Three explanatinos are broguht to explain Rabbi Meir’s approach that if a woman miscarries/discharges something looking like an animal or bird, the mother is considered impure as a woman gives birth. Can a woman give birth to something that looks likes an animal? What if an animal gives birth to something human-like? In which case do the rabbis disagree with Rabbi Meir – is it of most of the face looks human or just part of the face? Does it depend which part?
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Niddah 23
וְיָלְפִינַן מוּפְנָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין. וּלְהָכִי אַפְנְיֵהּ רַחֲמָנָא לִבְהֵמָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נִגְמַר מִן מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד.
and derive the halakha from the analogy that is free on both sides. And it is for this reason that the Merciful One rendered the verbal analogy between animal and man free on both sides, so that one would not derive the halakha from the verbal analogy between sea monster and man, which is free on only one side.
רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא מַתְנֵי לַהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְקוּלָּא: כׇּל גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר — לְמֵדִין וּמְשִׁיבִין, מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד — לְרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְמֵדִין וְאֵין מְשִׁיבִין, לְרַבָּנַן לְמֵדִין וּמְשִׁיבִין, מוּפְנָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל לְמֵדִין וְאֵין מְשִׁיבִין.
Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, teaches in the name of Rabbi Elazar a more lenient version of the aforementioned principle of exegesis of verbal analogy: With regard to any verbal analogy that is not free at all, one can derive halakhot from it, but one can also refute it logically. If the verbal analogy is free on one side, according to Rabbi Yishmael one can derive halakhot from it, and one cannot refute it. According to the Rabbis, one can derive halakhot from it, but one can also refute it. If the verbal analogy is free on both sides, everyone agrees that one can derive halakhot from it and one cannot refute it.
וּלְרַבָּנַן, מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד לְשֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר?
The Gemara asks: But if so, according to the Rabbis, what difference is there between a verbal analogy that is free on one side and one that is not free at all? In both cases, the Rabbis hold that one can derive halakhot from such a verbal analogy but one can also refute it.
נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ הֵיכָא דְּמַשְׁכַּחַתְּ לַהּ מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר, וְלָאו לְהַאי אִית לֵיהּ פִּירְכָא, וְלָאו לְהַאי אִית לֵיהּ פִּירְכָא — שָׁבְקִינַן שֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר, וְגָמְרִינַן מִמּוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד.
The Gemara answers: The difference is in a case where you find two mutually exclusive verbal analogies, one that is free on one side and one that is not free at all, and neither does this one have a logical refutation nor does that one have a logical refutation. In such a case, we disregard the analogy that is not free at all, and we derive the halakha from the one that is free on one side.
וְהָכָא, מַאי פִּירְכָא אִיכָּא? מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיכָּא לְמִיפְרַךְ: מָה לְאָדָם, שֶׁכֵּן מִטַּמֵּא מֵחַיִּים.
The Gemara asks: And here, with regard to the verbal analogy between man and sea monster, which was rejected because it is free on only one side, what logical refutation is there on account of which this verbal analogy is rejected? The Gemara answers: The verbal analogy between man and sea monster is rejected because it can be refuted as follows: What is unique about man? Man is unique in that a person can become impure while he is alive, unlike an animal, which can become impure only after it dies, or a sea monster, which cannot become impure at all.
וְכֵן אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרָה בּוֹ ״יְצִירָה״ כְּאָדָם.
And likewise, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir, that a woman who discharges an item similar to a domesticated animal, an undomesticated animal, or a bird is impure: It is because formation is stated with regard to the creation of these animals, just as it is stated with regard to the creation of man.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַמֵּי: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה הַמַּפֶּלֶת דְּמוּת הַר — אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כִּי הִנֵּה יוֹצֵר הָרִים וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַר מִי קָא מַפְּלָה? אֶבֶן הִיא דְּקָא מַפְּלָה, הָהוּא ״גּוּשׁ״ אִיקְּרִי.
Rabbi Ami said to him: If that is so, then in the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the shape of a mountain, its mother should be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, as it is stated with regard to the creation of mountains: “For He Who forms the mountains and creates the wind” (Amos 4:13). Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said to him: Does she discharge a mountain? The discharged item cannot possibly be that large. It is an item with the form of a stone that she discharges, and that is called a clod, not a mountain.
אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה הַמַּפֶּלֶת רוּחַ — תְּהֵא אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרָה בּוֹ ״בְּרִיאָה״ כְּאָדָם, דִּכְתִיב ״וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״? וְכִי תֵימָא לֹא מוּפְנֶה, מִדַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמִכְתַּב ״יוֹצֵר הָרִים וְרוּחַ״, וּכְתִיב ״וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לְאַפְנוֹיֵי!
Rabbi Ami further inquired: If that is so, in the case of a woman who discharges an item having an amorphous form [ruaḥ], its mother should be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, since creation is stated with regard to it, just as it is stated with regard to man, as it is written: “And creates the wind [ruaḥ].” And if you would say that no verbal analogy can be drawn here, because the verse is not free, i.e., it is not superfluous, as it is necessary to recount the creation of the wind, that is not so. Rabbi Ami explains: From the fact that the verse could have written: Who forms the mountains and the wind, and instead it is written: “Who forms the mountains and creates the wind,” conclude from it that the superfluous word “creates” serves to render it free for drawing a verbal analogy between ruaḥ and man.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: דָּנִין דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, וְאֵין דָּנִין דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִדִּבְרֵי קַבָּלָה.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said to Rabbi Ami: One derives matters that are stated in the Torah from matters that are stated in the Torah, i.e., from verses in the Torah, but one does not derive matters that are stated in the Torah from the words of the tradition, i.e., verses in the Prophets or the Writings, such as the verse in Amos.
(אָמַר) רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חַנָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְעֵינֵיהֶם דּוֹמוֹת כְּשֶׁל אָדָם.
§ Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir: Since the eyes of these animals are similar to those of a human, a woman who discharges an item of that type is impure.
אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, הַמַּפֶּלֶת דְּמוּת נָחָשׁ תְּהֵא אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, הוֹאִיל וְגַלְגַּל עֵינוֹ עָגוֹלה כְּשֶׁל אָדָם! וְכִי תֵימָא הָכִי נָמֵי, לִיתְנֵי נָחָשׁ!
The Gemara objects: If that is so, then in the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a snake, its mother should likewise be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, since the pupil of a snake is round, like that of a human. And if you would say that indeed, this is the halakha, then let the mishna teach this case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a snake among the other cases where the woman discharges an item of an unusual form.
אִי תְּנָא נָחָשׁ, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: בְּנָחָשׁ הוּא דִּפְלִיגִי רַבָּנַן עֲלֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּלָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ ״יְצִירָה״, אֲבָל בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה — לָא פְּלִיגִי, דִּכְתִיבָא (ביה) [בְּיהוּ] ״יְצִירָה״.
