Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Gali, Shim, Zoe, Zachy and Yehuda in loving memory of Judith Rosenfeld Hochstadter, Gittel bat Kreindel v’Binyamin BenZion on her second yahrzeit. “Her curiosity, humor, intellect and devout nature continues to inspire and hold us accountable. We miss her and think of her in all our pursuits, especially in our Hadran learning, where she would be glad to know that she didn’t have to boil more than 1 egg at a time!!”
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Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This month’s learning is sponsored by Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Gali, Shim, Zoe, Zachy and Yehuda in loving memory of Judith Rosenfeld Hochstadter, Gittel bat Kreindel v’Binyamin BenZion on her second yahrzeit. “Her curiosity, humor, intellect and devout nature continues to inspire and hold us accountable. We miss her and think of her in all our pursuits, especially in our Hadran learning, where she would be glad to know that she didn’t have to boil more than 1 egg at a time!!”
Chullin 44
מֵחוּמְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּמֵחוּמְרֵי בֵּית הִלֵּל – עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״הַכְּסִיל בַּחוֹשֶׁךְ הוֹלֵךְ״. אֶלָּא אִי כְּבֵית שַׁמַּאי – כְּקוּלֵּיהֶן וּכְחוּמְרֵיהֶן, אִי כְּבֵית הִלֵּל – כְּקוּלֵּיהֶן וּכְחוּמְרֵיהֶן.
And one who wishes to adopt both the stringencies of Beit Shammai and the stringencies of Beit Hillel, with regard to him the verse states: “The fool walks in darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:14). Rather, one should act either in accordance with Beit Shammai, following both their leniencies and their stringencies, or in accordance with Beit Hillel, following both their leniencies and their stringencies.
הָא גּוּפַאּ קַשְׁיָא, אָמְרַתְּ: לְעוֹלָם הֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי בֵּית הִלֵּל, וַהֲדַר תָּנֵי: וְהָרוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּדִבְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּאי יַעֲשֶׂה!
The Gemara objects to the wording of the baraita: This baraita itself is difficult. First you say that the halakha is always in accordance with the statement of Beit Hillel, and then you teach that one who wishes to act in accordance with the statement of Beit Shammai may do so.
לָא קַשְׁיָא, כָּאן – קוֹדֶם בַּת קוֹל, כָּאן – לְאַחַר בַּת קוֹל.
The Gemara responds: This is not difficult. Here, the statement that a person may act as he wishes was made before the Divine Voice emerged and announced that the halakha is always in accordance with Beit Hillel. There, the statement that the halakha is always in accordance with Beit Hillel was made after the Divine Voice issued this ruling.
וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא, אַף לְאַחַר בַּת קוֹל, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הִיא, דְּאָמַר: אֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּבַת קוֹל.
And if you wish, say instead that even the statement that a person may act as he wishes was made after the Divine Voice announced that the halakha is in accordance with Beit Hillel, and this statement is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, who says: One disregards a Divine Voice that attempts to intervene in matters of halakha. According to him, the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel has not yet been decided.
מִכׇּל מָקוֹם, קַשְׁיָא.
The Gemara notes: In any case, Rava’s ruling is difficult. How could he rule in accordance with two contradictory stringencies in order to deem the animal a tereifa?
אָמַר רַב טָבוּת: כּוּלַּהּ כְּרַב עַבְדַהּ, דְּכִי אֲתָא רָמֵי בַּר יְחֶזְקֵאל אָמַר: לָא תְּצִיתוּ לְהוּ לְהָנֵי כְּלָלֵי דְּכָיֵיל יְהוּדָה אֲחִי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב! הָכִי אָמַר רַב: וֶושֶׁט נָתְנוּ [בּוֹ] חֲכָמִים שִׁיעוּר, מִכְּלָל דְּתוּרְבַּץ הַוֶּושֶׁט לָאו מְקוֹם שְׁחִיטָה הוּא, וְקָאָמַר בְּמַשֶּׁהוּ.
Rav Tavut said: Rava acted entirely in accordance with the opinion of Rav. As when Rami bar Yeḥezkel came, he said: Do not listen to those principles that Rav Yehuda, my brother, formulated in the name of Rav. Although Rav holds that a perforation of any part of the entrance of the gullet renders an animal a tereifa, this is not because it is a location fit for slaughter. Rather, this is what Rav said: The Sages gave a measure defining the portion of the gullet that is valid for slaughter. By inference, one learns that the entrance of the gullet is not a location fit for slaughter. And nevertheless, he says that a perforation in any amount renders the animal a tereifa.
לְמַעְלָה עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: עַד כְּדֵי תְּפִיסַת יָד. לְמַטָּה עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: עַד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּשְׂעִיר.
Since it was mentioned that the Sages gave a measure defining the portion of the gullet that is valid for slaughter, the Gemara asks: How far up the gullet is the upper boundary for valid slaughter? Rav Naḥman said: It is until the point that there remains only sufficient space for a hand to grip the gullet. The Gemara asks: How far down is the lower boundary? Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: Until the gullet becomes hairy, i.e., until the opening of the rumen, whose lining is hairy.
