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 Fred Hochstadter, Ephraim ben Kayla veBaruch on his 18th yahrzeit on ח׳ אלול. “We continue to be inspired by his dedication to daily learning, from the Daf and beyond, to its surrounding philosophical, historical and legal nuances. We miss him greatly and can only strive to emulate his wise, kind and elegant ways.”
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Summary
The braita from the school of Rav and the braita from the school of Rabbi Yishmael disagree about whether a grasshopper with a long head is kosher. The source of the dispute stems from their application of different hermeneutical principles to the verse. Further on, the Gemara raises two difficulties against other parts of the braita of the school of Rabbi Yishmael and resolves them.
The definitive kosher signs of fish are fins and scales. A fish that lacks scales in its youth but will grow them later, or a fish that has scales but sheds them upon leaving the water, is kosher. Since any fish with scales inherently has fins, the Torah did not need to specify fin, but did so to magnify the Torah and make it glorious.
The need for two separate verses, one permitting fish with fins and scales and one prohibiting fish without fins and scales, is to establish both a positive and a negative commandment for one who transgresses.
The words “This you can eat from all that are in the waters,” which are seemingly superfluous, teach that one who drinks water from pits, ditches, and caves does not need to be concerned about fish that grew there that lack fins and scales, as they are not included in the prohibition.
Today’s daily daf tools:
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 Fred Hochstadter, Ephraim ben Kayla veBaruch on his 18th yahrzeit on ח׳ אלול. “We continue to be inspired by his dedication to daily learning, from the Daf and beyond, to its surrounding philosophical, historical and legal nuances. We miss him greatly and can only strive to emulate his wise, kind and elegant ways.”
Chullin 66
בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַב וְתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל? בְּרֹאשׁוֹ אָרוֹךְ קָמִיפַּלְגִי.
The Gemara asks: With regard to what do the tanna of the study hall, who taught the first baraita above, and the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael disagree? They disagree with regard to a grasshopper whose head is long. According to the tanna of the study hall it is prohibited, and according to the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael it is permitted.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַב סָבַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְּרָעַיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״אַרְבֶּה״ ״סׇלְעָם״ ״חַרְגֹּל״ ״חָגָב״ ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – פָּרַט, כְּלָל וּפְרָט אֵין בַּכְּלָל אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּפְּרָט, דְּמִינֵיהּ – אִין, דְּלָאו (דמיניה) [מִינֵּיהּ] – לָא, וּמְרַבֵּי דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין.
The Gemara elaborates: The tanna of the study hall holds that the previous verse, permitting all species “which have jointed legs” (Leviticus 11:21), is a generalization. The species arbeh, solam, ḥargol, and ḥagav, and the phrase “after its kinds,” that appears after each, are a detail. As a rule, in any instance of a generalization and a detail, the generalization includes only that which is spelled out in the detail. Therefore, only grasshoppers of the same species as those detailed in the verse are kosher. Grasshoppers that are not of the same species as them are not kosher. And the phrase “after its kinds” amplifies the halakha to include grasshoppers that are similar to the named species in two aspects, i.e., that are very similar to them. Since all the named species have short heads, grasshoppers with long heads are forbidden.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְרָעַיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״אַרְבֶּה״ ״סׇלְעָם״ ״חַרְגֹּל״ ״חָגָב״ – פָּרַט, ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – חָזַר וְכָלַל, כְּלָל וּפְרָט וּכְלָל – אִי אַתָּה דָן אֶלָּא כְעֵין הַפְּרָט, וּמְרַבֵּי כֹּל דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ בְּחַד צַד.
By contrast, the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael holds that the phrase “which have jointed legs” is a generalization. The species arbeh, solam, ḥargol, and ḥagav are a detail. And by the phrase “after its kinds” after each species, it then generalized again. In any instance of a generalization, and a detail, and a generalization, you may deduce that the verse is referring only to items similar to the detail. And the verse therefore amplifies the halakha to include any grasshopper that is similar to the named species in even one aspect, i.e., that has the four signs listed in the mishna, even if its head is long.
וְהָא לָא דָּמֵי כְּלָלָא קַמָּא לִכְלָלָא בָּתְרָא? כְּלָלָא קַמָּא – ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְרָעַיִם״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא, דְּאִית לֵיהּ אֱכוֹל, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל. כְּלָלָא בָּתְרָא – עַד דְּשָׁווּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה סִימָנִין.
