Beitzah 11a

ביצה י״א ע״א

Learn Beitzah 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 11a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Designated doves found out of place, then the משנה's disputes between בית שמאי and בית הלל about a pestle, a hide, and preserving fats on יום טוב.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the discussion of designated (זימון) young doves. The גמרא tries to prove רבי חנינא's rule that רוב beats קרוב from the משנה. אביי rejects the proof by placing the case on a shared ledge (דף), and רבא rejects it by placing it in two stacked nests. It then explains why birds found alone are permitted: hopping birds travel at most 50 אמות, and only while they can still see their nest. A new משנה follows, with disputes between בית שמאי and בית הלל about using a pestle (עלי) to cut meat on יום טוב and about placing a raw hide where people will tread on it. אביי limits the pestle dispute: a bone-breaking anvil is permitted by everyone, even a new one, because once an animal is slaughtered its bones will surely be broken. On the hide, both sides allow salting meat for roasting on it, but not heavy, pot-style salting. A ברייתא then brings a dispute about airing out the forbidden fats (חלבים), and רב מתנה's ruling on it is reported in two opposite versions. The amud ends by asking how the fats differ from the hide case, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. ResolutionEnd of the previous explanation: the knot wears out
2. StatementThe משנה: designated inside the nest, found in front of it
3. ProofDoes this support רבי חנינא's rule of following the majority?
4. Rejectionאביי: the case involves a ledge in front of the nests
5. Rejectionרבא: two nests, one above the other — the simple case
6. Rejectionרבא's real point: even birds in the upper nest are forbidden
7. StatementThe משנה's second ruling: if only these birds are there, they are permitted
8. ChallengeIt cannot be about birds that fly
9. ChallengeHopping birds: if a nest is near, they could have hopped over
10. ChallengeIf no nest is near, the ruling is too obvious
11. ResolutionThe nearby nest is around a corner
12. ResolutionA hopping bird only keeps going while it can see its nest
13. StatementNew משנה: using a pestle to cut meat on יום טוב
14. StatementPutting a hide where people walk, and lifting it
15. StatementBoth sides agree: after the meat is cut, the pestle may not be moved
16. Statementאביי: the dispute is only about the pestle, not the bone anvil
17. ChallengeIsn't that obvious? The משנה only mentions a pestle
18. ResolutionWhy אביי's statement is needed: the pestle might have been chosen just to show how far בית הלל go
19. StatementSecond version: even a brand-new bone anvil is permitted
20. ChallengeDon't בית שמאי worry that a person might change his mind?
21. ResolutionChanging your mind is realistic there, but not with breaking bones
22. StatementEveryone agrees one may salt meat for roasting on a hide
23. Statementאביי limits the permission to roasting, not cooking in a pot
24. ChallengeWhy did אביי need to say this?
25. ResolutionEven roasting meat cannot be salted like pot meat
26. StatementA ברייתא on salting and airing the fats
27. Statementרב מתנה rules like רבי יהושע
28. StatementAnother version: רב מתנה rules against רבי יהושע
29. ChallengeWhy say the halacha follows the majority?
30. Resolutionרבי יהושע's reasoning is strong, yet we do not follow it
31. ChallengeHow is this different from placing a hide before treaders?