אִינִי? וְהָאָמַר רָבִינָא אָמַר גְּנִיבָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב: טֶפַח בַּוֶּושֶׁט סָמוּךְ לַכָּרֵס – זֶהוּ כָּרֵס הַפְּנִימִי. אַמַּאי? כִּי קָא שָׁחֵט בְּכָרֵס קָא שָׁחֵיט!
The Gemara asks: Is that so? But doesn’t Ravina say that Geneiva says in the name of Rav: The lowermost handbreadth in the gullet, adjacent to the rumen, this is the inner rumen? If so, why does Rav Naḥman permit slaughter until the opening of the rumen? When one slaughters within the bottom handbreadth, he is slaughtering in the rumen, and his slaughter should be invalid.
אֵימָא: טֶפַח בְּכָרֵס סָמוּךְ לַוֶּושֶׁט – זֶהוּ כָּרֵס הַפְּנִימִי. אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: כִּי קָאָמַר רַב – בְּתוֹרָא, דְּמַשְׂעַר טְפֵי.
Rather, say that Rav’s statement should be amended, as follows: The uppermost handbreadth in the rumen, adjacent to the gullet, this is the inner rumen, which is not a valid location for slaughter. By contrast, the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet is a valid location for slaughter. And if you wish, say instead that when Rav says that the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet is considered the rumen, he is referring specifically to a bull, which is especially hairy, and hairs appear even within the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet itself. By contrast, in other animals, the entire lower gullet is a valid location for slaughter.
אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: תּוּרְבַּץ הַוֶּושֶׁט שֶׁנִּיטַּל כּוּלּוֹ מִלֶּחִי – כָּשֵׁר, וּתְנָא תּוּנָא: נִיטַּל לֶחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן – כָּשֵׁר.
§ Rav Naḥman says that Shmuel says: If the entrance of the gullet was completely detached from the jaw, the animal is kosher. And the tanna of the mishna also taught this later (54a): If the lower jaw was detached entirely, it is kosher.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב פָּפָּא: וְהָאִיכָּא עִיקּוּר סִימָנִים?
Rav Pappa objects to this: How can Shmuel say that if the entrance of the gullet is detached the animal is kosher? But isn’t there ripping of the simanim, the gullet and the windpipe, from their place? This should render the animal a tereifa.
וּלְרַב פָּפָּא קַשְׁיָא מַתְנִיתִין: נִיטַּל לֶחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן – כָּשֵׁר.
The Gemara interjects: But according to Rav Pappa, the mishna is difficult as well, since it states: If the lower jaw was detached, it is kosher. If the lower jaw is detached, the windpipe and gullet will necessarily be detached as well, since they are attached to it.
בִּשְׁלָמָא מַתְנִיתִין לְרַב פָּפָּא לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא דְּאִיעֲקוּר אִיעֲקוֹרֵי, הָא דְּאִיגּוּם אִיגּוֹמֵי מֵעִילָּוֵי סִימָנִים, אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוּאֵל קַשְׁיָא!
The Gemara responds: Granted, the mishna is not difficult for Rav Pappa. This halakha, that the ripping of the simanim renders the animal a tereifa, applies only when the simanim are completely ripped from the jaw. That statement of the mishna, that an animal whose jaw is detached is kosher, is referring to a case where the lower jaw is severed above its connection to the simanim, which themselves remain connected to the remaining flesh of the jaw. But the halakha that the ripping of the simanim renders the animal a tereifa is difficult for Shmuel. How can an animal remain kosher when the entrance of its gullet is removed, if this entails the ripping of the simanim?
לָא תֵּימָא כּוּלּוֹ, אֶלָּא אֵימָא רוּבּוֹ.
The Gemara responds: Do not say that Shmuel deems the animal kosher if the entrance of the gullet was completely detached. Rather, say that he deems it kosher only if it was mostly detached.
וְהָאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: סִימָנִים שֶׁנִּדַּלְדְּלוּ בְּרוּבָּן – טְרֵפָה? אָמַר רַב שִׁישָׁא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי: הָא דְּאִקְּפַל אִיקְּפוֹלֵי, הָתָם דְּאִפְּרוּק אִפְּרוֹקֵי.
The Gemara asks: But doesn’t Rabba bar bar Ḥana say that Shmuel says: Simanim that were detached in their majority render the animal a tereifa? Rav Sheisha, son of Rav Idi, said: This statement of Shmuel, that the animal is kosher even if the simanim are mostly detached, applies only to a case in which the entrance of the gullet was peeled off from the flesh of the jaw, such that the connected tissue is concentrated in one area. In such a case, the animal might recover. There, where Shmuel deems the animal a tereifa, he is referring to a case in which the simanim were forcibly separated [de’ippruk ipprukei] from the jaw and are connected only by a few discontinuous pieces of flesh. In such a case the animal cannot recover.
וּפְסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת. תָּנָא: כַּמָּה פְּסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת? בְּרוּבָּהּ. וְכַמָּה רוּבָּה? רַב אָמַר:
§ The mishna states: Or an animal with a cut windpipe, cut across its width, is a tereifa. With regard to this the Sages taught: How much must the windpipe be cut to render the animal a tereifa? In its majority. And how much is its majority? Rav says:
רוֹב עוֹבְיָהּ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: רוֹב חֲלָלָה.