The Gemara explains: If the mishna had taught the case of a snake, I would say that it is only in the case of a woman who discharges an item having the form of a snake that the Rabbis disagree with Rabbi Meir and rule that the woman is not impure, as a term of formation is not written with regard to the creation of the snake. But with regard to a woman who discharges an item having the form of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, they do not disagree with Rabbi Meir, as the concept of formation is written with regard to them.
וְהָא גַּבֵּי מוּמִין קָתָנֵי לַהּ: אֶת שֶׁגַּלְגַּל עֵינוֹ עָגוֹל כְּשֶׁל אָדָם! לָא קַשְׁיָא — הָא בְּאוּכָּמָא, הָא בְּצִירְיָא.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: But with regard to the halakhot of blemishes that render the slaughter of a firstborn animal permitted, it is taught in a mishna (Bekhorot 40a) that an animal whose pupil is round like that of a human is considered blemished. Evidently, the eyes of animals are dissimilar to those of humans. The Gemara answers that it is not difficult; this statement, that the eyes of animals are similar to those of humans, is referring to the pupil, and that statement, that the eyes of animals are not similar to those of humans, is referring to the entire eyeball in the socket.
רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְעֵינֵיהֶם הוֹלְכוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶם כְּשֶׁל אָדָם. וַהֲרֵי עוֹף, דְּאֵין עֵינָיו הוֹלְכוֹת לְפָנָיו, וְקָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר דְּטָמֵא! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, וּבִשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא.
§ Rabbi Yannai said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir: It is because the eyes of these animals are fixed in the front of their heads like those of a human, unlike the eyes of birds and snakes, a woman who discharges an item of that kind is impure. The Gemara raises a difficulty: But there is the case of a woman who discharges an item similar to a bird, whose eyes are not fixed in the front of its head, and nevertheless Rabbi Meir says that the woman is impure. This apparently contradicts Rabbi Yannai’s explanation. Abaye said: Rabbi Meir is referring to the little owl [bekarya] and the great owl [vekifofa], whose eyes are fixed in the front of their heads, but in the case of a woman who discharges any of the other species of birds, Rabbi Meir does not deem her impure.
מֵיתִיבִי: רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר: נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר בִּבְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, וְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים בְּעוֹפוֹת.
The Gemara raises an objection to this answer from a baraita: Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: The statement of Rabbi Meir seems correct in the case of a woman who discharges the form of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, and the statement of the Rabbis seems correct in the case of birds.
מַאי עוֹפוֹת? אִילֵּימָא בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, מַאי שְׁנָא בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה דְּעֵינֵיהֶן הוֹלְכוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶן כְּשֶׁל אָדָם? קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא נָמֵי!
The Gemara asks: To what birds is Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus referring? If we say he is referring to the little owl and the great owl, what is the difference between this case and the cases of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, with regard to which Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus accepts the opinion of Rabbi Meir? If the key factor is that their eyes are fixed in the front of their heads like those of a human, Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus should accept the opinion of Rabbi Meir in the case of a little owl or a great owl as well, as their eyes are also fixed in the front of their heads.
אֶלָּא פְּשִׁיטָא בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת. מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר פְּלִיג בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת!
Rather, it is obvious that when Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says that he does not accept the opinion of Rabbi Meir, he is referring to the other species of birds. From the fact that it is necessary for Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus to reject Rabbi Meir’s opinion in those cases, it may be concluded that Rabbi Meir himself disagrees with the Rabbis with regard to the other species of birds as well, despite the fact that their eyes are not fixed in the front of their heads.
חַסּוֹרֵי מִיחַסְּרָא וְהָכִי קָתָנֵי: רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר — נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר בִּבְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, וְהוּא הַדִּין לְקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, וְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת, שֶׁאַף רַבִּי מֵאִיר לֹא נֶחְלַק עִמָּהֶם אֶלָּא בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — מוֹדֵי לְהוּ.
The Gemara explains that the baraita is incomplete, and this is what it is teaching: Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: The statement of Rabbi Meir seems correct in the case of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, and the same is true with regard to a little owl or a great owl. And the statement of the Rabbis appears correct even to Rabbi Meir with regard to the other species of birds. The reason is that even Rabbi Meir agrees that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of one of the other species of birds, she is not impure, i.e., he disagrees with them only with regard to a little owl or a great owl, but he concedes to their opinion with regard to the other species of birds.
וְהָתַנְיָא: אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק: הַמַּפֶּלֶת מִין בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, לְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר — וָלָד, וּלְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים — אֵינוֹ וָלָד. בְּעוֹפוֹת — תִּיבָּדֵק.
The Gemara cites proof for Abaye’s claim that Rabbi Meir differentiates between an owl and other species of birds, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: In the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a type of domesticated animal or undomesticated animal, according to the statement of Rabbi Meir it has the halakhic status of a full-fledged offspring, and according to the statement of the Rabbis, it does not have the status of a full-fledged offspring. In the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of birds, it must be examined.
לְמַאן תִּיבָּדֵק? לָאו לְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר: קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא — אִין, שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא?
The Gemara asks: According to whom must it be examined? Is this not referring to the statement of Rabbi Meir, who said that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of a little owl or a great owl, yes, she is impure, but if she discharges an item that has the form of other birds, she is not impure? Consequently, the item must be examined to determine what type of bird it resembles.
אָמַר רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִיקָא: לָא, תִּיבָּדֵק לְרַבָּנַן, דְּאָמְרִי: קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא — אִין, שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא.
Rav Aḥa, son of Rav Ika, said: No, this baraita does not prove that Rabbi Meir differentiates between owls and other species of birds, as perhaps the statement that the discharged item must be examined applies according to the Rabbis, as they say that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of a little owl or a great owl, yes, she is impure, but if a woman discharges an item that has the form of other birds, she is not impure.
וּמַאי שְׁנָא קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא מִבְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה? הוֹאִיל וְיֵשׁ לָהֶן לְסָתוֹת כְּאָדָם.
The Gemara asks: But if the Rabbis hold that a woman who discharges an item similar to a land animal is not impure, why would they hold that if she discharges an item that has the form of owls she is impure? What is the difference between a little owl and a great owl on the one hand, and a domesticated animal and an undomesticated animal on the other? The Gemara answers: Since owls have cheeks like those of a human, therefore a woman who discharges an item similar to an owl is impure, whereas if she discharges an item that has the form of a land animal she is pure, despite the fact that their eyes are fixed in the front of their heads.
בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מֵרַבִּי זֵירָא: לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר דְּאָמַר בְּהֵמָה בִּמְעֵי אִשָּׁה וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא, קִבֵּל בָּהּ אָבִיהָ קִידּוּשִׁין מַהוּ? לְמַאי נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ? לְאִיתְּסוֹרֵי בַּאֲחוֹתָהּ.
§ Rabbi Yirmeya asked Rabbi Zeira: According to Rabbi Meir, who said that an animal in the womb of a woman is considered a full-fledged offspring, what is the halakha in a case where it is a female, and her father accepted betrothal for her, i.e., he married her off by accepting betrothal money from a man, or a document of betrothal? Is such a betrothal valid? Rabbi Yirmeya elaborated: What practical difference is there whether it is valid? The difference is with regard to whether it is prohibited for the man to marry her sister. If the betrothal is valid, it is prohibited for the husband to marry her sister, as one may not marry his wife’s sister.
לְמֵימְרָא דְּחָיֵי? וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לֹא אֲמָרָהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּבְמִינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים! אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: עַד כָּאן הֱבִיאוֹ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה לְרַבִּי זֵירָא לִידֵי גִּיחוּךְ, וְלֹא גִּחֵיךְ.
The Gemara asks: Is this to say that such an offspring can live? This factor is important, as a man is prohibited from marrying his wife’s sister only during his wife’s lifetime. But doesn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav says: Rabbi Meir said that a woman who discharges an item that has the form of an animal is impure only since there are other animals of its type that can live, i.e., there are animals similar to the discharged item that do survive, but not that creature itself. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov says: Rabbi Yirmeya tried this hard to cause Rabbi Zeira to laugh, but he did not laugh. In other words, Rabbi Yirmeya was not asking his question seriously.
גּוּפָא, אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לֹא אֲמָרָהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּבְמִינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּפְתִּי:
The Gemara discusses the matter itself. Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Rabbi Meir said that a woman who discharges an item that has the form of an animal is impure only since there are animals of its type that can live. Rav Yirmeya of Difti says:
אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא: הַמַּפֶּלֶת כְּמִין בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וְעוֹף — וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ מִצּוּרַת אָדָם.
We, too, learn in a mishna (Bekhorot 46a) that the fetus of a woman that has the form of an animal cannot survive: In the case of a woman who had previously discharged a fetus with the appearance similar to that of a domesticated animal, an undomesticated animal, or bird before giving birth to any children, and subsequently she gives birth to a son, the son is considered a firstborn with regard to the halakhot of inheritance, but he does not require redemption, as the fetus is considered a full-fledged offspring in that regard. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: The son is not exempted from the requirement of redemption from a priest unless it follows the birth of a fetus that takes the form of a person; otherwise, it is not considered the offspring that “opens the womb” (Exodus 13:2), and the son requires redemption as a firstborn.
וְהַמַּפֶּלֶת סַנְדָּל, אוֹ שִׁלְיָא, אוֹ שָׁפִיר מְרוּקָּם, וְהַיּוֹצֵא מְחוּתָּךְ — הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה, וְאֵינוֹ בְּכוֹר לְכֹהֵן. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ דְּחָיֵי, הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה מִי הָוֵי?
And in the case of a woman who discharges a fetus in the form of a sandal fish, or from whom an afterbirth or a gestational sac in which tissue developed emerged, or who delivered a fetus that emerged in pieces, the son that follows them is considered a firstborn with regard to inheritance but is not a firstborn with regard to redemption from a priest. The Gemara explains the proof: And if it enters your mind that a fetus that has the form of an animal can survive, is the son that follows it a firstborn with regard to inheritance?
אָמַר רָבָא: לְעוֹלָם דְּחָיֵי, וְשָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״רֵאשִׁית אוֹנוֹ״ — מִי שֶׁלִּבּוֹ דָּוֶה עָלָיו, יָצָא זֶה שֶׁאֵין לִבּוֹ דָּוֶה עָלָיו.
Rava said, in rejection of this proof: Actually, it is possible that a fetus shaped like an animal can survive; but it is different there, with regard to inheritance. The son that follows such a fetus has the status of a firstborn, as the verse states with regard to the inheritance of a firstborn: “By giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the first fruits of his strength [ono]; the right of the firstborn is his” (Deuteronomy 21:17). It is derived from the verse that the status of a firstborn applies only to a son over whose death a father would mourn. The word ono is interpreted homiletically based on its similarity to the word onen, acute mourner. This offspring that has the form of an animal is therefore excluded, as its father would not mourn over its death.
בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה מֵאַבָּיֵי: לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר בְּהֵמָה בִּמְעֵי אִשָּׁה וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא — אָדָם בִּמְעֵי בְהֵמָה מַאי? לְמַאי נָפְקָא מִינֵּיהּ? לְאִשְׁתְּרוֹיֵי בַּאֲכִילָה.
§ Rav Adda bar Ahava asked Abaye: According to Rabbi Meir, who said that an item that is similar to an animal in the womb of a woman is considered a full-fledged offspring, what is the halakha with regard to a human fetus in the womb of an animal? The Gemara explains: What is the practical difference of this inquiry? The difference is with regard to permitting the fetus in consumption. A full-fledged fetus found inside its slaughtered mother is permitted to be eaten, despite the fact that it was not slaughtered itself.
וְתִפְשׁוֹט לֵיהּ מֵהָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה וּמָצָא בָּהּ דְּמוּת יוֹנָה — אֲסוּרָה בַּאֲכִילָה!
The Gemara suggests: But one can resolve the dilemma from that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: In the case of one who slaughters an animal and finds in it an item that has the form of a pigeon, the pigeon is prohibited for consumption. Evidently, the ritual slaughter of a pregnant animal renders its fetus permitted to be eaten only if the fetus is of the same species as the mother. Accordingly, if the fetus has the form of a human, it is prohibited for consumption.
הָכִי הַשְׁתָּא? הָתָם — לָא פְּרָסוֹת אִיכָּא, וְלָא פַּרְסָה אִיכָּא; הָכָא — נְהִי דִּפְרָסוֹת לֵיכָּא, פַּרְסָה מִיהָא אִיכָּא.
The Gemara rejects this suggestion: How can these cases be compared? There, with regard to a pigeon fetus, there are no split hooves, and there is not even a hoof at all. Since a pigeon is completely different from the slaughtered animal, the fetus is forbidden. By contrast, here, in the case of a human fetus, although there are no split hooves, there is at least a hoof, i.e., solid feet. Therefore, it is possible that the human fetus is permitted for consumption, and the dilemma remains unresolved.
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: כֹּל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כּוּ׳. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: הַכֹּל מוֹדִים: גּוּפוֹ תַּיִישׁ וּפָנָיו אָדָם — אָדָם, גּוּפוֹ אָדָם וּפָנָיו תַּיִישׁ — וְלֹא כְלוּם.
§ The mishna teaches: And the Rabbis say: Any discharged entity that is not of human form does not render the woman impure. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba says that Rav says: All concede that if a woman discharged an entity whose body is that of a goat and whose face is that of a human, it is considered a human offspring, i.e., even the Rabbis rule that the woman is impure in this case. Likewise, if its body is that of a human and its face is that of a goat, Rabbi Meir concedes that it is nothing, and the woman is pure.
לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁפָּנָיו אָדָם, וְנִבְרָא בְּעַיִן אַחַת כִּבְהֵמָה. שֶׁרַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר מִצּוּרַת אָדָם, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים כֹּל צוּרַת אָדָם.
They disagree only in a case where its face is that of a human, but it was created with one human eye and one eye like that of an animal. As Rabbi Meir says that if the offspring has part of the form of a human face, even if one eye is not like that of a human, it is considered a human offspring, and the woman is impure. And the Rabbis say that it must have the entire form of a human face to be considered a human offspring, and otherwise the woman is not impure.
(אָמַר לוֹ) [אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן] לְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא: וְהָא אִיפְּכָא תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: ״כֹּל צוּרַת״, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: ״מִצּוּרַת״! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אִי תַּנְיָא — תַּנְיָא.
One of the Sages said to Rav Yirmeya bar Abba: But isn’t the opposite taught in a baraita: Rabbi Meir says that a woman who discharged is impure if the fetus has any part of the form of a human face, and the Rabbis say that the woman is impure only if the fetus has a recognizable part of the form of a human face, e.g., half of a human face? According to this baraita, Rabbi Meir does not even require that a significant part of it must look human. In his opinion, even if it has only one human eye or one human cheek and the rest of the face is like that of an animal, the woman is impure. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said to the Sages: If this baraita is taught, it is taught, and I cannot take issue with it. I have my tradition from Rav, and you should rule in accordance with the baraita that you received.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מֵצַח, וְהַגְּבִינִים, וְהָעֵינַיִם, וְהַלְּסָתוֹת, וְגַבּוֹת הַזָּקָן — עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ כּוּלָּם כְּאֶחָת. רָבָא אָמַר חַסָּא: מֵצַח, וְהַגָּבִין, וְהָעַיִן, וְהַלֶּסֶת, וְגַבַּת הַזָּקָן — עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ כּוּלָּם כְּאֶחָת.
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: A woman who discharges an entity is impure only if the entire face of the fetus has a human form. This includes its forehead, and the eyebrows, and the eyes, and the cheeks, and its chin. The woman is not impure unless these facial features all as one have the human form. Rava says that Ḥasa says: It is sufficient for the fetus to have the appearance of a human on one side of its face; its forehead, and one eyebrow, and one eye, and one cheek, and its chin are enough. The woman is not impure unless these facial features all as one have the human form.
וְלָא פְלִיגִי: הָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״כֹּל צוּרַת״, הָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״מִצּוּרַת״.
And Rabbi Yoḥanan and Ḥasa do not disagree about whether the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir or that of the Rabbis, as they both accept the opinion of the Rabbis. The difference between them is that this amora, Rabbi Yoḥanan, holds like the one who says that the Rabbis require the entire form of the face to be human, and that amora, Ḥasa, holds like the one who says that the Rabbis require only a recognizable part of the form of a human face.
מֵיתִיבִי: צוּרַת פָּנִים שֶׁאָמְרוּ — אֲפִילּוּ פַּרְצוּף אֶחָד מִן הַפַּרְצוּפִין, חוּץ מִן הָאוֹזֶן. לְמֵימְרָא דְּמֵחַד נָמֵי סַגִּי?
Ḥasa evidently interprets the version of the Rabbis’ statement that only part of a human face is required as referring to half of a human face. The Gemara raises an objection to this interpretation from a baraita: The miscarriage of a fetus with the form of a human face, which the Rabbis said renders the woman impure, includes even one of the facial features, apart from the ear. Apparently, that is to say that even if the fetus has only one facial feature of a human, this is also sufficient to render the woman impure.
אֲמַר אַבָּיֵי: כִּי תַּנְיָא הַהִיא לְעַכֵּב תַּנְיָא, וּכְמַאן דְּאָמַר כֹּל צוּרַת, וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לְעוֹלָם כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר מִצּוּרַת, וּמַאי ״אֶחָד״ — אֶחָד אֶחָד.
Abaye says: When that baraita is taught, it is taught with regard to the halakha of rendering all of the facial features indispensable for the fetus to be defined as human, except for the ear. And this ruling is in accordance with the one who says that the Rabbis require that the entire form of the face must be human. And if you wish, say that actually this ruling is in accordance with the one who says that the Rabbis require only a recognizable part of the form of a human face. And what is the meaning of the claim that it is sufficient for the fetus to have one facial feature of a human? It means one of each facial feature of which a human has two, i.e., one eye, one eyebrow, and so on.
אָמַר רָבָא: נִבְרָא בְּעַיִן אַחַת וּבְיָרֵךְ אֶחָד — מִן הַצַּד, אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה; בָּאֶמְצַע, אִמּוֹ טְהוֹרָה.
Rava says: In a case where a fetus was created with one eye or with one thigh, if the eye is located to the side on the middle of the face, or the thigh is located at the side of the hip, where a human eye or thigh is normally located, the fetus is considered human, and its mother is impure. If it appears in the middle of the face or hip, the fetus is not considered human, and its mother is pure.
אָמַר רָבָא: וִשְׁטוֹ נָקוּב — אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה, וִשְׁטוֹ אָטוּם — אִמּוֹ טְהוֹרָה.
Rava says: If its esophagus is punctured, although the fetus is considered a tereifa, i.e., one that has a wound that will cause it to die within twelve months, its mother is impure. But if its esophagus is sealed, i.e., it is closed at one end, it does not have the status of a human fetus, and therefore its mother is pure.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמַּפֶּלֶת גּוּף אָטוּם — אֵין אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה. וְאֵיזֶהוּ גּוּף אָטוּם? רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּנָּטֵל מִן הַחַי וְיָמוּת.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: In the case of a woman who discharges a fetus that has a sealed body, its mother is not impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth. And what is a sealed body? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: It is a body which is lacking a limb that when removed from a living person would cause him to die.
וְכַמָּה יִנָּטֵל מִן הַחַי וְיָמוּת? רַבִּי זַכַּאי אוֹמֵר:
And how much of the lower part of a person’s body when removed from a living person would cause him to die, because one cannot survive such a wound? Rabbi Zakkai says:
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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!
Beth Kissileff
Pittsburgh, United States
I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.
Julie Mendelsohn
Zichron Yakov, Israel
I learned daf more off than on 40 years ago. At the beginning of the current cycle, I decided to commit to learning daf regularly. Having Rabanit Michelle available as a learning partner has been amazing. Sometimes I learn with Hadran, sometimes with my husband, and sometimes on my own. It’s been fun to be part of an extended learning community.
Miriam Pollack
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
A friend mentioned that she was starting Daf Yomi in January 2020. I had heard of it and thought, why not? I decided to try it – go day by day and not think about the seven plus year commitment. Fast forward today, over two years in and I can’t imagine my life without Daf Yomi. It’s part of my morning ritual. If I have a busy day ahead of me I set my alarm to get up early to finish the day’s daf
Debbie Fitzerman
Ontario, Canada
I never thought I’d be able to do Daf Yomi till I saw the video of Hadran’s Siyum HaShas. Now, 2 years later, I’m about to participate in Siyum Seder Mo’ed with my Hadran community. It has been an incredible privilege to learn with Rabbanit Michelle and to get to know so many caring, talented and knowledgeable women. I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to learning Seder Nashim.
Caroline Ben-Ari
Karmiel, Israel
I started learning Jan 2020 when I heard the new cycle was starting. I had tried during the last cycle and didn’t make it past a few weeks. Learning online from old men didn’t speak to my soul and I knew Talmud had to be a soul journey for me. Enter Hadran! Talmud from Rabbanit Michelle Farber from a woman’s perspective, a mother’s perspective and a modern perspective. Motivated to continue!
Keren Carter
Brentwood, California, United States
Shortly after the death of my father, David Malik z”l, I made the commitment to Daf Yomi. While riding to Ben Gurion airport in January, Siyum HaShas was playing on the radio; that was the nudge I needed to get started. The “everyday-ness” of the Daf has been a meaningful spiritual practice, especial after COVID began & I was temporarily unable to say Kaddish at daily in-person minyanim.
Lisa S. Malik
Wynnewood, United States
I started with Ze Kollel in Berlin, directed by Jeremy Borowitz for Hillel Deutschland. We read Masechet Megillah chapter 4 and each participant wrote his commentary on a Sugia that particularly impressed him. I wrote six poems about different Sugiot! Fascinated by the discussions on Talmud I continued to learn with Rabanit Michelle Farber and am currently taking part in the Tikun Olam course.
Yael Merlini
Berlin, Germany
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!
Cindy Dolgin
HUNTINGTON, United States
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
Dena Heller
New Jersey, United States
Jill Shames
Jerusalem, Israel
When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.
Ruth Leah Kahan
Ra’anana, Israel
Niddah 23
וְיָלְפִינַן מוּפְנָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין. וּלְהָכִי אַפְנְיֵהּ רַחֲמָנָא לִבְהֵמָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נִגְמַר מִן מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד.
and derive the halakha from the analogy that is free on both sides. And it is for this reason that the Merciful One rendered the verbal analogy between animal and man free on both sides, so that one would not derive the halakha from the verbal analogy between sea monster and man, which is free on only one side.
רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא מַתְנֵי לַהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְקוּלָּא: כׇּל גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר — לְמֵדִין וּמְשִׁיבִין, מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד — לְרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְמֵדִין וְאֵין מְשִׁיבִין, לְרַבָּנַן לְמֵדִין וּמְשִׁיבִין, מוּפְנָה מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל לְמֵדִין וְאֵין מְשִׁיבִין.
Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, teaches in the name of Rabbi Elazar a more lenient version of the aforementioned principle of exegesis of verbal analogy: With regard to any verbal analogy that is not free at all, one can derive halakhot from it, but one can also refute it logically. If the verbal analogy is free on one side, according to Rabbi Yishmael one can derive halakhot from it, and one cannot refute it. According to the Rabbis, one can derive halakhot from it, but one can also refute it. If the verbal analogy is free on both sides, everyone agrees that one can derive halakhot from it and one cannot refute it.
וּלְרַבָּנַן, מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד לְשֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר?
The Gemara asks: But if so, according to the Rabbis, what difference is there between a verbal analogy that is free on one side and one that is not free at all? In both cases, the Rabbis hold that one can derive halakhot from such a verbal analogy but one can also refute it.
נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ הֵיכָא דְּמַשְׁכַּחַתְּ לַהּ מוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר, וְלָאו לְהַאי אִית לֵיהּ פִּירְכָא, וְלָאו לְהַאי אִית לֵיהּ פִּירְכָא — שָׁבְקִינַן שֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּפְנָה כׇּל עִיקָּר, וְגָמְרִינַן מִמּוּפְנָה מִצַּד אֶחָד.
The Gemara answers: The difference is in a case where you find two mutually exclusive verbal analogies, one that is free on one side and one that is not free at all, and neither does this one have a logical refutation nor does that one have a logical refutation. In such a case, we disregard the analogy that is not free at all, and we derive the halakha from the one that is free on one side.
וְהָכָא, מַאי פִּירְכָא אִיכָּא? מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיכָּא לְמִיפְרַךְ: מָה לְאָדָם, שֶׁכֵּן מִטַּמֵּא מֵחַיִּים.
The Gemara asks: And here, with regard to the verbal analogy between man and sea monster, which was rejected because it is free on only one side, what logical refutation is there on account of which this verbal analogy is rejected? The Gemara answers: The verbal analogy between man and sea monster is rejected because it can be refuted as follows: What is unique about man? Man is unique in that a person can become impure while he is alive, unlike an animal, which can become impure only after it dies, or a sea monster, which cannot become impure at all.
וְכֵן אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרָה בּוֹ ״יְצִירָה״ כְּאָדָם.
And likewise, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir, that a woman who discharges an item similar to a domesticated animal, an undomesticated animal, or a bird is impure: It is because formation is stated with regard to the creation of these animals, just as it is stated with regard to the creation of man.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַמֵּי: אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה הַמַּפֶּלֶת דְּמוּת הַר — אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כִּי הִנֵּה יוֹצֵר הָרִים וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַר מִי קָא מַפְּלָה? אֶבֶן הִיא דְּקָא מַפְּלָה, הָהוּא ״גּוּשׁ״ אִיקְּרִי.
Rabbi Ami said to him: If that is so, then in the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the shape of a mountain, its mother should be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, as it is stated with regard to the creation of mountains: “For He Who forms the mountains and creates the wind” (Amos 4:13). Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said to him: Does she discharge a mountain? The discharged item cannot possibly be that large. It is an item with the form of a stone that she discharges, and that is called a clod, not a mountain.
אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה הַמַּפֶּלֶת רוּחַ — תְּהֵא אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרָה בּוֹ ״בְּרִיאָה״ כְּאָדָם, דִּכְתִיב ״וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״? וְכִי תֵימָא לֹא מוּפְנֶה, מִדַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמִכְתַּב ״יוֹצֵר הָרִים וְרוּחַ״, וּכְתִיב ״וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ״, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לְאַפְנוֹיֵי!
Rabbi Ami further inquired: If that is so, in the case of a woman who discharges an item having an amorphous form [ruaḥ], its mother should be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, since creation is stated with regard to it, just as it is stated with regard to man, as it is written: “And creates the wind [ruaḥ].” And if you would say that no verbal analogy can be drawn here, because the verse is not free, i.e., it is not superfluous, as it is necessary to recount the creation of the wind, that is not so. Rabbi Ami explains: From the fact that the verse could have written: Who forms the mountains and the wind, and instead it is written: “Who forms the mountains and creates the wind,” conclude from it that the superfluous word “creates” serves to render it free for drawing a verbal analogy between ruaḥ and man.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: דָּנִין דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, וְאֵין דָּנִין דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה מִדִּבְרֵי קַבָּלָה.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said to Rabbi Ami: One derives matters that are stated in the Torah from matters that are stated in the Torah, i.e., from verses in the Torah, but one does not derive matters that are stated in the Torah from the words of the tradition, i.e., verses in the Prophets or the Writings, such as the verse in Amos.
(אָמַר) רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חַנָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְעֵינֵיהֶם דּוֹמוֹת כְּשֶׁל אָדָם.
§ Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir: Since the eyes of these animals are similar to those of a human, a woman who discharges an item of that type is impure.
אֶלָּא מֵעַתָּה, הַמַּפֶּלֶת דְּמוּת נָחָשׁ תְּהֵא אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה, הוֹאִיל וְגַלְגַּל עֵינוֹ עָגוֹלה כְּשֶׁל אָדָם! וְכִי תֵימָא הָכִי נָמֵי, לִיתְנֵי נָחָשׁ!
The Gemara objects: If that is so, then in the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a snake, its mother should likewise be impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth, since the pupil of a snake is round, like that of a human. And if you would say that indeed, this is the halakha, then let the mishna teach this case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a snake among the other cases where the woman discharges an item of an unusual form.
אִי תְּנָא נָחָשׁ, הֲוָה אָמֵינָא: בְּנָחָשׁ הוּא דִּפְלִיגִי רַבָּנַן עֲלֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּלָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ ״יְצִירָה״, אֲבָל בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה — לָא פְּלִיגִי, דִּכְתִיבָא (ביה) [בְּיהוּ] ״יְצִירָה״.
The Gemara explains: If the mishna had taught the case of a snake, I would say that it is only in the case of a woman who discharges an item having the form of a snake that the Rabbis disagree with Rabbi Meir and rule that the woman is not impure, as a term of formation is not written with regard to the creation of the snake. But with regard to a woman who discharges an item having the form of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, they do not disagree with Rabbi Meir, as the concept of formation is written with regard to them.
וְהָא גַּבֵּי מוּמִין קָתָנֵי לַהּ: אֶת שֶׁגַּלְגַּל עֵינוֹ עָגוֹל כְּשֶׁל אָדָם! לָא קַשְׁיָא — הָא בְּאוּכָּמָא, הָא בְּצִירְיָא.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: But with regard to the halakhot of blemishes that render the slaughter of a firstborn animal permitted, it is taught in a mishna (Bekhorot 40a) that an animal whose pupil is round like that of a human is considered blemished. Evidently, the eyes of animals are dissimilar to those of humans. The Gemara answers that it is not difficult; this statement, that the eyes of animals are similar to those of humans, is referring to the pupil, and that statement, that the eyes of animals are not similar to those of humans, is referring to the entire eyeball in the socket.
רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר: הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר — הוֹאִיל וְעֵינֵיהֶם הוֹלְכוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶם כְּשֶׁל אָדָם. וַהֲרֵי עוֹף, דְּאֵין עֵינָיו הוֹלְכוֹת לְפָנָיו, וְקָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר דְּטָמֵא! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, וּבִשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא.
§ Rabbi Yannai said: This is the reason for the opinion of Rabbi Meir: It is because the eyes of these animals are fixed in the front of their heads like those of a human, unlike the eyes of birds and snakes, a woman who discharges an item of that kind is impure. The Gemara raises a difficulty: But there is the case of a woman who discharges an item similar to a bird, whose eyes are not fixed in the front of its head, and nevertheless Rabbi Meir says that the woman is impure. This apparently contradicts Rabbi Yannai’s explanation. Abaye said: Rabbi Meir is referring to the little owl [bekarya] and the great owl [vekifofa], whose eyes are fixed in the front of their heads, but in the case of a woman who discharges any of the other species of birds, Rabbi Meir does not deem her impure.
מֵיתִיבִי: רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר: נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר בִּבְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, וְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים בְּעוֹפוֹת.
The Gemara raises an objection to this answer from a baraita: Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: The statement of Rabbi Meir seems correct in the case of a woman who discharges the form of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, and the statement of the Rabbis seems correct in the case of birds.
מַאי עוֹפוֹת? אִילֵּימָא בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, מַאי שְׁנָא בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה דְּעֵינֵיהֶן הוֹלְכוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶן כְּשֶׁל אָדָם? קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא נָמֵי!
The Gemara asks: To what birds is Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus referring? If we say he is referring to the little owl and the great owl, what is the difference between this case and the cases of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, with regard to which Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus accepts the opinion of Rabbi Meir? If the key factor is that their eyes are fixed in the front of their heads like those of a human, Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus should accept the opinion of Rabbi Meir in the case of a little owl or a great owl as well, as their eyes are also fixed in the front of their heads.
אֶלָּא פְּשִׁיטָא בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת. מִכְּלָל דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר פְּלִיג בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת!
Rather, it is obvious that when Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says that he does not accept the opinion of Rabbi Meir, he is referring to the other species of birds. From the fact that it is necessary for Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus to reject Rabbi Meir’s opinion in those cases, it may be concluded that Rabbi Meir himself disagrees with the Rabbis with regard to the other species of birds as well, despite the fact that their eyes are not fixed in the front of their heads.
חַסּוֹרֵי מִיחַסְּרָא וְהָכִי קָתָנֵי: רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר — נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר בִּבְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, וְהוּא הַדִּין לְקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, וְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת, שֶׁאַף רַבִּי מֵאִיר לֹא נֶחְלַק עִמָּהֶם אֶלָּא בְּקַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא, אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — מוֹדֵי לְהוּ.
The Gemara explains that the baraita is incomplete, and this is what it is teaching: Rabbi Ḥanina ben Antigonus says: The statement of Rabbi Meir seems correct in the case of a domesticated animal or an undomesticated animal, and the same is true with regard to a little owl or a great owl. And the statement of the Rabbis appears correct even to Rabbi Meir with regard to the other species of birds. The reason is that even Rabbi Meir agrees that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of one of the other species of birds, she is not impure, i.e., he disagrees with them only with regard to a little owl or a great owl, but he concedes to their opinion with regard to the other species of birds.
וְהָתַנְיָא: אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק: הַמַּפֶּלֶת מִין בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה, לְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר — וָלָד, וּלְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים — אֵינוֹ וָלָד. בְּעוֹפוֹת — תִּיבָּדֵק.
The Gemara cites proof for Abaye’s claim that Rabbi Meir differentiates between an owl and other species of birds, as it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: In the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of a type of domesticated animal or undomesticated animal, according to the statement of Rabbi Meir it has the halakhic status of a full-fledged offspring, and according to the statement of the Rabbis, it does not have the status of a full-fledged offspring. In the case of a woman who discharges an item that has the form of birds, it must be examined.
לְמַאן תִּיבָּדֵק? לָאו לְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר: קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא — אִין, שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא?
The Gemara asks: According to whom must it be examined? Is this not referring to the statement of Rabbi Meir, who said that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of a little owl or a great owl, yes, she is impure, but if she discharges an item that has the form of other birds, she is not impure? Consequently, the item must be examined to determine what type of bird it resembles.
אָמַר רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִיקָא: לָא, תִּיבָּדֵק לְרַבָּנַן, דְּאָמְרִי: קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא — אִין, שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת — לָא.
Rav Aḥa, son of Rav Ika, said: No, this baraita does not prove that Rabbi Meir differentiates between owls and other species of birds, as perhaps the statement that the discharged item must be examined applies according to the Rabbis, as they say that if a woman discharges an item that has the form of a little owl or a great owl, yes, she is impure, but if a woman discharges an item that has the form of other birds, she is not impure.
וּמַאי שְׁנָא קַרְיָא וְקִיפוֹפָא מִבְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה? הוֹאִיל וְיֵשׁ לָהֶן לְסָתוֹת כְּאָדָם.
The Gemara asks: But if the Rabbis hold that a woman who discharges an item similar to a land animal is not impure, why would they hold that if she discharges an item that has the form of owls she is impure? What is the difference between a little owl and a great owl on the one hand, and a domesticated animal and an undomesticated animal on the other? The Gemara answers: Since owls have cheeks like those of a human, therefore a woman who discharges an item similar to an owl is impure, whereas if she discharges an item that has the form of a land animal she is pure, despite the fact that their eyes are fixed in the front of their heads.
בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מֵרַבִּי זֵירָא: לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר דְּאָמַר בְּהֵמָה בִּמְעֵי אִשָּׁה וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא, קִבֵּל בָּהּ אָבִיהָ קִידּוּשִׁין מַהוּ? לְמַאי נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ? לְאִיתְּסוֹרֵי בַּאֲחוֹתָהּ.
§ Rabbi Yirmeya asked Rabbi Zeira: According to Rabbi Meir, who said that an animal in the womb of a woman is considered a full-fledged offspring, what is the halakha in a case where it is a female, and her father accepted betrothal for her, i.e., he married her off by accepting betrothal money from a man, or a document of betrothal? Is such a betrothal valid? Rabbi Yirmeya elaborated: What practical difference is there whether it is valid? The difference is with regard to whether it is prohibited for the man to marry her sister. If the betrothal is valid, it is prohibited for the husband to marry her sister, as one may not marry his wife’s sister.
לְמֵימְרָא דְּחָיֵי? וְהָאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לֹא אֲמָרָהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּבְמִינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים! אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: עַד כָּאן הֱבִיאוֹ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה לְרַבִּי זֵירָא לִידֵי גִּיחוּךְ, וְלֹא גִּחֵיךְ.
The Gemara asks: Is this to say that such an offspring can live? This factor is important, as a man is prohibited from marrying his wife’s sister only during his wife’s lifetime. But doesn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav says: Rabbi Meir said that a woman who discharges an item that has the form of an animal is impure only since there are other animals of its type that can live, i.e., there are animals similar to the discharged item that do survive, but not that creature itself. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov says: Rabbi Yirmeya tried this hard to cause Rabbi Zeira to laugh, but he did not laugh. In other words, Rabbi Yirmeya was not asking his question seriously.
גּוּפָא, אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: לֹא אֲמָרָהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּבְמִינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּים. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּפְתִּי:
The Gemara discusses the matter itself. Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Rabbi Meir said that a woman who discharges an item that has the form of an animal is impure only since there are animals of its type that can live. Rav Yirmeya of Difti says:
אַף אֲנַן נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא: הַמַּפֶּלֶת כְּמִין בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וְעוֹף — וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ מִצּוּרַת אָדָם.
We, too, learn in a mishna (Bekhorot 46a) that the fetus of a woman that has the form of an animal cannot survive: In the case of a woman who had previously discharged a fetus with the appearance similar to that of a domesticated animal, an undomesticated animal, or bird before giving birth to any children, and subsequently she gives birth to a son, the son is considered a firstborn with regard to the halakhot of inheritance, but he does not require redemption, as the fetus is considered a full-fledged offspring in that regard. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: The son is not exempted from the requirement of redemption from a priest unless it follows the birth of a fetus that takes the form of a person; otherwise, it is not considered the offspring that “opens the womb” (Exodus 13:2), and the son requires redemption as a firstborn.
וְהַמַּפֶּלֶת סַנְדָּל, אוֹ שִׁלְיָא, אוֹ שָׁפִיר מְרוּקָּם, וְהַיּוֹצֵא מְחוּתָּךְ — הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה, וְאֵינוֹ בְּכוֹר לְכֹהֵן. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ דְּחָיֵי, הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו בְּכוֹר לְנַחֲלָה מִי הָוֵי?
And in the case of a woman who discharges a fetus in the form of a sandal fish, or from whom an afterbirth or a gestational sac in which tissue developed emerged, or who delivered a fetus that emerged in pieces, the son that follows them is considered a firstborn with regard to inheritance but is not a firstborn with regard to redemption from a priest. The Gemara explains the proof: And if it enters your mind that a fetus that has the form of an animal can survive, is the son that follows it a firstborn with regard to inheritance?
אָמַר רָבָא: לְעוֹלָם דְּחָיֵי, וְשָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״רֵאשִׁית אוֹנוֹ״ — מִי שֶׁלִּבּוֹ דָּוֶה עָלָיו, יָצָא זֶה שֶׁאֵין לִבּוֹ דָּוֶה עָלָיו.
Rava said, in rejection of this proof: Actually, it is possible that a fetus shaped like an animal can survive; but it is different there, with regard to inheritance. The son that follows such a fetus has the status of a firstborn, as the verse states with regard to the inheritance of a firstborn: “By giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the first fruits of his strength [ono]; the right of the firstborn is his” (Deuteronomy 21:17). It is derived from the verse that the status of a firstborn applies only to a son over whose death a father would mourn. The word ono is interpreted homiletically based on its similarity to the word onen, acute mourner. This offspring that has the form of an animal is therefore excluded, as its father would not mourn over its death.
בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה מֵאַבָּיֵי: לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, דְּאָמַר בְּהֵמָה בִּמְעֵי אִשָּׁה וָלָד מְעַלְּיָא הוּא — אָדָם בִּמְעֵי בְהֵמָה מַאי? לְמַאי נָפְקָא מִינֵּיהּ? לְאִשְׁתְּרוֹיֵי בַּאֲכִילָה.
§ Rav Adda bar Ahava asked Abaye: According to Rabbi Meir, who said that an item that is similar to an animal in the womb of a woman is considered a full-fledged offspring, what is the halakha with regard to a human fetus in the womb of an animal? The Gemara explains: What is the practical difference of this inquiry? The difference is with regard to permitting the fetus in consumption. A full-fledged fetus found inside its slaughtered mother is permitted to be eaten, despite the fact that it was not slaughtered itself.
וְתִפְשׁוֹט לֵיהּ מֵהָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה וּמָצָא בָּהּ דְּמוּת יוֹנָה — אֲסוּרָה בַּאֲכִילָה!
The Gemara suggests: But one can resolve the dilemma from that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: In the case of one who slaughters an animal and finds in it an item that has the form of a pigeon, the pigeon is prohibited for consumption. Evidently, the ritual slaughter of a pregnant animal renders its fetus permitted to be eaten only if the fetus is of the same species as the mother. Accordingly, if the fetus has the form of a human, it is prohibited for consumption.
הָכִי הַשְׁתָּא? הָתָם — לָא פְּרָסוֹת אִיכָּא, וְלָא פַּרְסָה אִיכָּא; הָכָא — נְהִי דִּפְרָסוֹת לֵיכָּא, פַּרְסָה מִיהָא אִיכָּא.
The Gemara rejects this suggestion: How can these cases be compared? There, with regard to a pigeon fetus, there are no split hooves, and there is not even a hoof at all. Since a pigeon is completely different from the slaughtered animal, the fetus is forbidden. By contrast, here, in the case of a human fetus, although there are no split hooves, there is at least a hoof, i.e., solid feet. Therefore, it is possible that the human fetus is permitted for consumption, and the dilemma remains unresolved.
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: כֹּל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כּוּ׳. אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: הַכֹּל מוֹדִים: גּוּפוֹ תַּיִישׁ וּפָנָיו אָדָם — אָדָם, גּוּפוֹ אָדָם וּפָנָיו תַּיִישׁ — וְלֹא כְלוּם.
§ The mishna teaches: And the Rabbis say: Any discharged entity that is not of human form does not render the woman impure. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba says that Rav says: All concede that if a woman discharged an entity whose body is that of a goat and whose face is that of a human, it is considered a human offspring, i.e., even the Rabbis rule that the woman is impure in this case. Likewise, if its body is that of a human and its face is that of a goat, Rabbi Meir concedes that it is nothing, and the woman is pure.
לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁפָּנָיו אָדָם, וְנִבְרָא בְּעַיִן אַחַת כִּבְהֵמָה. שֶׁרַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר מִצּוּרַת אָדָם, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים כֹּל צוּרַת אָדָם.
They disagree only in a case where its face is that of a human, but it was created with one human eye and one eye like that of an animal. As Rabbi Meir says that if the offspring has part of the form of a human face, even if one eye is not like that of a human, it is considered a human offspring, and the woman is impure. And the Rabbis say that it must have the entire form of a human face to be considered a human offspring, and otherwise the woman is not impure.
(אָמַר לוֹ) [אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן] לְרַב יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא: וְהָא אִיפְּכָא תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: ״כֹּל צוּרַת״, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: ״מִצּוּרַת״! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אִי תַּנְיָא — תַּנְיָא.
One of the Sages said to Rav Yirmeya bar Abba: But isn’t the opposite taught in a baraita: Rabbi Meir says that a woman who discharged is impure if the fetus has any part of the form of a human face, and the Rabbis say that the woman is impure only if the fetus has a recognizable part of the form of a human face, e.g., half of a human face? According to this baraita, Rabbi Meir does not even require that a significant part of it must look human. In his opinion, even if it has only one human eye or one human cheek and the rest of the face is like that of an animal, the woman is impure. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said to the Sages: If this baraita is taught, it is taught, and I cannot take issue with it. I have my tradition from Rav, and you should rule in accordance with the baraita that you received.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מֵצַח, וְהַגְּבִינִים, וְהָעֵינַיִם, וְהַלְּסָתוֹת, וְגַבּוֹת הַזָּקָן — עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ כּוּלָּם כְּאֶחָת. רָבָא אָמַר חַסָּא: מֵצַח, וְהַגָּבִין, וְהָעַיִן, וְהַלֶּסֶת, וְגַבַּת הַזָּקָן — עַד שֶׁיְּהוּ כּוּלָּם כְּאֶחָת.
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: A woman who discharges an entity is impure only if the entire face of the fetus has a human form. This includes its forehead, and the eyebrows, and the eyes, and the cheeks, and its chin. The woman is not impure unless these facial features all as one have the human form. Rava says that Ḥasa says: It is sufficient for the fetus to have the appearance of a human on one side of its face; its forehead, and one eyebrow, and one eye, and one cheek, and its chin are enough. The woman is not impure unless these facial features all as one have the human form.
וְלָא פְלִיגִי: הָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״כֹּל צוּרַת״, הָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״מִצּוּרַת״.
And Rabbi Yoḥanan and Ḥasa do not disagree about whether the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir or that of the Rabbis, as they both accept the opinion of the Rabbis. The difference between them is that this amora, Rabbi Yoḥanan, holds like the one who says that the Rabbis require the entire form of the face to be human, and that amora, Ḥasa, holds like the one who says that the Rabbis require only a recognizable part of the form of a human face.
מֵיתִיבִי: צוּרַת פָּנִים שֶׁאָמְרוּ — אֲפִילּוּ פַּרְצוּף אֶחָד מִן הַפַּרְצוּפִין, חוּץ מִן הָאוֹזֶן. לְמֵימְרָא דְּמֵחַד נָמֵי סַגִּי?
Ḥasa evidently interprets the version of the Rabbis’ statement that only part of a human face is required as referring to half of a human face. The Gemara raises an objection to this interpretation from a baraita: The miscarriage of a fetus with the form of a human face, which the Rabbis said renders the woman impure, includes even one of the facial features, apart from the ear. Apparently, that is to say that even if the fetus has only one facial feature of a human, this is also sufficient to render the woman impure.
אֲמַר אַבָּיֵי: כִּי תַּנְיָא הַהִיא לְעַכֵּב תַּנְיָא, וּכְמַאן דְּאָמַר כֹּל צוּרַת, וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לְעוֹלָם כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר מִצּוּרַת, וּמַאי ״אֶחָד״ — אֶחָד אֶחָד.
Abaye says: When that baraita is taught, it is taught with regard to the halakha of rendering all of the facial features indispensable for the fetus to be defined as human, except for the ear. And this ruling is in accordance with the one who says that the Rabbis require that the entire form of the face must be human. And if you wish, say that actually this ruling is in accordance with the one who says that the Rabbis require only a recognizable part of the form of a human face. And what is the meaning of the claim that it is sufficient for the fetus to have one facial feature of a human? It means one of each facial feature of which a human has two, i.e., one eye, one eyebrow, and so on.
אָמַר רָבָא: נִבְרָא בְּעַיִן אַחַת וּבְיָרֵךְ אֶחָד — מִן הַצַּד, אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה; בָּאֶמְצַע, אִמּוֹ טְהוֹרָה.
Rava says: In a case where a fetus was created with one eye or with one thigh, if the eye is located to the side on the middle of the face, or the thigh is located at the side of the hip, where a human eye or thigh is normally located, the fetus is considered human, and its mother is impure. If it appears in the middle of the face or hip, the fetus is not considered human, and its mother is pure.
אָמַר רָבָא: וִשְׁטוֹ נָקוּב — אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה, וִשְׁטוֹ אָטוּם — אִמּוֹ טְהוֹרָה.
Rava says: If its esophagus is punctured, although the fetus is considered a tereifa, i.e., one that has a wound that will cause it to die within twelve months, its mother is impure. But if its esophagus is sealed, i.e., it is closed at one end, it does not have the status of a human fetus, and therefore its mother is pure.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמַּפֶּלֶת גּוּף אָטוּם — אֵין אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה. וְאֵיזֶהוּ גּוּף אָטוּם? רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּנָּטֵל מִן הַחַי וְיָמוּת.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: In the case of a woman who discharges a fetus that has a sealed body, its mother is not impure with the impurity of a woman after childbirth. And what is a sealed body? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: It is a body which is lacking a limb that when removed from a living person would cause him to die.
וְכַמָּה יִנָּטֵל מִן הַחַי וְיָמוּת? רַבִּי זַכַּאי אוֹמֵר:
And how much of the lower part of a person’s body when removed from a living person would cause him to die, because one cannot survive such a wound? Rabbi Zakkai says:
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