The Gemara asks: But how can this be considered a generalization, a detail, and a generalization? The first generalization is not similar to the latter generalization. In the first generalization, the Merciful One states: “Which have jointed legs,” indicating that you may eat a grasshopper that has jointed legs, but you may not eat one that does not have jointed legs, irrespective of any other sign. However, the latter generalization: “After its kinds,” indicates that no grasshopper is kosher unless it shares all four signs with the named species.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בִּכְלָלֵי וּפְרָטֵי כִּי הַאי גַוְונָא דָּאֵין, וּדְאָמְרִינַן נָמֵי בְּעָלְמָא דְּדָאֵין תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בִּכְלָלֵי וּפְרָטֵי כִּי הַאי גַוְונָא מֵהָכָא.
The Gemara responds: The tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael deduces from generalizations and details like this case, even if the generalizations are not similar to one another. The Gemara notes: And that which we also say generally, that the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael deduces from generalizations and details like this case, is derived from here.
אָמַר מָר: אִי שְׁמוֹ ״חָגָב״, יָכוֹל אֵין בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ. אֵין בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ מֵהֵיכָא תֵּיתֵי? ״אַרְבֶּה״ וְ״חַרְגּוֹל״ כְּתִיב!
The Gemara analyzes the baraita of the school of Rabbi Yishmael: The Master said: If its name must be ḥagav, one might have thought that any ḥagav is kosher, even if it does not have all these four signs. Therefore, the verse states: “After its kinds,” indicating that it is not kosher unless it has all these signs. The Gemara asks: From where would this be derived, that a grasshopper is kosher even if it does not have all these signs? How could one entertain this possibility? Arbeh and ḥargol are written beforehand, indicating that all kosher grasshoppers must share the signs they both possess.
אִי לָא כְּתִיב ״סׇלְעָם״ – כִּדְקָאָמְרַתְּ, הַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתִיב ״סׇלְעָם״ – לְרַבּוֹיֵי רֹאשׁוֹ אָרוֹךְ, אֵימָא לִירַבֵּי נָמֵי כֹּל דְּהוּ – קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
The Gemara responds: If solam had not been written as well, it would be as you said. But now that it is written: “Solam,” to include long-headed grasshoppers even though none of the named species have long heads, I will say: Let us also include any grasshopper that is called ḥagav. Therefore, the phrase “after its kinds” teaches us that this is not so.
מַאי שְׁנָא הָתָם דְּאָמְרַתְּ: ״סׇלְעָם״ – זֶה ״רָשׁוֹן״, ״חַרְגֹּל״ – זֶה ״נִיפּוּל״, וּמַאי שְׁנָא הָכָא דְּאָמְרַתְּ: ״סׇלְעָם״ – זֶה ״נִיפּוּל״, ״חַרְגֹּל״ – זֶה ״רָשׁוֹן״? מָר כִּי אַתְרֵיהּ וּמָר כִּי אַתְרֵיהּ.
The Gemara asks: What is different there, in the baraita of the study hall, that you say that the solam is the rashon, and the ḥargol is the nippul, and what is different here, in the baraita of the school of Rabbi Yishmael, that you say: The solam is the nippul, and the ḥargol is the rashon? The Gemara responds: This Sage refers to them in accordance with the custom of his locale and that Sage refers to them in accordance with the custom of his locale.
וּבַדָּגִים כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְגַדֵּל לְאַחַר זְמַן, כְּגוֹן הַסּוּלְתָּנִית וְהָעַפְיָאן – הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר. יֵשׁ לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְהַשִּׁירָן בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹלֶה מִן הַמַּיִם, כְּגוֹן
§ The mishna states: And with regard to fish, any fish that has a fin and a scale is kosher. The Sages taught in a baraita: If a fish does not have scales now but will grow them after a period of time, such as the sultanit and afyan fish, it is permitted. Likewise, if it has scales now but will shed them when it is caught and rises from the water, such as
אֲקוּנָס וַאֲפוּנָס כְּסֶפַּתְיָאס וְאֶכְּסְפַּטְיָאס וַאֲטוּנָס – הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.
the akunas, and the afunas, and the kesaftiyas, and the akhsaftiyas, and the atunas, it is permitted.
תְּנַן הָתָם: כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת יֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְאֵין לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת. יֵשׁ לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְיֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר – דָּג טָהוֹר, יֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְאֵין לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת – דָּג טָמֵא.