The majority of its width, counting the width of the wall of the windpipe itself, the thickness of which is uneven. And some say that Rav says: The majority of its space, the inner area of the cross section of the windpipe, not counting the width of the windpipe wall.
הָהִיא פְּסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת דַּאֲתַאי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב, יָתֵיב וְקָא בָּדֵיק לַהּ בְּרוֹב עוֹבְיָהּ. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: לִימַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּינוּ בְּרוֹב חֲלָלָהּ! שַׁדְּרֵיהּ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה, בַּדְקַהּ בְּרוֹב חֲלָלָהּ וְאַכְשְׁרַהּ, וּזְבַן מִינַּהּ בִּתְלֵיסַר אִיסְתֵּירֵי פְּשִׁיטֵי בִּישְׂרָא.
The Gemara recounts: There was a certain animal with a cut windpipe that came before Rav, i.e., it was brought for inspection to decide whether it was kosher. Rav was sitting and checking it to see if the windpipe had been cut in the majority of its width. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi said to Rav: Didn’t you teach us, our teacher, that a cut windpipe is measured by the majority of its space? Rav sent the animal before Rabba bar bar Ḥana, who checked it in the majority of its space and deemed it kosher, and purchased meat from it at the price of thirteen plain istera coins.
וְהֵיכִי עָבֵיד הָכִי? וְהָתַנְיָא: חָכָם שֶׁטִּימֵּא – אֵין חֲבֵירוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְטַהֵר, אָסַר – אֵין חֲבֵירוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְהַתִּיר! שָׁאנֵי הָכָא, דְּרַב לָא אֲסַר מֵיסָר.
The Gemara asks: And how could Rabba bar bar Ḥana do this, i.e., deem permitted an animal that Rav was going to deem prohibited? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: If a halakhic authority deemed an item impure, another halakhic authority is not allowed to deem it pure; likewise, if he prohibited it, another authority is not allowed to permit it? The Gemara responds: It is different here, since Rav did not actually prohibit the animal. He merely considered doing so, but he sent it to Rabba bar bar Ḥana before issuing a formal ruling.
וְכֵיוָן דְּאוֹרִי בַּהּ חָכָם, הֵיכִי אֲכַל מִינַּהּ? וְהָא כְּתִיב: ״וָאֹמַר אֲהָהּ ה׳ אֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה וּנְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה לֹא אָכַלְתִּי מִנְּעוּרַי וְעַד עַתָּה וְלֹא בָא בְּפִי בְּשַׂר פִּגּוּל״.
The Gemara asks: And once a halakhic authority has ruled with regard to the animal, even to permit it, how could Rabba bar bar Ḥana eat from it? But isn’t it written: “Then I said: Alas, Lord God, my soul has not become impure; and from my youth until now I have not eaten an unslaughtered carcass, or a tereifa; and no piggul flesh came into my mouth” (Ezekiel 4:14).
״הִנֵּה נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה״ – שֶׁלֹּא הִרְהַרְתִּי בַּיּוֹם לָבֹא לִידֵי טוּמְאָה בַּלַּיְלָה, ״וּנְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה לֹא אָכַלְתִּי״ – שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי בְּשַׂר ״כּוֹס כּוֹס״ מֵעוֹלָם, ״וְלֹא בָא בְּפִי בְּשַׂר פִּגּוּל״ – שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי מִבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהוֹרָה בָּהּ חָכָם. מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי נָתָן אָמְרוּ: שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי מִבְּהֵמָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּרְמוּ מַתְּנוֹתֶיהָ.
The Sages interpreted the verse as follows: “My soul has not become impure” means that I did not think of sexual thoughts during the day so as to come to the impurity of a seminal emission at night. “I have not eaten an unslaughtered carcass, or a tereifa” means that I never ate the flesh of an animal that was in danger of imminent death, leading one to say: Slaughter it, slaughter it quickly, before it dies. “And no piggul flesh came into my mouth,” means that I never ate from an animal with regard to which there was uncertainty whether it is prohibited and a Sage issued a ruling to permit it. The Sages said in the name of Rabbi Natan: The phrase means that I never ate from an animal from which the gifts of the priesthood, the foreleg, jaw, and abomasum, were not separated. The above acts are technically permitted but unseemly. How, then, could Rabba bar bar Ḥana consume the meat of this animal?
הָנֵי מִילֵּי – מִילְּתָא דְתַלְיָא בִּסְבָרָא, רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אַגְּמָרֵיהּ סְמַךְ.
The Gemara responds: This statement, that it is unseemly for a halakhic authority to rely on his own ruling to permit the meat, applies only to a matter that depends on reasoning. Rabba bar bar Ḥana relied on his learning, i.e., a received tradition. There is nothing unseemly about relying upon a received tradition.
וְתִיפּוֹק לֵיהּ מִשּׁוּם חֲשָׁדָא, דְּתַנְיָא: דָּן אֶת הַדִּין, זִיכָּה וְחַיָּיב, טִימֵּא וְטִיהֵר, אָסַר וְהִתִּיר, וְכֵן הָעֵדִים שֶׁהֵעִידוּ – כּוּלָּן רַשָּׁאִין לִיקַּח, אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: הַרְחֵק מִן הַכִּיעוּר וּמִן הַדּוֹמֶה לוֹ.
