Chullin 105

אילימא בית שמאי אומרים מקנח ולא בעי מדיח ובית הלל אומרים מדיח ולא בעי מקנח אלא הא דאמר רבי זירא אין קינוח פה אלא בפת כמאן כבית שמאי

If we say that Beit Shammai say that one wipes out his mouth with solid food and does not need to rinse his mouth with water, since they maintain that wiping is more effective than rinsing, and Beit Hillel say that he rinses his mouth in water and does not need to wipe his mouth, as rinsing is more effective, one can respond: But as for that which Rabbi Zeira said: Wiping of the mouth can be performed only with bread, in accordance with whose opinion is it? It is apparently in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai, since Beit Hillel do not require wiping. Yet, it is unlikely that Rabbi Zeira would rule in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai rather than Beit Hillel.

אלא בית שמאי אומרים מקנח ולא בעי מדיח ובית הלל אומרים אף מדיח הוי ליה מקולי בית שמאי ומחומרי בית הלל ולתנייה גבי קולי בית שמאי וחומרי בית הלל

Rather, one must explain the dispute as follows: Beit Shammai say that one wipes his mouth after eating meat and does not need to rinse his mouth as well, and Beit Hillel say that in addition to wiping one must also rinse. This interpretation is difficult as well, since if so, this constitutes one of the disputes between them that involve leniencies of Beit Shammai and stringencies of Beit Hillel, and consequently, let the tanna of tractate Eduyyot teach it alongside the other disputes listed there that involve leniencies of Beit Shammai and stringencies of Beit Hillel.

אלא בית שמאי אומרים מקנח והוא הדין למדיח ובית הלל אומרים מדיח והוא הדין למקנח מר אמר חדא ומר אמר חדא ולא פליגי

Rather, one must interpret their statements as follows: Beit Shammai say that one wipes his mouth after eating meat, and the same is true of rinsing, i.e., one must rinse his mouth as well. And Beit Hillel say that one rinses his mouth, and the same is true of wiping. And one Sage said one statement and one Sage said another statement, and they do not disagree.

גופא אמר רבי זירא אין קינוח הפה אלא בפת והני מילי בדחיטי אבל בדשערי לא

§ After citing Rabbi Zeira’s statement tangentially, the Gemara discusses the matter itself. Rabbi Zeira says: Wiping of the mouth can be performed only with bread. The Gemara explains: And this statement applies only to bread prepared from wheat flour. But with regard to bread prepared from barley flour, one may not use it for wiping, as barley bread crumbles in the mouth and does not wipe thoroughly.

ודחיטי נמי לא אמרן אלא בקרירא אבל בחמימא משטר שטרי והני מילי ברכיכא אבל באקושא לא והלכתא בכל מילי הוי קינוח לבר מקמחא תמרי וירקא

The Gemara adds: And even in the case of bread prepared from wheat flour, we said the halakha only with regard to cold bread, but as for warm bread, it is ineffective for wiping even if made of wheat, as it softens and sticks to the palate, and it does not wipe the mouth properly. And furthermore, even if the bread is cold, this statement applies only with regard to soft bread, but one may not wipe with hard bread, as it also does not clean effectively. The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is that the use of all items constitutes effective wiping, except for flour, dates, and vegetables.

בעא מיניה רב אסי מרבי יוחנן כמה ישהה בין בשר לגבינה אמר לו ולא כלום איני והא אמר רב חסדא אכל בשר אסור לאכול גבינה גבינה מותר לאכול בשר אלא כמה ישהה בין גבינה לבשר אמר ליה ולא כלום

§ Rav Asi posed a dilemma to Rabbi Yoḥanan: How much time should one wait between eating meat and eating cheese? Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: No time at all. The Gemara asks: Is that so? But doesn’t Rav Ḥisda say: If one ate meat, it is prohibited for him to eat cheese immediately, but if he ate cheese it is permitted for him to eat meat without delay? Rather, Rav Asi actually asked Rabbi Yoḥanan the following question: How much time should one wait between eating cheese and eating meat? In response to this question, Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: No time at all.

גופא אמר רב חסדא אכל בשר אסור לאכול גבינה גבינה מותר לאכול בשר אמר ליה רב אחא בר יוסף לרב חסדא בשר שבין השינים מהו

After tangentially citing a statement of Rav Ḥisda, the Gemara discusses the matter itself. Rav Ḥisda says: If one ate meat, it is prohibited for him to eat cheese immediately, as the meat contains fatty substances that stick to one’s mouth and preserve the flavor of meat. But if he ate cheese it is permitted for him to eat meat without delay. Rav Aḥa bar Yosef said to Rav Ḥisda: In the case of meat that is between the teeth, what is the halakha? Are these remnants considered meat to the extent that one may not eat cheese as long as they are in his mouth?

קרי עליה הבשר עודנו בין שניהם

In response, Rav Ḥisda read about him the following verse: “While the meat was yet between their teeth” (Numbers 11:33). This verse indicates that even when the meat is between one’s teeth it is still considered meat, and therefore one may not partake of cheese until that meat has been removed.

אמר מר עוקבא אנא להא מלתא חלא בר חמרא לגבי אבא דאילו אבא כי הוה אכיל בשרא האידנא לא הוה אכל גבינה עד למחר עד השתא ואילו אנא בהא סעודתא הוא דלא אכילנא לסעודתא אחריתא אכילנא

Mar Ukva said: I am, with regard to this matter, like vinegar, son of wine, with respect to Father, i.e., my practice is inferior to that of my father. As Father, if he were to eat meat at this time, would not eat cheese until tomorrow at this time. But as for me, only at this meal, during which I ate meat, do I not eat cheese; at a different meal on the same day I will eat cheese.

אמר שמואל אנא להא מלתא חלא בר חמרא לגבי אבא דאילו אבא הוה סייר נכסיה תרי זמני ביומא ואנא לא סיירנא אלא חדא זימנא שמואל לטעמיה דאמר שמואל מאן דסייר נכסיה כל יומא משכח אסתירא

Similarly, Shmuel said: I am, with regard to this other matter, like vinegar, son of wine, with respect to Father. As Father would patrol his property to examine it twice daily, but I patrol it only once a day. The Gemara notes: In this regard Shmuel conforms to his line of reasoning, as Shmuel said: One who patrols his property every day will find an asteira coin.

אביי הוה סייר נכסיה כל יומא ויומא יומא חד פגע באריסיה דדרי פתכא דאופי אמר ליה הני להיכא אמר ליה לבי מר אמר ליה כבר קדמוך רבנן

The Gemara relates that Abaye would patrol his property each and every day. One day he encountered his sharecropper carrying a load of wood that the sharecropper intended to take for himself. Abaye said to him: To where are you taking these logs of wood? The sharecropper said to him: To the Master’s house. Abaye, who knew that the sharecropper had intended to take the wood for himself, said to him: The Sages already preempted you when they said that one should patrol his property regularly, and they thereby prevented you from stealing the wood.

רב אסי הוה סייר נכסיה כל יומא אמר היכא נינהו כל הני אסתירי דמר שמואל יומא חד חזא צינורא דבדקא בארעיה שקליה לגלימיה כרכיה אותביה בגוה רמא קלא אתו אינשי סכרוה אשכחתינהו לכולהו איסתרי דמר שמואל

The Gemara likewise relates that Rav Asi would patrol his property every day. He said: Where are all these asteira coins mentioned by Mar Shmuel? This patrol is not reaping me any benefit. One day he saw a water channel that overflowed, causing water to flood onto his land. He took off his cloak, wrapped it, and placed it inside the pipe to block the flow of water. He then raised his voice, and people came and sealed the hole. He said: I have just found all the asteira coins mentioned by Mar Shmuel, as I would have suffered a great loss had I not patrolled my fields.

אמר רב אידי בר אבין אמר רב יצחק בר אשיין מים ראשונים מצוה ואחרונים חובה

§ Having mentioned the manner of washing hands during a meal, the Gemara discusses another matter concerning washing hands. Rav Idi bar Avin says that Rav Yitzḥak bar Ashyan says: The first waters, i.e., washing of the hands before eating bread, are a mitzva by rabbinic law, but the final waters, washing of the hands upon conclusion of the meal and before reciting Grace after Meals, are an obligation, a more stringent requirement.

מיתיבי מים ראשונים ואחרונים חובה אמצעיים רשות מצוה לגבי רשות חובה קרי לה

The Gemara raises an objection to this ruling from a baraita: The first waters and the final waters are an obligation, whereas the middle waters, between courses during the meal, are optional. Apparently, the first waters are also an obligation, not a mitzva. The Gemara responds: Although the first waters are in fact a mitzva, the tanna calls a mitzva an obligation when compared to an optional requirement.

גופא מים ראשונים ואחרונים חובה אמצעיים רשות ראשונים נוטלין בין בכלי בין על גבי קרקע אחרונים אין נוטלין אלא בכלי ואמרי לה אין נוטלין על גבי קרקע

The Gemara analyzes the matter itself. The full text of the baraita is as follows: First waters and final waters are an obligation, whereas middle waters are optional. For first waters, one may wash either by spilling the water into a vessel or onto the ground. But for final waters, one washes only by pouring the water into a vessel. And some say a slightly different version of the baraita: For final waters, one may not wash by pouring the water onto the ground.

מאי בינייהו איכא בינייהו קינסא

The Gemara interjects: What is the difference between these two versions? The Gemara answers: There is a practical difference between them with regard to pouring the water on thin wood slivers on the ground. According to the first version, which requires that the water be poured into a vessel, one may not use such slivers for this purpose, whereas according to the second version, which merely prohibits pouring the water onto the ground, one may use wood slivers.

מים ראשונים נוטלין בין בחמין בין בצונן אחרונים אין נוטלין אלא בצונן מפני שחמין מפעפעין את הידים ואין מעבירין את הזוהמא מים ראשונים נוטלין בין בחמין בין בצונן אמר רב יצחק בר יוסף אמר רבי ינאי לא שנו אלא שאין היד

The baraita continues: With regard to first waters, one may wash either with hot water or with cold water. But for final waters, one may wash only with cold water, because hot water softens the hands and does not remove the dirt from them. The Gemara analyzes the statement that for first waters one may wash either with hot water or with cold water: Rav Yitzḥak bar Yosef says that Rabbi Yannai says: They taught this halakha only in a case where the hand does not

סולדת בהן אבל היד סולדת בהן אין נוטלין בהן

recoil [soledet] from the water’s heat. But if the hand recoils from it, one may not wash with it.

ואיכא דמתני לה אסיפא אחרונים אין נוטלין אלא בצונן אבל בחמין לא אמר רב יצחק בר יוסף אמר רבי ינאי לא שנו אלא שהיד סולדת בהן אבל אין היד סולדת בהן נוטלין מכלל דראשונים אף על פי שהיד סולדת בהן מותר

And there are those who teach a version of this statement with regard to the latter clause of the baraita: For final waters, one may wash only with cold water, but one may not wash with hot water. Rav Yitzḥak bar Yosef says that Rabbi Yannai says: They taught that one may not use hot water only in a case where the water is so hot that the hand recoils from it, but if the hand does not recoil from it, one may wash with it. The Gemara comments: One can learn by inference from this version of the statement that in the case of first waters, even if the water is so hot that the hand recoils from it, it is permitted to use it for washing.

אמצעיים רשות אמר רב נחמן לא שנו אלא בין תבשיל לתבשיל אבל בין תבשיל לגבינה חובה

§ The baraita states that middle waters are optional. Rav Naḥman says: They taught this only with regard to washing the hands between one cooked dish and another cooked dish served at a meal. But between a cooked dish and cheese there is an obligation to wash one’s hands.

אמר רב יהודה בריה דרבי חייא מפני מה אמרו מים אחרונים חובה שמלח סדומית יש שמסמא את העינים אמר אביי ומשתכח כי קורטא בכורא אמר ליה רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי כל מלחא מאי אמר ליה לא מבעיא

§ The baraita further teaches that final waters are an obligation. Rav Yehuda, son of Rabbi Ḥiyya, says: For what reason did the Sages say that final waters are an obligation? It is because Sodomite salt is sometimes present, a small amount of which blinds the eyes. Since Sodomite salt could remain on one’s hands, one must wash them after eating. Abaye said: And this type of dangerous salt is present in the proportion of a pinch [korta] in an entire kor of regular salt. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: If one measured salt between meals, what is the halakha? Must he wash his hands afterward? He said to him: It is not necessary to say this; he is certainly obligated to do so.

אמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא משו מיא בתראי על ארעא משום זוהמא אמר לי מר משום דשריא רוח רעה עלייהו

§ Abaye said: At first I would say that this halakha that one may not wash his hands with final waters over the ground is due to messiness. But the Master, Rabba, said to me that it is because an evil spirit rests upon the water and passersby are liable to be afflicted.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא שקיל מידי מפתורא כי נקיט איניש כסא למשתי שמא יארע דבר קלקלה בסעודה אמר לי מר משום דקשי לרוח צרדא

And Abaye also said: At first I would say that the reason for this statement of the Sages that one should not take anything from the table when a person is holding a cup to drink, is lest a mishap occur at the meal, i.e., the one holding the cup might have wanted the item that was taken, and since he is unable to speak he will choke in his anger. But the Master subsequently said to me that it is because it is bad for one’s health, causing a spirit of pain in half his head, i.e., a migraine.

ולא אמרן אלא דשקיל ולא מהדר אבל משקל ואהדורי לית לן בה ולא אמרן אלא חוץ לארבע אמות אבל תוך ארבע אמות לית לן בה ולא אמרן אלא מידי דצריך לסעודתא אבל מידי דלא צריך לסעודתא לית לן בה

And we said that this practice is prohibited only if one takes an item from the table and does not put it back. But as for taking and putting back, we have no problem with it. And likewise, we said it is prohibited only if one takes the item beyond four cubits of the table. But if one leaves it within four cubits, we have no problem with it. And furthermore, we said this halakha only with regard to an item that is necessary for the meal. But in the case of an item that is not necessary for the meal, we have no problem with it.

מר בר רב אשי קפיד אפילו אאסיתא ובוכנא דתבלי מידי דצריכי לסעודתא

The Gemara relates that Mar bar Rav Ashi was particular not to remove any object from the table when someone was holding his cup in hand, even with regard to a mortar [asita] and pestle [bukhna] for spices, like all items that are necessary for the meal.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דכנשי נשווראה משום מנקירותא אמר לי מר משום דקשי לעניותא

And Abaye further said: At first I would say that this practice that people collect the crumbs of bread after a meal is due to cleanliness. But the Master subsequently said to me that it is because leaving them is bad for, i.e., it can increase, a person’s vulnerability to poverty.

ההוא גברא דהוה מהדר עליה שרא דעניותא ולא הוה יכיל ליה דקא זהיר אנשוורא טובא יומא חד כרך ליפתא איבלי אמר השתא ודאי נפל בידאי בתר דאכיל אייתי מרא עקרינהו ליבלי שדינהו לנהרא שמעיה דקאמר ווי דאפקיה ההוא גברא מביתיה

The Gemara relates: There was a certain man who was pursued by the ministering angel of poverty, but the angel was unable to impoverish him, as he was exceptionally careful with regard to crumbs. One day that man broke his bread over grass, and some crumbs fell among the blades of grass. The angel said: Now he will certainly fall into my hands, as he cannot collect all the crumbs. After the man ate, he brought a hoe, uprooted the grass, and threw it into the river. He subsequently heard the ministering angel of poverty say: Woe is me, as that man has removed me from my house, i.e., my position of comfort.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא שתי אופיא משום מאיסותא אמר לי מר משום דקשי לכרסם מישתיה קשה לכרסם מינפח ביה קשיא לרישא מדחייה קשיא לעניותא מאי תקנתיה לשקעיה שקועי

And Abaye said: At first I would say that this practice that people do not drink the foam from the top of a beverage is followed because it is repulsive. But the Master said to me that it is followed because it is bad for one’s vulnerability to catarrh. The Gemara comments: Drinking it is bad for catarrh, while blowing off the foam from the drink is bad for head pains, and removing it with one’s hand is bad for poverty. If so, what is its remedy? How may one drink? He should sink the foam inside the beverage and then drink it.

לכרסם דחמרא שיכרא דשיכרא מיא דמיא לית ליה תקנתא והיינו דאמרי אינשי בתר עניא אזלא עניותא

The Gemara notes: The treatment for catarrh caused by the foam of wine is beer; the treatment for catarrh caused by the foam of beer is water; and for catarrh caused by the foam of water there is no remedy. And this is in accordance with the adage that people say: Poverty follows the poor. Not only does a pauper have nothing to drink other than water, but there also is no treatment for the disease caused by his beverage.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא אכלי ירקא מכישא דאסר גינאה משום דמיחזי כרעבתנותא אמר לי מר משום דקשי לכשפים

And Abaye said: At first I would say that the reason for this practice that people do not eat vegetables from a bundle tied by the gardener is because it has the appearance of gluttony, as he does not wait to untie the bundle to eat. But the Master said to me that it is because it is bad for one’s vulnerability to witchcraft.

רב חסדא ורבה בר רב הונא הוו קאזלי בארבא אמרה להו ההיא מטרוניתא אותבן בהדייכו לא אותבוה אמרה מלתא אסרתה לארבא אמרו אינהו מילתא שריוה אמרה להו מאי איעביד לכו דלא מקנח לכו בחספא ולא קטיל לכו כינה אמנייכו ולא אכיל לכו ירקא מכישא דאסר גינאה

The Gemara relates: Rav Ḥisda and Rabba bar Rav Huna were traveling on a boat. A certain matron said to them: Seat me together with you on the boat, but they did not seat her alongside them. She said something, an incantation, and thereby tied the boat to its spot so that it could not move. They too said something and thereby released it. That matron said to them: What can I do to you? Witchcraft has no power over you, as after attending to your bodily functions, you do not wipe yourselves with an earthenware shard, and you do not kill a louse that you find on your garments, and you do not eat vegetables from a bundle tied by the gardener.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא אכלי ירקא דנפל אתכא משום מאיסותא אמר לי מר משום דקשה לריח הפה ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דלא יתבי תותי מרזיבא משום שופכים אמר לי מר משום דשכיחי מזיקין

And Abaye said: At first I would say as follows: The reason for this practice that people do not eat vegetables that fell on the table is because it is replusive. But the Master said to me that it is because it is bad for halitosis. And Abaye said: At first I would say that the reason for this practice that people do not sit under a gutter is because of the waste water that pours out of it. But the Master said to me that it is because demons are commonly found there.

הנהו שקולאי דהוו דרו חביתא דחמרא בעו לאיתפוחי אותבוה תותי מרזיבא פקעה אתו לקמיה דמר בר רב אשי אפיק שיפורי שמתיה אתא לקמיה אמר ליה אמאי תעביד הכי אמר ליה היכי אעביד כי אותביה באונאי

The Gemara relates: There were certain porters who were carrying a barrel of wine. When they wanted to rest, they placed it under a gutter and the barrel burst. They came before Mar bar Rav Ashi, who brought out horns and had them blown as he excommunicated the demon of that place. The demon came before Mar bar Rav Ashi, and the Sage said to it: Why did you do this? The demon said to him: How else should I act, when these men place a barrel on my ear?

אמר ליה את בדוכתא דשכיחי רבים מאי בעית את הוא דשנית זיל שלים אמר ליה השתא נמי ליקבע לי מר זימנא ואפרע קבע ליה זימנא כי מטא זימנא איעכב כי אתא אמר ליה אמאי לא אתית בזמנך אמר ליה כל מילי דצייר וחתים וכייל ומני לית לן רשותא למשקל מיניה עד דמשכחינן מידי דהפקרא

Mar bar Rav Ashi said to it: What are you doing in a place where many people are found? You are the one who deviated from the norm; go and pay them the value of the barrel of wine. The demon said to him: Let the Master now set a time for me, so that I can find the money, and I will pay. Mar bar Rav Ashi set a time for his payment. When that time arrived, the demon delayed in coming to pay. When the demon eventually came, Mar bar Rav Ashi said to it: Why did you not come at the time set for you? The demon said to him: With regard to any item that is tied up, or sealed, or measured, or counted, we have no authority to take it. We are unable to obtain money until we find an ownerless item. For this reason, it took him a long time to find enough money to pay for the barrel.

ואמר אביי מריש הוה אמינא האי דשדי מיא מפומא דחצבא משום ציבתא אמר לי מר משום דאיכא מים הרעים

And Abaye said: At first I would say that this practice that people pour out a little water from the mouth of a pitcher before drinking from it is followed because of twigs it might contain. But the Master said to me that it is followed because there are foul waters in the pitcher.

ההוא בר שידא דהוה בי רב פפא אזל לאתויי מיא מנהרא איעכב כי אתא אמרו ליה אמאי איעכבת אמר להו עד דחלפי מים הרעים אדהכי

The Gemara relates: There was a certain son of a demon that was in Rav Pappa’s house as a servant. It went to bring water from the river, and it delayed in returning. When it came, the members of Rav Pappa’s household said to it: Why did you delay? It said to them: I waited until the foul waters passed. In the meantime,