We learned in a mishna elsewhere (Nidda 51b): Any fish that has scales certainly has fins, but there are fish that have fins and do not have scales. Any fish that has scales and fins is a kosher fish. If it has fins but no scales, it is a non-kosher fish.
מִכְּדֵי אַקַּשְׂקֶשֶׂת קָא סָמְכִינַן, לִיכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא לִיכְתּוֹב סְנַפִּיר! אִי כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא כְּתַב סְנַפִּיר, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: מַאי קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת? סְנַפִּיר, וַאֲפִילּוּ דָּג טָמֵא. כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת.
The Gemara asks: Now, since we rely only on scales to deem a fish kosher, presuming that if it has scales it must have fins as well, let the Merciful One write only “scales” as the sign of a kosher fish and let Him not write “fins” at all. The Gemara responds: If the Merciful One had written: Scales [kaskeset], and had not written: Fins [senappir], I would say: What is kaskeset? It is fins. And I would thereby come to permit even non-kosher fish. Therefore, the Merciful One stated: “Senappir and kaskeset,” to leave no room for error.
וְהַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת, מִמַּאי דְּקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת לְבוּשָׁא הוּא, דִּכְתִיב ״וְשִׁרְיוֹן קַשְׂקַשִּׂים הוּא לָבוּשׁ״, וְלִיכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא לִיכְתּוֹב סְנַפִּיר?
The Gemara asks: But now that the Merciful One has written: “Senappir and kaskeset,” from where is it derived that kaskeset denotes clothing, i.e., scales, rather than fins? As it is written: “And he was clad with a coat of scale armor [kaskasim]” (I Samuel 17:5). And if it is certain that kaskeset refers to scales, the question resurfaces: Let the Merciful One write only “kaskeset,” and let Him not write “senappir.”
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, וְכֵן תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: ״יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר״.
Rabbi Abbahu said, and so the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: The Holy One, Blessed be He, wished to bestow good upon the Jewish people. Therefore, He made their Torah abundant, as it is written: “The Lord was pleased, for His righteousness’ sake, to make Torah great and glorious” (Isaiah 42:21). He consequently expanded some aspects of the Torah more than strictly necessary.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִמַּשְׁמָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אֱכוֹל אֶת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ״, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי ״אַל תֹּאכַל אֶת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ״, וּמִמַּשְׁמָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אַל תֹּאכַל אֶת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ״, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי ״אֱכוֹל אֶת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ״. וְלָמָּה שְׁנָאָן? לַעֲבוֹר עָלָיו בַּעֲשֵׂה וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: The Torah states the prohibition of non-kosher fish both positively and negatively: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters: Whatever has fins and scales…them you may eat. And all that have not fins and scales…they are a detestable thing unto you” (Leviticus 11:9–10). From the implication of that which is stated: Eat fish that have these signs, I would derive the inverse: Do not eat fish that do not have them. And from the implication of that which is stated: Do not eat fish that do not have them, I would derive the inverse: Eat fish that have them. If so, why did the Torah teach both of them? It is in order to indicate that one who eats non-kosher fish transgresses, on its account, both a positive mitzva and a prohibition.
״תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם״, מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? שֶׁיָּכוֹל הוֹאִיל וְהִתִּיר בִּמְפוֹרָשׁ וְהִתִּיר בִּסְתָם, מָה כְּשֶׁהִתִּיר בִּמְפוֹרָשׁ לֹא הִתִּיר אֶלָּא בְּכֵלִים, אַף כְּשֶׁהִתִּיר בִּסְתָם לֹא הִתִּיר אֶלָּא בְּכֵלִים. מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת, שֶׁשּׁוֹחֶה וְשׁוֹתֶה מֵהֶן וְאֵינוֹ נִמְנָע? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם״.
Given that the verse states: “Whatever has fins and scales…them may you eat,” what is the meaning when the verse states: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters?” Why is this necessary? It is necessary, as without this verse one might have thought: Since the Torah permitted creeping creatures of the water without fins and scales explicitly and also permitted them implicitly, one can infer: Just as when the Torah permitted such creatures explicitly, it permitted them only when in vessels, so too, when it permitted them implicitly, it permitted them only in vessels. From where is it derived to include as kosher even those in pits, ditches, and caves, that one may bend down and drink from them and need not refrain from drinking the creeping creatures in them? The verse states: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters,” to indicate that this is permitted.
הֵיכָן הִתִּיר בְּכֵלִים? דִּכְתִיב: ״אֶת זֶה תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם וְגוֹ׳״, בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים הוּא דְּכִי אִית לֵיהּ – אֱכוֹל, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ – לָא תֵּיכוֹל, הָא בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית לֵיהּ – אֱכוֹל.
The Gemara elaborates: Where did the Torah permit them in vessels? It did so in the following verse, as it is written: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters: Whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them may you eat.” It would have been sufficient to write simply: “In the waters.” The addition of “in the seas and in the rivers” indicates that it is only in the seas and in the rivers that when it has fins and scales you may eat it, and that you may not eat one that does not have them. But with regard to a creeping creature found in vessels, even if it does not have fins and scales you may eat it.
אֵימָא: בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל? לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים מִכֹּל שֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם״ – בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים דְּלֵית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל, הָא בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית לֵיהּ אֱכוֹל.
The Gemara objects: One could just as easily say the opposite: You may eat a fish that has these signs only when it is found in seas and rivers, but in vessels, even if it has fins and scales, you may not eat it. The Gemara responds: This should not enter your mind, as it is written: “And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that swarm in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are a detestable thing to you.” The verse indicates that it is only in the seas and in the rivers that you may not eat a fish that does not have fins and scales. But you may eat a creeping creature found in vessels, even if it does not have fins and scales.
וְאֵימָא: ״בַּמַּיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים״ – פָּרַט, כְּלָל וּפְרָט – אֵין בַּכְּלָל אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּפְּרָט; יַמִּים וּנְחָלִים – אִין, נְעִיצִין וַחֲרִיצִין – לֹא.
The Gemara objects: But one can prove whether it is permitted to drink from pits, ditches, and caves differently. Say instead that the phrase “whatever has fins and scales in the waters” is a generalization, and the phrase “in the seas and in the rivers” is a detail. In any instance of a generalization and a detail, the generalization only includes that which is spelled out in the detail. Therefore, in the seas and rivers, yes, one may eat only fish with fins and scales, but in water channels and trenches, as well as pits, ditches, and caves, this restriction does not apply. Consequently, the clause “These may you eat of all that are in the waters” is unnecessary.
״בַּמַּיִם״ – חָזַר וְכָלַל.
The Gemara responds: This deduction is not sound. The term “in the waters” appears twice in the verse. When the verse repeated it, it then generalized again. Consequently, there are two generalizations and one detail in the verse, making it an instance of a generalization, a detail, and a generalization, which includes all cases similar to the detail, including pits, ditches, and caves, indicating that the restriction applies to them as well. Therefore, the clause “These may you eat of all that are in the waters” is necessary to teach that all fish in pits, ditches, and caves are permitted.
הָנֵי תְּרֵי כְּלָלֵי דִּסְמִיכִי לַהֲדָדֵי נִינְהוּ, אָמַר רָבִינָא: כִּדְאָמְרִי בְּמַעְרְבָא, כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁנֵי כְּלָלוֹת הַסְּמוּכִין זֶה לָזֶה –
The Gemara asks: How can this verse be an instance of a generalization, a detail, and a generalization? These are two generalizations that are adjacent to each other. Both instances of the term “in the waters” precede the detail, such that the verse is actually a generalization, a generalization, and a detail. Ravina said: As they say in the West, Eretz Yisrael: Wherever you find two generalizations juxtaposed one with the other, followed by a specific detail,
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Englewood NJ, United States
Geri Goldstein got me started learning daf yomi when I was in Israel 2 years ago. It’s been a challenge and I’ve learned a lot though I’m sure I miss a lot. I quilt as I listen and I want to share what I’ve been working on.
Ottawa, Canada
I began learning with Rabbanit Michelle’s wonderful Talmud Skills class on Pesachim, which really enriched my Pesach seder, and I have been learning Daf Yomi off and on over the past year. Because I’m relatively new at this, there is a “chiddush” for me every time I learn, and the knowledge and insights of the group members add so much to my experience. I feel very lucky to be a part of this.
Karmiel, Israel
When I began learning Daf Yomi at the beginning of the current cycle, I was preparing for an upcoming surgery and thought that learning the Daf would be something positive I could do each day during my recovery, even if I accomplished nothing else. I had no idea what a lifeline learning the Daf would turn out to be in so many ways.
Lexington, MA, United States
I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.
Elkins Park, United States
In early 2020, I began the process of a stem cell transplant. The required extreme isolation forced me to leave work and normal life but gave me time to delve into Jewish text study. I did not feel isolated. I began Daf Yomi at the start of this cycle, with family members joining me online from my hospital room. I’ve used my newly granted time to to engage, grow and connect through this learning.
Worcester, United States
I began to learn this cycle of Daf Yomi after my husband passed away 2 1/2 years ago. It seemed a good way to connect to him. Even though I don’t know whether he would have encouraged women learning Gemara, it would have opened wonderful conversations. It also gives me more depth for understanding my frum children and grandchildren. Thank you Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle Farber!!
Tzur Hadassah, Israel
Los Angeles, United States
A few years back, after reading Ilana Kurshan’s book, “If All The Seas Were Ink,” I began pondering the crazy, outlandish idea of beginning the Daf Yomi cycle. Beginning in December, 2019, a month before the previous cycle ended, I “auditioned” 30 different podcasts in 30 days, and ultimately chose to take the plunge with Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle. Such joy!
HUNTINGTON, United States
I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.
Houston, United States
I started learning the daf during Covid. I’d always wanted to learn Talmud but that wasn’t an option for girls in the small town I grew up in and I struggled to help my younger kids with Hebrew homework let alone read a Hebrew text. I decided to start small by listening to the daf podcast on the way to work each morning. Then I joined the Long Island WhatsApp group. Now I go to the siyyums.
Long Island, United States
Blacksburg, United States
A few years back, after reading Ilana Kurshan’s book, “If All The Seas Were Ink,” I began pondering the crazy, outlandish idea of beginning the Daf Yomi cycle. Beginning in December, 2019, a month before the previous cycle ended, I “auditioned” 30 different podcasts in 30 days, and ultimately chose to take the plunge with Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle. Such joy!
HUNTINGTON, United States
תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.
מיתר, ישראל
In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!
Pittsburgh, United States
New York, United States
Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!
אפרת, Israel
I started learning when my brother sent me the news clip of the celebration of the last Daf Yomi cycle. I was so floored to see so many women celebrating that I wanted to be a part of it. It has been an enriching experience studying a text in a language I don’t speak, using background knowledge that I don’t have. It is stretching my learning in unexpected ways, bringing me joy and satisfaction.
Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
Studying has changed my life view on הלכה and יהדות and time. It has taught me bonudaries of the human nature and honesty of our sages in their discourse to try and build a nation of caring people .
Kfar Saba, Israel
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Huntington, United States
Chullin 66
בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַב וְתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל? בְּרֹאשׁוֹ אָרוֹךְ קָמִיפַּלְגִי.
The Gemara asks: With regard to what do the tanna of the study hall, who taught the first baraita above, and the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael disagree? They disagree with regard to a grasshopper whose head is long. According to the tanna of the study hall it is prohibited, and according to the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael it is permitted.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַב סָבַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְּרָעַיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״אַרְבֶּה״ ״סׇלְעָם״ ״חַרְגֹּל״ ״חָגָב״ ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – פָּרַט, כְּלָל וּפְרָט אֵין בַּכְּלָל אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּפְּרָט, דְּמִינֵיהּ – אִין, דְּלָאו (דמיניה) [מִינֵּיהּ] – לָא, וּמְרַבֵּי דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין.
The Gemara elaborates: The tanna of the study hall holds that the previous verse, permitting all species “which have jointed legs” (Leviticus 11:21), is a generalization. The species arbeh, solam, ḥargol, and ḥagav, and the phrase “after its kinds,” that appears after each, are a detail. As a rule, in any instance of a generalization and a detail, the generalization includes only that which is spelled out in the detail. Therefore, only grasshoppers of the same species as those detailed in the verse are kosher. Grasshoppers that are not of the same species as them are not kosher. And the phrase “after its kinds” amplifies the halakha to include grasshoppers that are similar to the named species in two aspects, i.e., that are very similar to them. Since all the named species have short heads, grasshoppers with long heads are forbidden.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר: ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְרָעַיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״אַרְבֶּה״ ״סׇלְעָם״ ״חַרְגֹּל״ ״חָגָב״ – פָּרַט, ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – חָזַר וְכָלַל, כְּלָל וּפְרָט וּכְלָל – אִי אַתָּה דָן אֶלָּא כְעֵין הַפְּרָט, וּמְרַבֵּי כֹּל דְּדָמֵי לֵיהּ בְּחַד צַד.
By contrast, the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael holds that the phrase “which have jointed legs” is a generalization. The species arbeh, solam, ḥargol, and ḥagav are a detail. And by the phrase “after its kinds” after each species, it then generalized again. In any instance of a generalization, and a detail, and a generalization, you may deduce that the verse is referring only to items similar to the detail. And the verse therefore amplifies the halakha to include any grasshopper that is similar to the named species in even one aspect, i.e., that has the four signs listed in the mishna, even if its head is long.
וְהָא לָא דָּמֵי כְּלָלָא קַמָּא לִכְלָלָא בָּתְרָא? כְּלָלָא קַמָּא – ״אֲשֶׁר לוֹ כְרָעַיִם״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא, דְּאִית לֵיהּ אֱכוֹל, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל. כְּלָלָא בָּתְרָא – עַד דְּשָׁווּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה סִימָנִין.
The Gemara asks: But how can this be considered a generalization, a detail, and a generalization? The first generalization is not similar to the latter generalization. In the first generalization, the Merciful One states: “Which have jointed legs,” indicating that you may eat a grasshopper that has jointed legs, but you may not eat one that does not have jointed legs, irrespective of any other sign. However, the latter generalization: “After its kinds,” indicates that no grasshopper is kosher unless it shares all four signs with the named species.
תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בִּכְלָלֵי וּפְרָטֵי כִּי הַאי גַוְונָא דָּאֵין, וּדְאָמְרִינַן נָמֵי בְּעָלְמָא דְּדָאֵין תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בִּכְלָלֵי וּפְרָטֵי כִּי הַאי גַוְונָא מֵהָכָא.
The Gemara responds: The tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael deduces from generalizations and details like this case, even if the generalizations are not similar to one another. The Gemara notes: And that which we also say generally, that the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael deduces from generalizations and details like this case, is derived from here.
אָמַר מָר: אִי שְׁמוֹ ״חָגָב״, יָכוֹל אֵין בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״לְמִינֵהוּ״ – עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ. אֵין בּוֹ כׇּל הַסִּימָנִין הַלָּלוּ מֵהֵיכָא תֵּיתֵי? ״אַרְבֶּה״ וְ״חַרְגּוֹל״ כְּתִיב!
The Gemara analyzes the baraita of the school of Rabbi Yishmael: The Master said: If its name must be ḥagav, one might have thought that any ḥagav is kosher, even if it does not have all these four signs. Therefore, the verse states: “After its kinds,” indicating that it is not kosher unless it has all these signs. The Gemara asks: From where would this be derived, that a grasshopper is kosher even if it does not have all these signs? How could one entertain this possibility? Arbeh and ḥargol are written beforehand, indicating that all kosher grasshoppers must share the signs they both possess.
אִי לָא כְּתִיב ״סׇלְעָם״ – כִּדְקָאָמְרַתְּ, הַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתִיב ״סׇלְעָם״ – לְרַבּוֹיֵי רֹאשׁוֹ אָרוֹךְ, אֵימָא לִירַבֵּי נָמֵי כֹּל דְּהוּ – קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.
The Gemara responds: If solam had not been written as well, it would be as you said. But now that it is written: “Solam,” to include long-headed grasshoppers even though none of the named species have long heads, I will say: Let us also include any grasshopper that is called ḥagav. Therefore, the phrase “after its kinds” teaches us that this is not so.
מַאי שְׁנָא הָתָם דְּאָמְרַתְּ: ״סׇלְעָם״ – זֶה ״רָשׁוֹן״, ״חַרְגֹּל״ – זֶה ״נִיפּוּל״, וּמַאי שְׁנָא הָכָא דְּאָמְרַתְּ: ״סׇלְעָם״ – זֶה ״נִיפּוּל״, ״חַרְגֹּל״ – זֶה ״רָשׁוֹן״? מָר כִּי אַתְרֵיהּ וּמָר כִּי אַתְרֵיהּ.
The Gemara asks: What is different there, in the baraita of the study hall, that you say that the solam is the rashon, and the ḥargol is the nippul, and what is different here, in the baraita of the school of Rabbi Yishmael, that you say: The solam is the nippul, and the ḥargol is the rashon? The Gemara responds: This Sage refers to them in accordance with the custom of his locale and that Sage refers to them in accordance with the custom of his locale.
וּבַדָּגִים כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְגַדֵּל לְאַחַר זְמַן, כְּגוֹן הַסּוּלְתָּנִית וְהָעַפְיָאן – הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר. יֵשׁ לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְהַשִּׁירָן בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹלֶה מִן הַמַּיִם, כְּגוֹן
§ The mishna states: And with regard to fish, any fish that has a fin and a scale is kosher. The Sages taught in a baraita: If a fish does not have scales now but will grow them after a period of time, such as the sultanit and afyan fish, it is permitted. Likewise, if it has scales now but will shed them when it is caught and rises from the water, such as
אֲקוּנָס וַאֲפוּנָס כְּסֶפַּתְיָאס וְאֶכְּסְפַּטְיָאס וַאֲטוּנָס – הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.
the akunas, and the afunas, and the kesaftiyas, and the akhsaftiyas, and the atunas, it is permitted.
תְּנַן הָתָם: כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת יֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְאֵין לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת. יֵשׁ לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְיֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר – דָּג טָהוֹר, יֵשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְאֵין לוֹ קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת – דָּג טָמֵא.
We learned in a mishna elsewhere (Nidda 51b): Any fish that has scales certainly has fins, but there are fish that have fins and do not have scales. Any fish that has scales and fins is a kosher fish. If it has fins but no scales, it is a non-kosher fish.
מִכְּדֵי אַקַּשְׂקֶשֶׂת קָא סָמְכִינַן, לִיכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא לִיכְתּוֹב סְנַפִּיר! אִי כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא כְּתַב סְנַפִּיר, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: מַאי קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת? סְנַפִּיר, וַאֲפִילּוּ דָּג טָמֵא. כְּתַב רַחֲמָנָא סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת.
The Gemara asks: Now, since we rely only on scales to deem a fish kosher, presuming that if it has scales it must have fins as well, let the Merciful One write only “scales” as the sign of a kosher fish and let Him not write “fins” at all. The Gemara responds: If the Merciful One had written: Scales [kaskeset], and had not written: Fins [senappir], I would say: What is kaskeset? It is fins. And I would thereby come to permit even non-kosher fish. Therefore, the Merciful One stated: “Senappir and kaskeset,” to leave no room for error.
וְהַשְׁתָּא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת, מִמַּאי דְּקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת לְבוּשָׁא הוּא, דִּכְתִיב ״וְשִׁרְיוֹן קַשְׂקַשִּׂים הוּא לָבוּשׁ״, וְלִיכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת וְלָא לִיכְתּוֹב סְנַפִּיר?
The Gemara asks: But now that the Merciful One has written: “Senappir and kaskeset,” from where is it derived that kaskeset denotes clothing, i.e., scales, rather than fins? As it is written: “And he was clad with a coat of scale armor [kaskasim]” (I Samuel 17:5). And if it is certain that kaskeset refers to scales, the question resurfaces: Let the Merciful One write only “kaskeset,” and let Him not write “senappir.”
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, וְכֵן תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: ״יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר״.
Rabbi Abbahu said, and so the tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: The Holy One, Blessed be He, wished to bestow good upon the Jewish people. Therefore, He made their Torah abundant, as it is written: “The Lord was pleased, for His righteousness’ sake, to make Torah great and glorious” (Isaiah 42:21). He consequently expanded some aspects of the Torah more than strictly necessary.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִמַּשְׁמָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אֱכוֹל אֶת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ״, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי ״אַל תֹּאכַל אֶת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ״, וּמִמַּשְׁמָע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אַל תֹּאכַל אֶת שֶׁאֵין לוֹ״, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי ״אֱכוֹל אֶת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ״. וְלָמָּה שְׁנָאָן? לַעֲבוֹר עָלָיו בַּעֲשֵׂה וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: The Torah states the prohibition of non-kosher fish both positively and negatively: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters: Whatever has fins and scales…them you may eat. And all that have not fins and scales…they are a detestable thing unto you” (Leviticus 11:9–10). From the implication of that which is stated: Eat fish that have these signs, I would derive the inverse: Do not eat fish that do not have them. And from the implication of that which is stated: Do not eat fish that do not have them, I would derive the inverse: Eat fish that have them. If so, why did the Torah teach both of them? It is in order to indicate that one who eats non-kosher fish transgresses, on its account, both a positive mitzva and a prohibition.
״תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם״, מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? שֶׁיָּכוֹל הוֹאִיל וְהִתִּיר בִּמְפוֹרָשׁ וְהִתִּיר בִּסְתָם, מָה כְּשֶׁהִתִּיר בִּמְפוֹרָשׁ לֹא הִתִּיר אֶלָּא בְּכֵלִים, אַף כְּשֶׁהִתִּיר בִּסְתָם לֹא הִתִּיר אֶלָּא בְּכֵלִים. מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת, שֶׁשּׁוֹחֶה וְשׁוֹתֶה מֵהֶן וְאֵינוֹ נִמְנָע? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם״.
Given that the verse states: “Whatever has fins and scales…them may you eat,” what is the meaning when the verse states: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters?” Why is this necessary? It is necessary, as without this verse one might have thought: Since the Torah permitted creeping creatures of the water without fins and scales explicitly and also permitted them implicitly, one can infer: Just as when the Torah permitted such creatures explicitly, it permitted them only when in vessels, so too, when it permitted them implicitly, it permitted them only in vessels. From where is it derived to include as kosher even those in pits, ditches, and caves, that one may bend down and drink from them and need not refrain from drinking the creeping creatures in them? The verse states: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters,” to indicate that this is permitted.
הֵיכָן הִתִּיר בְּכֵלִים? דִּכְתִיב: ״אֶת זֶה תֹּאכְלוּ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם וְגוֹ׳״, בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים הוּא דְּכִי אִית לֵיהּ – אֱכוֹל, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ – לָא תֵּיכוֹל, הָא בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית לֵיהּ – אֱכוֹל.
The Gemara elaborates: Where did the Torah permit them in vessels? It did so in the following verse, as it is written: “These may you eat of all that are in the waters: Whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them may you eat.” It would have been sufficient to write simply: “In the waters.” The addition of “in the seas and in the rivers” indicates that it is only in the seas and in the rivers that when it has fins and scales you may eat it, and that you may not eat one that does not have them. But with regard to a creeping creature found in vessels, even if it does not have fins and scales you may eat it.
אֵימָא: בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל? לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים מִכֹּל שֶׁרֶץ הַמַּיִם״ – בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים דְּלֵית לֵיהּ לָא תֵּיכוֹל, הָא בְּכֵלִים – אַף עַל גַּב דְּלֵית לֵיהּ אֱכוֹל.
The Gemara objects: One could just as easily say the opposite: You may eat a fish that has these signs only when it is found in seas and rivers, but in vessels, even if it has fins and scales, you may not eat it. The Gemara responds: This should not enter your mind, as it is written: “And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that swarm in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are a detestable thing to you.” The verse indicates that it is only in the seas and in the rivers that you may not eat a fish that does not have fins and scales. But you may eat a creeping creature found in vessels, even if it does not have fins and scales.
וְאֵימָא: ״בַּמַּיִם״ – כָּלַל, ״בַּיַּמִּים וּבַנְּחָלִים״ – פָּרַט, כְּלָל וּפְרָט – אֵין בַּכְּלָל אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁבַּפְּרָט; יַמִּים וּנְחָלִים – אִין, נְעִיצִין וַחֲרִיצִין – לֹא.
The Gemara objects: But one can prove whether it is permitted to drink from pits, ditches, and caves differently. Say instead that the phrase “whatever has fins and scales in the waters” is a generalization, and the phrase “in the seas and in the rivers” is a detail. In any instance of a generalization and a detail, the generalization only includes that which is spelled out in the detail. Therefore, in the seas and rivers, yes, one may eat only fish with fins and scales, but in water channels and trenches, as well as pits, ditches, and caves, this restriction does not apply. Consequently, the clause “These may you eat of all that are in the waters” is unnecessary.
״בַּמַּיִם״ – חָזַר וְכָלַל.
The Gemara responds: This deduction is not sound. The term “in the waters” appears twice in the verse. When the verse repeated it, it then generalized again. Consequently, there are two generalizations and one detail in the verse, making it an instance of a generalization, a detail, and a generalization, which includes all cases similar to the detail, including pits, ditches, and caves, indicating that the restriction applies to them as well. Therefore, the clause “These may you eat of all that are in the waters” is necessary to teach that all fish in pits, ditches, and caves are permitted.
הָנֵי תְּרֵי כְּלָלֵי דִּסְמִיכִי לַהֲדָדֵי נִינְהוּ, אָמַר רָבִינָא: כִּדְאָמְרִי בְּמַעְרְבָא, כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁנֵי כְּלָלוֹת הַסְּמוּכִין זֶה לָזֶה –
The Gemara asks: How can this verse be an instance of a generalization, a detail, and a generalization? These are two generalizations that are adjacent to each other. Both instances of the term “in the waters” precede the detail, such that the verse is actually a generalization, a generalization, and a detail. Ravina said: As they say in the West, Eretz Yisrael: Wherever you find two generalizations juxtaposed one with the other, followed by a specific detail,