The Gemara objects: But let one derive that Rabba bar bar Ḥana should not have purchased the meat due to suspicion, as it is taught in a baraita: If one issued a judgment, acquitted or convicted, deemed impure or pure, prohibited or permitted; or if witnesses testified with regard to a case, in all of these instances the judges or witnesses are allowed to purchase the item that they deemed permitted. But the Sages said: Distance yourself from unseemliness and from things similar to it. If so, Rabba bar bar Ḥana should not have purchased the meat that he himself permitted.
הָנֵי מִילֵּי מִידֵּי דִּמְזַבֵּין מִשּׁוּמָא, הָכָא מַתְקְלָא מוֹכַח, כִּי הָא דְּרַבָּה שְׁרָא טְרֵפְתָּא וּזְבַן מִינַּהּ בִּישְׂרָא, אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ בַּת רַב חִסְדָּא: אַבָּא שָׁרֵי בּוּכְרָא וְלָא זָבֵן מִינֵּיהּ בִּישְׂרָא.
The Gemara responds: This statement applies only to an item that is sold based on an appraisal of its value and not by standard measure. In such cases onlookers might suspect that the judge is receiving a favorable price in return for his judgment. But here, the weight of the meat proves that the judge is not receiving a discount, but is paying the standard price. This is like that incident where Rabba permitted a possible tereifa for consumption and bought meat from it. His wife, the daughter of Rav Ḥisda, said to him: Father permitted a firstborn animal, declaring that it possessed a blemish that renders it permitted for consumption, but did not buy meat from it. Why are you acting differently?
אֲמַר לַהּ: הָנֵי מִילֵּי בּוּכְרָא דְּאַשּׁוּמָא מִזְדְּבַן, הָכָא מַתְקְלָא מוֹכַח, מַאי אִיכָּא – מִשּׁוּם אוּמְצָא מְעַלַּיְיתָא? כֹּל יוֹמָא אוּמְצָא מְעַלַּיְיתָא זַבִּנוּ לִי.
Rabba said to her: That matter applies to a firstborn, which is sold based on appraisal of its value. Here, the weight of the meat proves that I am paying the standard price and not unfairly deriving benefit from my judgment. What suspicion is there in this case? Will people suspect me because I received a superior piece of meat? Every day they sell me a superior piece of meat.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵיזֶהוּ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם? זֶה הָרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵיזֶהוּ ״שׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנֹת יִחְיֶה״? זֶה הָרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ.
The Gemara cites an aphorism: Rav Ḥisda says: Who is a Torah scholar? This is one who sees his own tereifa. In other words, when the status of his own animal is uncertain, he deems it prohibited without concern for his own monetary loss. And Rav Ḥisda says: Who is referred to by the verse: “He that hates gifts shall live” (Proverbs 15:27)? This is one who sees his own tereifa. He is careful to avoid deriving benefit from that which is not his own, and even from items that are his concerning which it is questionable whether or not they are permitted.
דָּרֵשׁ מָר זוּטְרָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא: כׇּל מִי שֶׁקּוֹרֵא וְשׁוֹנֶה, וְרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ, וְשִׁימֵּשׁ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים – עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ״. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: זוֹכֶה וְנוֹחֵל שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, ״אַשְׁרֶיךָ״ – בְּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״וְטוֹב לָךְ״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Mar Zutra taught in the name of Rav Ḥisda: Anyone who reads the Torah and studies the Mishna, and sees his own tereifa, and has served Torah scholars to learn the ways of halakhic judgment, about him the verse states: “When you eat the labor of your hands, happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you” (Psalms 128:2). Rav Zevid says: Such a person merits inheriting two worlds, this world and the World-to-Come. When the verse states: “Happy shall you be,” it means in this world, and when it states: “And it shall be well with you,” it is referring to the World-to-Come.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, כִּי הֲווֹ מְשַׁדְּרִי לֵיהּ מִבֵּי נְשִׂיאָה מִידֵּי, לָא שָׁקֵיל, וְכִי הֲווֹ מְזַמְּנִי לֵיהּ, לָא אָזֵיל. אָמַר: לָא קָא בָּעֵי מָר דְּאֵיחֵי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וְשׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנוֹת יִחְיֶה״. רַבִּי זֵירָא, כִּי מְשַׁדְּרִי לֵיהּ, לָא שָׁקֵיל, כִּי הֲווֹ מַזְמְנִין לֵיהּ, אָזֵיל. אֲמַר:
With regard to the verse: “He that hates gifts shall live,” the Gemara relates that when they would send Rabbi Elazar some gift from the house of the Nasi, he would not take it. And when they would invite him, he would not go there. When declining these offers, he said to them: Does Master not desire that I live? As it is written: “He that hates gifts shall live.” By contrast, when they would send a gift to Rabbi Zeira, he would not take it, but when they would invite him he would go. He said in explanation:
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After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
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I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.
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Zichron Yaakov, Israel
It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.
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I started learning at the beginning of the cycle after a friend persuaded me that it would be right up my alley. I was lucky enough to learn at Rabbanit Michelle’s house before it started on zoom and it was quickly part of my daily routine. I find it so important to see for myself where halachot were derived, where stories were told and to get more insight into how the Rabbis interacted.
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I began my journey with Rabbanit Michelle more than five years ago. My friend came up with a great idea for about 15 of us to learn the daf and one of us would summarize weekly what we learned.
It was fun but after 2-3 months people began to leave. I have continued. Since the cycle began Again I have joined the Teaneck women.. I find it most rewarding in so many ways. Thank you
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Raanana, Israel
I started learning at the beginning of the cycle after a friend persuaded me that it would be right up my alley. I was lucky enough to learn at Rabbanit Michelle’s house before it started on zoom and it was quickly part of my daily routine. I find it so important to see for myself where halachot were derived, where stories were told and to get more insight into how the Rabbis interacted.
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Chullin 44
מֵחוּמְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּאי וּמֵחוּמְרֵי בֵּית הִלֵּל – עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״הַכְּסִיל בַּחוֹשֶׁךְ הוֹלֵךְ״. אֶלָּא אִי כְּבֵית שַׁמַּאי – כְּקוּלֵּיהֶן וּכְחוּמְרֵיהֶן, אִי כְּבֵית הִלֵּל – כְּקוּלֵּיהֶן וּכְחוּמְרֵיהֶן.
And one who wishes to adopt both the stringencies of Beit Shammai and the stringencies of Beit Hillel, with regard to him the verse states: “The fool walks in darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:14). Rather, one should act either in accordance with Beit Shammai, following both their leniencies and their stringencies, or in accordance with Beit Hillel, following both their leniencies and their stringencies.
הָא גּוּפַאּ קַשְׁיָא, אָמְרַתְּ: לְעוֹלָם הֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי בֵּית הִלֵּל, וַהֲדַר תָּנֵי: וְהָרוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּדִבְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּאי יַעֲשֶׂה!
The Gemara objects to the wording of the baraita: This baraita itself is difficult. First you say that the halakha is always in accordance with the statement of Beit Hillel, and then you teach that one who wishes to act in accordance with the statement of Beit Shammai may do so.
לָא קַשְׁיָא, כָּאן – קוֹדֶם בַּת קוֹל, כָּאן – לְאַחַר בַּת קוֹל.
The Gemara responds: This is not difficult. Here, the statement that a person may act as he wishes was made before the Divine Voice emerged and announced that the halakha is always in accordance with Beit Hillel. There, the statement that the halakha is always in accordance with Beit Hillel was made after the Divine Voice issued this ruling.
וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא, אַף לְאַחַר בַּת קוֹל, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הִיא, דְּאָמַר: אֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּבַת קוֹל.
And if you wish, say instead that even the statement that a person may act as he wishes was made after the Divine Voice announced that the halakha is in accordance with Beit Hillel, and this statement is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua, who says: One disregards a Divine Voice that attempts to intervene in matters of halakha. According to him, the dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel has not yet been decided.
מִכׇּל מָקוֹם, קַשְׁיָא.
The Gemara notes: In any case, Rava’s ruling is difficult. How could he rule in accordance with two contradictory stringencies in order to deem the animal a tereifa?
אָמַר רַב טָבוּת: כּוּלַּהּ כְּרַב עַבְדַהּ, דְּכִי אֲתָא רָמֵי בַּר יְחֶזְקֵאל אָמַר: לָא תְּצִיתוּ לְהוּ לְהָנֵי כְּלָלֵי דְּכָיֵיל יְהוּדָה אֲחִי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב! הָכִי אָמַר רַב: וֶושֶׁט נָתְנוּ [בּוֹ] חֲכָמִים שִׁיעוּר, מִכְּלָל דְּתוּרְבַּץ הַוֶּושֶׁט לָאו מְקוֹם שְׁחִיטָה הוּא, וְקָאָמַר בְּמַשֶּׁהוּ.
Rav Tavut said: Rava acted entirely in accordance with the opinion of Rav. As when Rami bar Yeḥezkel came, he said: Do not listen to those principles that Rav Yehuda, my brother, formulated in the name of Rav. Although Rav holds that a perforation of any part of the entrance of the gullet renders an animal a tereifa, this is not because it is a location fit for slaughter. Rather, this is what Rav said: The Sages gave a measure defining the portion of the gullet that is valid for slaughter. By inference, one learns that the entrance of the gullet is not a location fit for slaughter. And nevertheless, he says that a perforation in any amount renders the animal a tereifa.
לְמַעְלָה עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: עַד כְּדֵי תְּפִיסַת יָד. לְמַטָּה עַד כַּמָּה? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ: עַד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּשְׂעִיר.
Since it was mentioned that the Sages gave a measure defining the portion of the gullet that is valid for slaughter, the Gemara asks: How far up the gullet is the upper boundary for valid slaughter? Rav Naḥman said: It is until the point that there remains only sufficient space for a hand to grip the gullet. The Gemara asks: How far down is the lower boundary? Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: Until the gullet becomes hairy, i.e., until the opening of the rumen, whose lining is hairy.
אִינִי? וְהָאָמַר רָבִינָא אָמַר גְּנִיבָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב: טֶפַח בַּוֶּושֶׁט סָמוּךְ לַכָּרֵס – זֶהוּ כָּרֵס הַפְּנִימִי. אַמַּאי? כִּי קָא שָׁחֵט בְּכָרֵס קָא שָׁחֵיט!
The Gemara asks: Is that so? But doesn’t Ravina say that Geneiva says in the name of Rav: The lowermost handbreadth in the gullet, adjacent to the rumen, this is the inner rumen? If so, why does Rav Naḥman permit slaughter until the opening of the rumen? When one slaughters within the bottom handbreadth, he is slaughtering in the rumen, and his slaughter should be invalid.
אֵימָא: טֶפַח בְּכָרֵס סָמוּךְ לַוֶּושֶׁט – זֶהוּ כָּרֵס הַפְּנִימִי. אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: כִּי קָאָמַר רַב – בְּתוֹרָא, דְּמַשְׂעַר טְפֵי.
Rather, say that Rav’s statement should be amended, as follows: The uppermost handbreadth in the rumen, adjacent to the gullet, this is the inner rumen, which is not a valid location for slaughter. By contrast, the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet is a valid location for slaughter. And if you wish, say instead that when Rav says that the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet is considered the rumen, he is referring specifically to a bull, which is especially hairy, and hairs appear even within the lowermost handbreadth of the gullet itself. By contrast, in other animals, the entire lower gullet is a valid location for slaughter.
אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: תּוּרְבַּץ הַוֶּושֶׁט שֶׁנִּיטַּל כּוּלּוֹ מִלֶּחִי – כָּשֵׁר, וּתְנָא תּוּנָא: נִיטַּל לֶחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן – כָּשֵׁר.
§ Rav Naḥman says that Shmuel says: If the entrance of the gullet was completely detached from the jaw, the animal is kosher. And the tanna of the mishna also taught this later (54a): If the lower jaw was detached entirely, it is kosher.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב פָּפָּא: וְהָאִיכָּא עִיקּוּר סִימָנִים?
Rav Pappa objects to this: How can Shmuel say that if the entrance of the gullet is detached the animal is kosher? But isn’t there ripping of the simanim, the gullet and the windpipe, from their place? This should render the animal a tereifa.
וּלְרַב פָּפָּא קַשְׁיָא מַתְנִיתִין: נִיטַּל לֶחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן – כָּשֵׁר.
The Gemara interjects: But according to Rav Pappa, the mishna is difficult as well, since it states: If the lower jaw was detached, it is kosher. If the lower jaw is detached, the windpipe and gullet will necessarily be detached as well, since they are attached to it.
בִּשְׁלָמָא מַתְנִיתִין לְרַב פָּפָּא לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא דְּאִיעֲקוּר אִיעֲקוֹרֵי, הָא דְּאִיגּוּם אִיגּוֹמֵי מֵעִילָּוֵי סִימָנִים, אֶלָּא לִשְׁמוּאֵל קַשְׁיָא!
The Gemara responds: Granted, the mishna is not difficult for Rav Pappa. This halakha, that the ripping of the simanim renders the animal a tereifa, applies only when the simanim are completely ripped from the jaw. That statement of the mishna, that an animal whose jaw is detached is kosher, is referring to a case where the lower jaw is severed above its connection to the simanim, which themselves remain connected to the remaining flesh of the jaw. But the halakha that the ripping of the simanim renders the animal a tereifa is difficult for Shmuel. How can an animal remain kosher when the entrance of its gullet is removed, if this entails the ripping of the simanim?
לָא תֵּימָא כּוּלּוֹ, אֶלָּא אֵימָא רוּבּוֹ.
The Gemara responds: Do not say that Shmuel deems the animal kosher if the entrance of the gullet was completely detached. Rather, say that he deems it kosher only if it was mostly detached.
וְהָאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: סִימָנִים שֶׁנִּדַּלְדְּלוּ בְּרוּבָּן – טְרֵפָה? אָמַר רַב שִׁישָׁא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי: הָא דְּאִקְּפַל אִיקְּפוֹלֵי, הָתָם דְּאִפְּרוּק אִפְּרוֹקֵי.
The Gemara asks: But doesn’t Rabba bar bar Ḥana say that Shmuel says: Simanim that were detached in their majority render the animal a tereifa? Rav Sheisha, son of Rav Idi, said: This statement of Shmuel, that the animal is kosher even if the simanim are mostly detached, applies only to a case in which the entrance of the gullet was peeled off from the flesh of the jaw, such that the connected tissue is concentrated in one area. In such a case, the animal might recover. There, where Shmuel deems the animal a tereifa, he is referring to a case in which the simanim were forcibly separated [de’ippruk ipprukei] from the jaw and are connected only by a few discontinuous pieces of flesh. In such a case the animal cannot recover.
וּפְסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת. תָּנָא: כַּמָּה פְּסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת? בְּרוּבָּהּ. וְכַמָּה רוּבָּה? רַב אָמַר:
§ The mishna states: Or an animal with a cut windpipe, cut across its width, is a tereifa. With regard to this the Sages taught: How much must the windpipe be cut to render the animal a tereifa? In its majority. And how much is its majority? Rav says:
רוֹב עוֹבְיָהּ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: רוֹב חֲלָלָה.
The majority of its width, counting the width of the wall of the windpipe itself, the thickness of which is uneven. And some say that Rav says: The majority of its space, the inner area of the cross section of the windpipe, not counting the width of the windpipe wall.
הָהִיא פְּסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת דַּאֲתַאי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב, יָתֵיב וְקָא בָּדֵיק לַהּ בְּרוֹב עוֹבְיָהּ. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: לִימַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּינוּ בְּרוֹב חֲלָלָהּ! שַׁדְּרֵיהּ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה, בַּדְקַהּ בְּרוֹב חֲלָלָהּ וְאַכְשְׁרַהּ, וּזְבַן מִינַּהּ בִּתְלֵיסַר אִיסְתֵּירֵי פְּשִׁיטֵי בִּישְׂרָא.
The Gemara recounts: There was a certain animal with a cut windpipe that came before Rav, i.e., it was brought for inspection to decide whether it was kosher. Rav was sitting and checking it to see if the windpipe had been cut in the majority of its width. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi said to Rav: Didn’t you teach us, our teacher, that a cut windpipe is measured by the majority of its space? Rav sent the animal before Rabba bar bar Ḥana, who checked it in the majority of its space and deemed it kosher, and purchased meat from it at the price of thirteen plain istera coins.
וְהֵיכִי עָבֵיד הָכִי? וְהָתַנְיָא: חָכָם שֶׁטִּימֵּא – אֵין חֲבֵירוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְטַהֵר, אָסַר – אֵין חֲבֵירוֹ רַשַּׁאי לְהַתִּיר! שָׁאנֵי הָכָא, דְּרַב לָא אֲסַר מֵיסָר.
The Gemara asks: And how could Rabba bar bar Ḥana do this, i.e., deem permitted an animal that Rav was going to deem prohibited? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: If a halakhic authority deemed an item impure, another halakhic authority is not allowed to deem it pure; likewise, if he prohibited it, another authority is not allowed to permit it? The Gemara responds: It is different here, since Rav did not actually prohibit the animal. He merely considered doing so, but he sent it to Rabba bar bar Ḥana before issuing a formal ruling.
וְכֵיוָן דְּאוֹרִי בַּהּ חָכָם, הֵיכִי אֲכַל מִינַּהּ? וְהָא כְּתִיב: ״וָאֹמַר אֲהָהּ ה׳ אֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה וּנְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה לֹא אָכַלְתִּי מִנְּעוּרַי וְעַד עַתָּה וְלֹא בָא בְּפִי בְּשַׂר פִּגּוּל״.
The Gemara asks: And once a halakhic authority has ruled with regard to the animal, even to permit it, how could Rabba bar bar Ḥana eat from it? But isn’t it written: “Then I said: Alas, Lord God, my soul has not become impure; and from my youth until now I have not eaten an unslaughtered carcass, or a tereifa; and no piggul flesh came into my mouth” (Ezekiel 4:14).
״הִנֵּה נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה״ – שֶׁלֹּא הִרְהַרְתִּי בַּיּוֹם לָבֹא לִידֵי טוּמְאָה בַּלַּיְלָה, ״וּנְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה לֹא אָכַלְתִּי״ – שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי בְּשַׂר ״כּוֹס כּוֹס״ מֵעוֹלָם, ״וְלֹא בָא בְּפִי בְּשַׂר פִּגּוּל״ – שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי מִבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהוֹרָה בָּהּ חָכָם. מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי נָתָן אָמְרוּ: שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתִּי מִבְּהֵמָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּרְמוּ מַתְּנוֹתֶיהָ.
The Sages interpreted the verse as follows: “My soul has not become impure” means that I did not think of sexual thoughts during the day so as to come to the impurity of a seminal emission at night. “I have not eaten an unslaughtered carcass, or a tereifa” means that I never ate the flesh of an animal that was in danger of imminent death, leading one to say: Slaughter it, slaughter it quickly, before it dies. “And no piggul flesh came into my mouth,” means that I never ate from an animal with regard to which there was uncertainty whether it is prohibited and a Sage issued a ruling to permit it. The Sages said in the name of Rabbi Natan: The phrase means that I never ate from an animal from which the gifts of the priesthood, the foreleg, jaw, and abomasum, were not separated. The above acts are technically permitted but unseemly. How, then, could Rabba bar bar Ḥana consume the meat of this animal?
הָנֵי מִילֵּי – מִילְּתָא דְתַלְיָא בִּסְבָרָא, רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אַגְּמָרֵיהּ סְמַךְ.
The Gemara responds: This statement, that it is unseemly for a halakhic authority to rely on his own ruling to permit the meat, applies only to a matter that depends on reasoning. Rabba bar bar Ḥana relied on his learning, i.e., a received tradition. There is nothing unseemly about relying upon a received tradition.
וְתִיפּוֹק לֵיהּ מִשּׁוּם חֲשָׁדָא, דְּתַנְיָא: דָּן אֶת הַדִּין, זִיכָּה וְחַיָּיב, טִימֵּא וְטִיהֵר, אָסַר וְהִתִּיר, וְכֵן הָעֵדִים שֶׁהֵעִידוּ – כּוּלָּן רַשָּׁאִין לִיקַּח, אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: הַרְחֵק מִן הַכִּיעוּר וּמִן הַדּוֹמֶה לוֹ.
The Gemara objects: But let one derive that Rabba bar bar Ḥana should not have purchased the meat due to suspicion, as it is taught in a baraita: If one issued a judgment, acquitted or convicted, deemed impure or pure, prohibited or permitted; or if witnesses testified with regard to a case, in all of these instances the judges or witnesses are allowed to purchase the item that they deemed permitted. But the Sages said: Distance yourself from unseemliness and from things similar to it. If so, Rabba bar bar Ḥana should not have purchased the meat that he himself permitted.
הָנֵי מִילֵּי מִידֵּי דִּמְזַבֵּין מִשּׁוּמָא, הָכָא מַתְקְלָא מוֹכַח, כִּי הָא דְּרַבָּה שְׁרָא טְרֵפְתָּא וּזְבַן מִינַּהּ בִּישְׂרָא, אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ בַּת רַב חִסְדָּא: אַבָּא שָׁרֵי בּוּכְרָא וְלָא זָבֵן מִינֵּיהּ בִּישְׂרָא.
The Gemara responds: This statement applies only to an item that is sold based on an appraisal of its value and not by standard measure. In such cases onlookers might suspect that the judge is receiving a favorable price in return for his judgment. But here, the weight of the meat proves that the judge is not receiving a discount, but is paying the standard price. This is like that incident where Rabba permitted a possible tereifa for consumption and bought meat from it. His wife, the daughter of Rav Ḥisda, said to him: Father permitted a firstborn animal, declaring that it possessed a blemish that renders it permitted for consumption, but did not buy meat from it. Why are you acting differently?
אֲמַר לַהּ: הָנֵי מִילֵּי בּוּכְרָא דְּאַשּׁוּמָא מִזְדְּבַן, הָכָא מַתְקְלָא מוֹכַח, מַאי אִיכָּא – מִשּׁוּם אוּמְצָא מְעַלַּיְיתָא? כֹּל יוֹמָא אוּמְצָא מְעַלַּיְיתָא זַבִּנוּ לִי.
Rabba said to her: That matter applies to a firstborn, which is sold based on appraisal of its value. Here, the weight of the meat proves that I am paying the standard price and not unfairly deriving benefit from my judgment. What suspicion is there in this case? Will people suspect me because I received a superior piece of meat? Every day they sell me a superior piece of meat.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵיזֶהוּ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם? זֶה הָרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ. וְאָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵיזֶהוּ ״שׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנֹת יִחְיֶה״? זֶה הָרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ.
The Gemara cites an aphorism: Rav Ḥisda says: Who is a Torah scholar? This is one who sees his own tereifa. In other words, when the status of his own animal is uncertain, he deems it prohibited without concern for his own monetary loss. And Rav Ḥisda says: Who is referred to by the verse: “He that hates gifts shall live” (Proverbs 15:27)? This is one who sees his own tereifa. He is careful to avoid deriving benefit from that which is not his own, and even from items that are his concerning which it is questionable whether or not they are permitted.
דָּרֵשׁ מָר זוּטְרָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא: כׇּל מִי שֶׁקּוֹרֵא וְשׁוֹנֶה, וְרוֹאֶה טְרֵפָה לְעַצְמוֹ, וְשִׁימֵּשׁ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים – עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ״. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: זוֹכֶה וְנוֹחֵל שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, ״אַשְׁרֶיךָ״ – בְּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ״וְטוֹב לָךְ״ – לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
Mar Zutra taught in the name of Rav Ḥisda: Anyone who reads the Torah and studies the Mishna, and sees his own tereifa, and has served Torah scholars to learn the ways of halakhic judgment, about him the verse states: “When you eat the labor of your hands, happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you” (Psalms 128:2). Rav Zevid says: Such a person merits inheriting two worlds, this world and the World-to-Come. When the verse states: “Happy shall you be,” it means in this world, and when it states: “And it shall be well with you,” it is referring to the World-to-Come.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, כִּי הֲווֹ מְשַׁדְּרִי לֵיהּ מִבֵּי נְשִׂיאָה מִידֵּי, לָא שָׁקֵיל, וְכִי הֲווֹ מְזַמְּנִי לֵיהּ, לָא אָזֵיל. אָמַר: לָא קָא בָּעֵי מָר דְּאֵיחֵי? דִּכְתִיב: ״וְשׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנוֹת יִחְיֶה״. רַבִּי זֵירָא, כִּי מְשַׁדְּרִי לֵיהּ, לָא שָׁקֵיל, כִּי הֲווֹ מַזְמְנִין לֵיהּ, אָזֵיל. אֲמַר:
With regard to the verse: “He that hates gifts shall live,” the Gemara relates that when they would send Rabbi Elazar some gift from the house of the Nasi, he would not take it. And when they would invite him, he would not go there. When declining these offers, he said to them: Does Master not desire that I live? As it is written: “He that hates gifts shall live.” By contrast, when they would send a gift to Rabbi Zeira, he would not take it, but when they would invite him he would go. He said in explanation:
