considered to have a male with it; How near must a rooster be for this principle to come into effect? Rav Gamda said in the name of Rav: The male must be any place
דשמעה קליה ביממא
where the hen can hear its voice by day, when sounds cannot be heard as easily as at night. If the chicken is close enough to hear the rooster’s call by day, the rooster is considered close enough to the chicken that the latter will produce eggs only through fertilization by the male.
עבד רב מרי עובדא עד שתין בתי
The Gemara relates: Rav Mari took action in accordance with this opinion, when he found an egg on a Festival morning after he had looked in the nest the day before and failed to find an egg there. He examined up to a distance of sixty houses from the chicken, and although he did not find a rooster within this area, he assumed there was one further away and permitted the egg.
ואי איכא נהרא לא עברא ואי איכא מברא עברא ואי איכא מיצרא לא עברא הוה עובדא ועברא אמיצרא
The Gemara comments: And if there is a river between the rooster and the chicken, the chicken does not cross the river; but if there is a bridge, it crosses the river. And if there is only a rope bridge suspended across the river, the chicken will not cross on the rope. The Gemara comments: Nevertheless, an incident occurred in which a chicken crossed over on a rope bridge. However, one may not rely on this possibility.
במאי אוקימתא בדספנא מארעא מאי איריא בדק כי לא בדק נמי
The Gemara further asks: In what manner did you establish this halakha of Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul, who prohibits eating an egg discovered in a nest on a Festival morning after the previous day’s examination revealed nothing? You said that it is referring to a case in which the chicken absorbed from the earth. If so, why discuss specifically a situation in which one examined the nest the evening before? The same halakha should apply even when one did not examine the nest beforehand.
כי לא בדק אימא מאתמול הואי אי הכי כי בדק נמי אימא יצתה רובה וחזרה היא וכדרבי יוחנן דרבי יוחנן לא שכיח
The Gemara answers: In a case where he did not examine the nest, one could say that the egg was laid yesterday, and there is no reason to prohibit its use. Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul therefore specified that he checked the day before and is certain that the egg was not laid prior to the Festival. The Gemara challenges this: If so, when he examined the nest as well, say: Perhaps this is a case in which most of the egg emerged and returned, and the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan? The Gemara answers: The case discussed by Rabbi Yoḥanan, where most of the egg emerged from the chicken and returned, is uncommon, and therefore it is assumed not to have occurred.
ואמר רבי יוסי בן שאול אמר רב האי תומא שחיקא סכנתא לגלויא:
Apropos one statement of Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul in the name of Rav, the Gemara cites another ruling that Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul said that Rav said: This crushed garlic poses the danger of exposure. If mashed garlic is not properly covered, there is concern that a snake might have tasted from it and thereby injected its venom into the food. This garlic is consequently prohibited as a health risk.
בית שמאי אומרים שאור בכזית:
§ The mishna states that Beit Shammai say: The measure that determines liability for leaven is an olive-bulk. However, the measure for leavened bread is greater, a large date-bulk. According to Beit Hillel, the measure in both cases is an olive-bulk.
מאי טעמייהו דבית שמאי אם כן לכתוב רחמנא חמץ ולא בעי שאור ואנא אמינא ומה חמץ שאין חמוצו קשה בכזית שאור שחמוצו קשה לא כל שכן שאור דכתב רחמנא למה לי לומר לך שיעורו של זה לא כשיעורו של זה
The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of Beit Shammai? The Gemara explains: If it is so that the measures are equal, let the Merciful One write only the prohibition of leavened bread, and it would not be necessary to write leaven, and I would say an a fortiori inference: If the measure that determines liability for leavened bread, whose leavening is not as extensive, is an olive-bulk, then leaven, whose leavening is extensive, all the more so should the measure that determines liability be an olive-bulk. If so, why do I need the explicit reference to leaven that the Merciful One wrote in the verse: “Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses” (Exodus 12:19)? It must be to tell you that the measure of this, leavened bread, is not equal to the measure of that, leaven. Rather, the measure that determines liability for leaven is smaller.
ובית הלל צריכי דאי כתב רחמנא שאור הוה אמינא משום דחמוצו קשה אבל חמץ דאין חמוצו קשה אימא לא צריכא
The Gemara asks: And Beit Hillel maintain that both the mention of both leaven and leavened bread are necessary. As if the Merciful One had written only leaven, I would have said its measure that determines liability is an olive-bulk because its leavening is extensive. However, with regard to leavened bread, whose leavening is not extensive, say no, that is not the measure. Therefore, it is necessary to mention leavened bread as well.
ואי כתב רחמנא חמץ משום דראוי לאכילה אבל שאור שאין ראוי לאכילה אימא לא צריכא
And conversely, if the Merciful One had written only leavened bread, I would have said that the measure that determines liability for leavened bread is an olive-bulk, because it is fit for consumption on its own; however, leaven, which is not fit for consumption on its own but only when used as a leavening agent for dough, say no, its measure is not like that of leavened bread. Therefore, it is necessary to mention both cases.
ובית שמאי לית להו דרבי זירא דאמר רבי זירא פתח הכתוב בשאור וסיים בחמץ לומר לך זהו שאור זהו חמץ
The Gemara asks: And Beit Shammai, don’t they hold in accordance with Rabbi Zeira’s opinion? As Rabbi Zeira said, the verse states: “Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the assembly of Israel” (Exodus 12:19). The verse begins with leaven and ends with leavened bread to say to you that leaven is equivalent to leavened bread. How, then, can Beit Shammai maintain that the two are prohibited by different measures?
לענין אכילה כולי עלמא לא פליגי כי פליגי לענין ביעור בית שמאי סברי לא ילפינן ביעור מאכילה ובית הלל סברי ילפינן ביעור מאכילה
The Gemara answers: Indeed, with regard to the measure that determines liability for eating, everyone agrees that the same measure applies to leavened bread and leaven. When they disagree it is with regard to the removal of leavened bread from one’s house. Beit Shammai hold that we do not derive the halakha of removal from that of eating. Rather, with regard to the obligation of removal, different measures apply to leavened bread and leaven. And Beit Hillel hold that we derive the halakha of removal from the measure that determines liability for eating.
אתמר נמי אמר רבי יוסי בר חנינא מחלוקת לענין ביעור אבל לענין אכילה דברי הכל זה וזה בכזית
The Gemara comments: This idea was also stated explicitly by amora’im. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: The dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel was stated with regard to the removal of leavened bread; however, with regard to the measure that determines liability for eating, everyone agrees that the measure for both this and that is an olive-bulk.
תניא נמי הכי ולא יראה לך (שאור) ולא יראה לך (חמץ) זהו מחלוקת שבין בית שמאי ובית הלל שבית שמאי אומרים שאור בכזית וחמץ בככותבת ובית הלל אומרים זה וזה בכזית:
That opinion is also taught in a baraita. The verse states: “And no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your borders” (Exodus 13:7). This obligation to remove leavened bread is subject to a dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, as Beit Shammai say: The measure that determines liability for removal of leaven is an olive-bulk, and the measure for leavened bread is a large date-bulk, and Beit Hillel say: The measure for both this and that is an olive-bulk. This baraita indicates that the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel is with regard to the obligation to remove leavened bread, not liability for eating it.
השוחט חיה ועוף ביום טוב וכו׳:
§ The mishna states that Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel also dispute whether or not one who slaughters an undomesticated animal or a bird on a Festival, without having prepared earth the day before with which to cover the blood after the slaughter, may dig out earth on the Festival itself to cover the blood.
השוחט דיעבד אין לכתחלה לא אימא סיפא ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט מכלל דתנא קמא סבר ישחוט
The Gemara analyzes the wording of the mishna: One who slaughters an animal; this indicates that after the fact, yes, one may dig out dirt, but ab initio, no, even Beit Shammai agree that one may not slaughter an undomesticated animal or a bird if there is no prepared dirt. Otherwise, the mishna would have said: One may slaughter an undomesticated animal or a bird on a Festival. Say the latter clause of the mishna: And Beit Hillel say that one may not slaughter it. This proves by inference that the first tanna, Beit Shammai, holds that one may slaughter it even ab initio.
הא לא קשיא לא ישחוט ויכסה קאמר
The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as Beit Hillel said and meant the following: One may not slaughter an animal and cover the blood. They are emphasizing that one may not cover the blood even if he slaughtered an animal, whereas Beit Shammai maintain that if one slaughtered he may cover the blood ab initio.
אימא סיפא ומודים שאם שחט שיחפור בדקר ויכסה מכלל דרישא לאו דיעבד הוא
The Gemara challenges this explanation: Say the latter clause of the mishna: And Beit Hillel concede that if he already slaughtered, then he may dig with a shovel and cover the blood, which indicates that Beit Hillel were not emphasizing the covering of the blood. This proves by inference that the first clause of the mishna is not referring to one’s action after the fact, but to the halakha ab initio.
אמר רבה הכי קאמר השוחט שבא לימלך כיצד אומר לו בית שמאי אומרים אומר לו שחוט חפור וכסה ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט אלא אם כן היה לו עפר מוכן מבעוד יום
Rabba said that this is what the mishna is saying. The phrase: One who slaughters an animal, is not a broad directive on how to act, but rather it means: If there is one who slaughters animals who comes to consult a Sage on how to proceed, what should the Sage say to him? Beit Shammai say that the Sage says to him: Slaughter it ab initio, dig, and cover the blood. And Beit Hillel say: He may slaughter the animal only if he had earth that was prepared while it was still day.
רב יוסף אמר הכי קאמר השוחט שבא להמלך כיצד אומר לו בית שמאי אומרים אומר לו לך חפור שחוט וכסה ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט אלא אם כן היה לו עפר מוכן מבעוד יום
Rav Yosef provided a slightly different explanation of the mishna and said that this is what the mishna is saying: With regard to one who slaughters animals who comes to consult, what does the Sage say to him? Beit Shammai say that he says to him: Go dig, slaughter the animal, and cover the blood. And Beit Hillel say: He may slaughter the animal, only if he had earth that was prepared while it was still day.
אמר ליה אביי לרב יוסף לימא מר ורבה בדרבי זירא אמר רב קא מפלגיתו דאמר רבי זירא אמר רב השוחט צריך שיתן עפר למטה ועפר למעלה שנאמר ושפך את דמו וכסהו בעפר עפר לא נאמר אלא בעפר מלמד שהשוחט צריך שיתן עפר למטה ועפר למעלה
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: Let us say that the Master, i.e., Rav Yosef, and Rabba dispute the following statement that Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said, as Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said: One who slaughters an undomesticated animal or bird is obligated to perform the mitzva of covering the blood, and therefore he must place earth beneath the blood and earth above it, as it is stated: “And he shall pour out its blood and cover it in earth” (Leviticus 17:13). It is not stated: Cover it with earth, but “in earth,” indicating that the blood must be concealed inside the earth. The verse thereby teaches that one who slaughters an animal must place earth beneath and earth above the blood.
דמר אית ליה דרבי זירא ורבה לית ליה דרבי זירא
Abaye is suggesting that the Master is of the opinion that the ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira, and therefore he requires one to dig first and only afterward slaughter the animal and have the blood flow onto that earth and then cover it with additional earth, and that Rabba is of the opinion that the ruling is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira.
אמר ליה בין לדידי בין לרבה אית לן דרבי זירא והכא בהא קא מפלגינן רבה סבר אי איכא עפר למטה אין אי לא לא חיישינן דלמא ממליך ולא שחיט ולדידי (אדרבה) הא עדיפא דאי לא שרית ליה אתי לאמנועי משמחת יום טוב:
Rav Yosef said to Abaye: This is not so; rather, both according to me and according to Rabba we are of the opinion that the ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira, and here we disagree with regard to this matter: Rabba holds that if there is prepared earth beneath, yes, in that case one may slaughter an animal, but if there is no earth prepared beneath, no, he may not slaughter it at all. Why not? Rabba says: We are concerned that perhaps one will reconsider and not slaughter it at all, and he will have dug a hole on a Festival unnecessarily. And according to my opinion, on the contrary: This situation, in which he is permitted to dig first, is preferable, since if you do not permit him to dig in all cases for the purpose of slaughter, he will be unable to eat meat and will refrain from rejoicing on the Festival.
ומודים שאם שחט שיחפור בדקר ויכסה: אמר רבי זריקא אמר רב יהודה והוא שיש לו דקר נעוץ מבעוד יום והא קא עביד כתישה אמר רב חייא בר אשי אמר רב
§ That mishna states: And Beit Hillel concede that if one transgressed and slaughtered an animal, then he digs with a shovel and covers the blood. Rabbi Zerika said that Rav Yehuda said: And that is the halakha specifically when one has a shovel already embedded in the ground while it was still day, before the onset of the Festival. The Gemara asks: But what purpose does an embedded shovel serve; doesn’t he still perform the act of crushing, as one must crush the lumps of earth to make the soil fit for covering? Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said that Rav said:
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Beitzah 7
The William Davidson Talmud | Powered by Sefaria
דפחיא למאן יהבו ליה ביעי דשחוטה אתא לקמיה דרבי אמי אמר להו מקח טעות הוא והדר
of a live chicken, who has? He sought to purchase eggs of this kind. They gave him eggs of a slaughtered chicken. He came before Rabbi Ami, claiming he had been cheated. Rabbi Ami said to the sellers: This is a mistaken transaction, and it is rescinded; the sale is void.
פשיטא מהו דתימא האי לאכילה קא בעי להו והאי דקאמר דפחיא משום דצריבן למאי נפקא מינה למיתבה ליה ביני ביני קא משמע לן
The Gemara asks: It is obvious that the transaction is void, as he specified exactly what he wanted. The Gemara answers: The ruling is necessary, lest you say that this individual wants them for food rather than for chicks, and that which he said, that he is looking for eggs of a live chicken, he said only because they are hard-shelled, mature eggs. What is the practical difference, i.e., what is this man claiming from the seller according to this rejected interpretation? He is merely demanding to refund him the difference in value between the two types of eggs. Rabbi Ami therefore teaches us that the sale involved a fundamental error, as the eggs of a slaughtered chicken are unfit for incubation. The transaction is therefore void.
ההוא דאמר להו ביעי דדכרא למאן ביעי דדכרא למאן יהבו ליה ביעי דספנא מארעא אתא לקמיה דרבי אמי אמר להו מקח טעות הוא והדר
The Gemara relates a similar incident: A certain person said to vendors: Does anyone have eggs of a chicken that has had relations with a rooster? Does anyone have eggs of a rooster? They gave him eggs that a hen had absorbed from the ground, i.e., which had not been fertilized by a rooster. He came before Rabbi Ami claiming that he had been cheated. Rabbi Ami said to them: This is a mistaken transaction, and it is rescinded.
פשיטא מהו דתימא האי לאכילה קא בעי להו והאי דקאמר דדכרא משום דשמינן טפי למאי נפקא מינה למיתבא ליה ביני ביני קא משמע לן
The Gemara again asks: It is obvious that this is the case. The Gemara explains: The ruling is necessary, lest you say that this person wants the eggs for food, and that which he said, that he wants eggs of a rooster, he said only because they are fatter. What is the practical difference; i.e., what is this man claiming from the seller according to this rejected interpretation? He is merely demanding that they should refund him the difference in value between the two types. Rav Ami therefore teaches us that this is not the case; rather, the sale is void.
ואי בעית אימא מאי עם יציאתה נגמרה עם יציאת רובה נגמרה וכדרבי יוחנן דאמר רבי יוחנן ביצה שיצאה רובה מערב יום טוב וחזרה מותרת לאכלה ביום טוב
The Gemara suggests another explanation of Rav’s statement. And if you wish, say instead: What is the meaning of the claim: An egg is fully formed upon its emergence? It means that it is fully formed with the emergence of most of it, in accordance with the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan. As Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is taught in a baraita that in the case of an egg, most of which emerged from the chicken on a Festival eve, and the egg returned inside the mother and was finally laid on the Festival itself, it is permitted to eat this egg on the Festival. Since most of the egg had emerged before the Festival began, it is considered to have been laid the day before.
ואיכא דאמר מאי עם יציאתה נגמרה עם יציאת כולה נגמרה עם יציאת כולה אין אבל רובה לא ולאפוקי מדרבי יוחנן
And some say the following explanation: What is the meaning of the expression: Fully formed upon its emergence? It means that it is fully formed upon the emergence of all of it. The Gemara infers: Upon the emergence of all of it, yes, it is fully formed at this stage; however, if only most of it came out the day before, no, it is not considered fully formed. And this reading serves to exclude the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan. In any case, Rav’s statement can correspond to this statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan.
גופא השוחט את התרנגולת ומצא בה ביצים גמורות מותרות לאכלן בחלב רבי יעקב אומר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות
§ Apropos the halakhic status of eggs found inside a slaughtered chicken, the Gemara discusses the matter itself: In the case of one who slaughters a chicken and finds inside it fully formed eggs, it is permitted to eat these eggs with milk. Rabbi Ya’akov says: If the eggs were still attached by sinews, it is prohibited to eat them with milk, as they are considered meat.
מאן תנא להא דתנו רבנן האוכל מנבלת עוף טהור מן השלל של ביצים מן העצמות ומן הגידין ומן הבשר שנתלש מן החי טהור
The Gemara asks: Who is the tanna who taught this halakha that the Sages taught in a baraita: One who eats one of the following parts of the unslaughtered carcass of a kosher bird: From a cluster of eggs that are still attached to it by sinews, or from its bones, or from the sinews, or from meat that has been detached from a live animal, is ritually pure because none of these are considered part of the meat of the bird, and therefore they do not impart the ritual impurity of an animal carcass.
מן האשכול של ביצים מן הקורקבן ובני מעיין או שהמחה את החלב וגמעו טמא
However, if one ate from the ovary of its eggs, which contains very small eggs that do not possess any of the regular characteristics of eggs, or if he took a piece of the craw or the intestines, or if he melted the fat of a dead bird and swallowed it, he is ritually impure from the impurity imparted by the unslaughtered carcass of a bird.
מאן תנא מן השלל של ביצים טהור אמר רב יוסף דלא כרבי יעקב דאי כרבי יעקב האמר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות
Who is the tanna who taught that if one ate from a cluster of eggs he is pure, which indicates that eggs still attached by sinews to the chicken are not considered part of the meat of the bird? Rav Yosef said: This ruling is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ya’akov. For if you say it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ya’akov, didn’t he say: If the eggs were attached by sinews it is prohibited to eat them with milk, indicating that he considers these eggs meat of the chicken.
אמר ליה אביי ממאי דלמא עד כאן לא קאמר רבי יעקב התם אלא לענין אסורא אבל לענין טומאה לא
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: From where do you draw this conclusion? Perhaps Rabbi Ya’akov stated that these eggs are part of the chicken only there, with regard to the prohibition against eating the eggs with milk; however, perhaps with regard to ritual impurity he did not say that these eggs are considered part of the chicken.
וכי תימא לענין טומאה נמי נגזור אפושי טומאה הוא ואפושי טומאה מדרבנן לא מפשינן
And if you say that with regard to ritual impurity let us also issue a decree and be stringent in a case of uncertainty and therefore rule that these attached eggs should be considered part of the chicken, this would serve to proliferate impurity, and we do not proliferate impurity that is by rabbinic law. One does not declare an item ritually impure by rabbinic law merely because uncertainty has arisen with regard to its status.
ואיכא דאמרי מאן תנא מן האשכול של ביצים טמא אמר רב יוסף רבי יעקב היא דאמר אם היו מעורות בגידין אסורות אמר ליה אביי ממאי דאשכול מהנך דתליא באשכול דלמא אשכול גופיה
And some say a different version of this discussion, according to which the question is: Who is the tanna who taught that if one eats from the ovary of its eggs he is ritually impure? Rav Yosef said: It is Rabbi Ya’akov, who said: If the eggs were attached by sinews, they are prohibited. Abaye said to him: From where do you know that the term ovary means: From these eggs that are hanging from the ovary; perhaps it is referring to the ovary itself, the part of the flesh of the bird where the eggs develop?
וכי תימא אשכול גופיה מאי למימרא מידי דהוה אקורקבן ובני מעיין דאף על גב דבשר נינהו כיון דאיכא אינשי דלא אכלי איצטריך לאשמועינן הכא נמי כיון דאיכא אינשי דלא אכלי איצטריך לאשמועינן
And if you say: If it is referring to the ovary itself, what is the purpose of stating this? It is obvious that the ovary itself is meat. One can answer as follows: Just as it is in the case of the craw and the intestines, that even though they are meat according to all opinions, since there are people who do not eat them, it was necessary to teach us that they have the status of meat; here, too, with regard to an ovary, since there are people who do not eat it, it was necessary to teach us that it may not be eaten with milk. Therefore, this argument does not prove that this version of the discussion is incorrect.
תנו רבנן כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום כל שתשמישו בלילה נולד בלילה כל שתשמישו בין ביום ובין בלילה נולד בין ביום ובין בלילה כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום זו תרנגולת כל שתשמישו בלילה נולד בלילה זו עטלף כל שתשמישו בין ביום ובין בלילה אדם וכל דדמי ליה
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: Any species whose intercourse occurs only in the hours of the day is born only by day; any species whose intercourse occurs only at night is born only by night; any species whose intercourse occurs either by day or by night is born either by day or by night. The Gemara elaborates: Any species whose intercourse occurs by day is born by day, this is referring to a chicken. Any species whose intercourse occurs by night is born by night, this is a bat. Any species whose intercourse occurs either by day or by night, this means a human being and all that are similar to him.
אמר מר כל שתשמישו ביום נולד ביום זו תרנגולת למאי נפקא מינה לכדרב מרי בריה דרב כהנא דאמר רב מרי בריה דרב כהנא בדק בקנה של תרנגולין מערב יום טוב ולא מצא בה ביצה ולמחר השכים ומצא בה ביצה מותרת
The Master said: Any species whose intercourse occurs by day is born by day, this is a chicken. The Gemara asks: What is the practical halakhic difference of this statement? The Gemara answers: The halakhic difference is with regard to that which Rav Mari, son of Rav Kahana said, as Rav Mari, son of Rav Kahana said: If one examined a chicken’s nest on a Festival eve and did not find an egg in it, and the following day, on the Festival, he rose early and found an egg in it, the egg is permitted, as it can be assumed it was not laid that night.
והלא בדק אימר לא בדק יפה יפה ואפילו בדק יפה אימר יצתה רובה וחזרה הואי וכדרבי יוחנן
The Gemara asks: But didn’t he examine the nest before the Festival and fail to find an egg there? If so, the egg must have been laid on the Festival. The Gemara answers: Say that he did not examine very carefully. And even if he did examine carefully, you can say that most of the egg emerged on the eve of the Festival and returned inside its mother, and this ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan. This baraita shows that the halakha does not take into account the possibility that a chicken could lay an egg at night.
איני והא אמר רבי יוסי בן שאול אמר רב בדק בקנה של תרנגולת מערב יום טוב ולא מצא בה ביצה ולמחר השכים ומצא בה ביצה אסורה התם בדספנא מארעא
The Gemara asks: Is that so? But didn’t Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul say that Rav said: If one examined a chicken’s nest on a Festival eve and did not find an egg in it, and the following day he rose early and found an egg in it, it is prohibited? This indicates that a chicken might indeed lay an egg at night. The Gemara answers: There it is referring to an egg that the chicken absorbed from the earth, i.e., one that was not formed by male fertilization. An egg that is not produced by intercourse can be laid at night as well.
אי הכי דרב מרי נמי אימא מארעא ספנא בדאיכא זכר בהדה בדאיכא זכר נמי אימא מארעא ספנא אמר רבינא גמירי כל היכא דאיכא זכר לא ספנא מארעא
The Gemara challenges this: If so, in Rav Mari’s case too, you can say that the chicken absorbed from the earth and laid the egg during the night of the Festival. How, then, could Rav Mari permit the egg? The Gemara answers: There it is referring to a case where there is a male with it. The Gemara asks: Even where there is a male with it, one can also say that it absorbed from the earth rather than from the male. The Gemara answers that Ravina said: It is learned as a tradition that anywhere that a male is present, a chicken does not absorb from the earth.
ועד כמה אמר רב גמדא משמיה דרב כל היכא
The Gemara asks: Until where exactly is it considered to have a male with it; How near must a rooster be for this principle to come into effect? Rav Gamda said in the name of Rav: The male must be any place
דשמעה קליה ביממא
where the hen can hear its voice by day, when sounds cannot be heard as easily as at night. If the chicken is close enough to hear the rooster’s call by day, the rooster is considered close enough to the chicken that the latter will produce eggs only through fertilization by the male.
עבד רב מרי עובדא עד שתין בתי
The Gemara relates: Rav Mari took action in accordance with this opinion, when he found an egg on a Festival morning after he had looked in the nest the day before and failed to find an egg there. He examined up to a distance of sixty houses from the chicken, and although he did not find a rooster within this area, he assumed there was one further away and permitted the egg.
ואי איכא נהרא לא עברא ואי איכא מברא עברא ואי איכא מיצרא לא עברא הוה עובדא ועברא אמיצרא
The Gemara comments: And if there is a river between the rooster and the chicken, the chicken does not cross the river; but if there is a bridge, it crosses the river. And if there is only a rope bridge suspended across the river, the chicken will not cross on the rope. The Gemara comments: Nevertheless, an incident occurred in which a chicken crossed over on a rope bridge. However, one may not rely on this possibility.
במאי אוקימתא בדספנא מארעא מאי איריא בדק כי לא בדק נמי
The Gemara further asks: In what manner did you establish this halakha of Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul, who prohibits eating an egg discovered in a nest on a Festival morning after the previous day’s examination revealed nothing? You said that it is referring to a case in which the chicken absorbed from the earth. If so, why discuss specifically a situation in which one examined the nest the evening before? The same halakha should apply even when one did not examine the nest beforehand.
כי לא בדק אימא מאתמול הואי אי הכי כי בדק נמי אימא יצתה רובה וחזרה היא וכדרבי יוחנן דרבי יוחנן לא שכיח
The Gemara answers: In a case where he did not examine the nest, one could say that the egg was laid yesterday, and there is no reason to prohibit its use. Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul therefore specified that he checked the day before and is certain that the egg was not laid prior to the Festival. The Gemara challenges this: If so, when he examined the nest as well, say: Perhaps this is a case in which most of the egg emerged and returned, and the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan? The Gemara answers: The case discussed by Rabbi Yoḥanan, where most of the egg emerged from the chicken and returned, is uncommon, and therefore it is assumed not to have occurred.
ואמר רבי יוסי בן שאול אמר רב האי תומא שחיקא סכנתא לגלויא:
Apropos one statement of Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul in the name of Rav, the Gemara cites another ruling that Rabbi Yosei ben Shaul said that Rav said: This crushed garlic poses the danger of exposure. If mashed garlic is not properly covered, there is concern that a snake might have tasted from it and thereby injected its venom into the food. This garlic is consequently prohibited as a health risk.
בית שמאי אומרים שאור בכזית:
§ The mishna states that Beit Shammai say: The measure that determines liability for leaven is an olive-bulk. However, the measure for leavened bread is greater, a large date-bulk. According to Beit Hillel, the measure in both cases is an olive-bulk.
מאי טעמייהו דבית שמאי אם כן לכתוב רחמנא חמץ ולא בעי שאור ואנא אמינא ומה חמץ שאין חמוצו קשה בכזית שאור שחמוצו קשה לא כל שכן שאור דכתב רחמנא למה לי לומר לך שיעורו של זה לא כשיעורו של זה
The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of Beit Shammai? The Gemara explains: If it is so that the measures are equal, let the Merciful One write only the prohibition of leavened bread, and it would not be necessary to write leaven, and I would say an a fortiori inference: If the measure that determines liability for leavened bread, whose leavening is not as extensive, is an olive-bulk, then leaven, whose leavening is extensive, all the more so should the measure that determines liability be an olive-bulk. If so, why do I need the explicit reference to leaven that the Merciful One wrote in the verse: “Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses” (Exodus 12:19)? It must be to tell you that the measure of this, leavened bread, is not equal to the measure of that, leaven. Rather, the measure that determines liability for leaven is smaller.
ובית הלל צריכי דאי כתב רחמנא שאור הוה אמינא משום דחמוצו קשה אבל חמץ דאין חמוצו קשה אימא לא צריכא
The Gemara asks: And Beit Hillel maintain that both the mention of both leaven and leavened bread are necessary. As if the Merciful One had written only leaven, I would have said its measure that determines liability is an olive-bulk because its leavening is extensive. However, with regard to leavened bread, whose leavening is not extensive, say no, that is not the measure. Therefore, it is necessary to mention leavened bread as well.
ואי כתב רחמנא חמץ משום דראוי לאכילה אבל שאור שאין ראוי לאכילה אימא לא צריכא
And conversely, if the Merciful One had written only leavened bread, I would have said that the measure that determines liability for leavened bread is an olive-bulk, because it is fit for consumption on its own; however, leaven, which is not fit for consumption on its own but only when used as a leavening agent for dough, say no, its measure is not like that of leavened bread. Therefore, it is necessary to mention both cases.
ובית שמאי לית להו דרבי זירא דאמר רבי זירא פתח הכתוב בשאור וסיים בחמץ לומר לך זהו שאור זהו חמץ
The Gemara asks: And Beit Shammai, don’t they hold in accordance with Rabbi Zeira’s opinion? As Rabbi Zeira said, the verse states: “Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the assembly of Israel” (Exodus 12:19). The verse begins with leaven and ends with leavened bread to say to you that leaven is equivalent to leavened bread. How, then, can Beit Shammai maintain that the two are prohibited by different measures?
לענין אכילה כולי עלמא לא פליגי כי פליגי לענין ביעור בית שמאי סברי לא ילפינן ביעור מאכילה ובית הלל סברי ילפינן ביעור מאכילה
The Gemara answers: Indeed, with regard to the measure that determines liability for eating, everyone agrees that the same measure applies to leavened bread and leaven. When they disagree it is with regard to the removal of leavened bread from one’s house. Beit Shammai hold that we do not derive the halakha of removal from that of eating. Rather, with regard to the obligation of removal, different measures apply to leavened bread and leaven. And Beit Hillel hold that we derive the halakha of removal from the measure that determines liability for eating.
אתמר נמי אמר רבי יוסי בר חנינא מחלוקת לענין ביעור אבל לענין אכילה דברי הכל זה וזה בכזית
The Gemara comments: This idea was also stated explicitly by amora’im. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: The dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel was stated with regard to the removal of leavened bread; however, with regard to the measure that determines liability for eating, everyone agrees that the measure for both this and that is an olive-bulk.
תניא נמי הכי ולא יראה לך (שאור) ולא יראה לך (חמץ) זהו מחלוקת שבין בית שמאי ובית הלל שבית שמאי אומרים שאור בכזית וחמץ בככותבת ובית הלל אומרים זה וזה בכזית:
That opinion is also taught in a baraita. The verse states: “And no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your borders” (Exodus 13:7). This obligation to remove leavened bread is subject to a dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, as Beit Shammai say: The measure that determines liability for removal of leaven is an olive-bulk, and the measure for leavened bread is a large date-bulk, and Beit Hillel say: The measure for both this and that is an olive-bulk. This baraita indicates that the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel is with regard to the obligation to remove leavened bread, not liability for eating it.
השוחט חיה ועוף ביום טוב וכו׳:
§ The mishna states that Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel also dispute whether or not one who slaughters an undomesticated animal or a bird on a Festival, without having prepared earth the day before with which to cover the blood after the slaughter, may dig out earth on the Festival itself to cover the blood.
השוחט דיעבד אין לכתחלה לא אימא סיפא ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט מכלל דתנא קמא סבר ישחוט
The Gemara analyzes the wording of the mishna: One who slaughters an animal; this indicates that after the fact, yes, one may dig out dirt, but ab initio, no, even Beit Shammai agree that one may not slaughter an undomesticated animal or a bird if there is no prepared dirt. Otherwise, the mishna would have said: One may slaughter an undomesticated animal or a bird on a Festival. Say the latter clause of the mishna: And Beit Hillel say that one may not slaughter it. This proves by inference that the first tanna, Beit Shammai, holds that one may slaughter it even ab initio.
הא לא קשיא לא ישחוט ויכסה קאמר
The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as Beit Hillel said and meant the following: One may not slaughter an animal and cover the blood. They are emphasizing that one may not cover the blood even if he slaughtered an animal, whereas Beit Shammai maintain that if one slaughtered he may cover the blood ab initio.
אימא סיפא ומודים שאם שחט שיחפור בדקר ויכסה מכלל דרישא לאו דיעבד הוא
The Gemara challenges this explanation: Say the latter clause of the mishna: And Beit Hillel concede that if he already slaughtered, then he may dig with a shovel and cover the blood, which indicates that Beit Hillel were not emphasizing the covering of the blood. This proves by inference that the first clause of the mishna is not referring to one’s action after the fact, but to the halakha ab initio.
אמר רבה הכי קאמר השוחט שבא לימלך כיצד אומר לו בית שמאי אומרים אומר לו שחוט חפור וכסה ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט אלא אם כן היה לו עפר מוכן מבעוד יום
Rabba said that this is what the mishna is saying. The phrase: One who slaughters an animal, is not a broad directive on how to act, but rather it means: If there is one who slaughters animals who comes to consult a Sage on how to proceed, what should the Sage say to him? Beit Shammai say that the Sage says to him: Slaughter it ab initio, dig, and cover the blood. And Beit Hillel say: He may slaughter the animal only if he had earth that was prepared while it was still day.
רב יוסף אמר הכי קאמר השוחט שבא להמלך כיצד אומר לו בית שמאי אומרים אומר לו לך חפור שחוט וכסה ובית הלל אומרים לא ישחוט אלא אם כן היה לו עפר מוכן מבעוד יום
Rav Yosef provided a slightly different explanation of the mishna and said that this is what the mishna is saying: With regard to one who slaughters animals who comes to consult, what does the Sage say to him? Beit Shammai say that he says to him: Go dig, slaughter the animal, and cover the blood. And Beit Hillel say: He may slaughter the animal, only if he had earth that was prepared while it was still day.
אמר ליה אביי לרב יוסף לימא מר ורבה בדרבי זירא אמר רב קא מפלגיתו דאמר רבי זירא אמר רב השוחט צריך שיתן עפר למטה ועפר למעלה שנאמר ושפך את דמו וכסהו בעפר עפר לא נאמר אלא בעפר מלמד שהשוחט צריך שיתן עפר למטה ועפר למעלה
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: Let us say that the Master, i.e., Rav Yosef, and Rabba dispute the following statement that Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said, as Rabbi Zeira said that Rav said: One who slaughters an undomesticated animal or bird is obligated to perform the mitzva of covering the blood, and therefore he must place earth beneath the blood and earth above it, as it is stated: “And he shall pour out its blood and cover it in earth” (Leviticus 17:13). It is not stated: Cover it with earth, but “in earth,” indicating that the blood must be concealed inside the earth. The verse thereby teaches that one who slaughters an animal must place earth beneath and earth above the blood.
דמר אית ליה דרבי זירא ורבה לית ליה דרבי זירא
Abaye is suggesting that the Master is of the opinion that the ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira, and therefore he requires one to dig first and only afterward slaughter the animal and have the blood flow onto that earth and then cover it with additional earth, and that Rabba is of the opinion that the ruling is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira.
אמר ליה בין לדידי בין לרבה אית לן דרבי זירא והכא בהא קא מפלגינן רבה סבר אי איכא עפר למטה אין אי לא לא חיישינן דלמא ממליך ולא שחיט ולדידי (אדרבה) הא עדיפא דאי לא שרית ליה אתי לאמנועי משמחת יום טוב:
Rav Yosef said to Abaye: This is not so; rather, both according to me and according to Rabba we are of the opinion that the ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Zeira, and here we disagree with regard to this matter: Rabba holds that if there is prepared earth beneath, yes, in that case one may slaughter an animal, but if there is no earth prepared beneath, no, he may not slaughter it at all. Why not? Rabba says: We are concerned that perhaps one will reconsider and not slaughter it at all, and he will have dug a hole on a Festival unnecessarily. And according to my opinion, on the contrary: This situation, in which he is permitted to dig first, is preferable, since if you do not permit him to dig in all cases for the purpose of slaughter, he will be unable to eat meat and will refrain from rejoicing on the Festival.
ומודים שאם שחט שיחפור בדקר ויכסה: אמר רבי זריקא אמר רב יהודה והוא שיש לו דקר נעוץ מבעוד יום והא קא עביד כתישה אמר רב חייא בר אשי אמר רב
§ That mishna states: And Beit Hillel concede that if one transgressed and slaughtered an animal, then he digs with a shovel and covers the blood. Rabbi Zerika said that Rav Yehuda said: And that is the halakha specifically when one has a shovel already embedded in the ground while it was still day, before the onset of the Festival. The Gemara asks: But what purpose does an embedded shovel serve; doesn’t he still perform the act of crushing, as one must crush the lumps of earth to make the soil fit for covering? Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said that Rav said: