Beitzah 6b

ביצה ו׳ ע״ב

Learn Beitzah 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Beitzah 6b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Animals born on יום טוב (calf and chick), chicks whose eyes have not opened, and רב's statement that an egg is complete only when laid

Overview

On the previous amud, רב said a calf born on יום טוב is permitted because it was ready through its mother. Asked about a טריפה mother, רב was silent, and רבה (or רב יוסף) suggested he could have answered that even a calf born to a טריפה mother was already prepared through her as food for dogs. The גמרא challenges this using רבי יהודה's view that food fit for people does not automatically count as ready for dogs. It answers that a person never throws his own food to dogs, but he always keeps in mind any food he himself might eat. The גמרא then brings two ברייתות. Both permit a calf born on יום טוב, but the one supporting רב forbids a newborn chick, while the one supporting שמואל (or רבי יוחנן) permits it. A further ברייתא records רבי אליעזר בן יעקב's view that a chick whose eyes have not opened is forbidden even on a weekday, as a kind of שרץ. Next, רב הונא quotes רב: an egg is complete only when it is laid. The גמרא tests whether this is about eating eggs with milk or about יום טוב, and rejects both readings using a ברייתא and our משנה. It concludes that רב meant that only a laid egg can hatch chicks, which matters for buying and selling. A story illustrating this begins here and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ChallengeIf people-food is not dog-food, how can dog-food be people-food?
2. ResolutionYes — a person always keeps his own possible food in mind
3. StatementThere are ברייתות supporting both רב and שמואל
4. ProofThe ברייתא supporting רב: calf permitted, chick forbidden
5. ProofA ברייתא permits both the calf and the chick
6. StatementA newborn chick whose eyes are closed is forbidden
7. QuestionWhose view is the ברייתא about closed-eyed chicks?
8. ResponseIt follows רבי אליעזר בן יעקב
9. Statementרב: an egg is finished when it comes out
10. QuestionWhat does 'finished when it comes out' mean?
11. ChallengeFirst explanation, about milk, is challenged by a ברייתא
12. ResolutionSecond explanation: the egg is permitted on יום טוב only once it is laid
13. ChallengeChallenge: a ברייתא permits eggs found inside a slaughtered hen
14. ResolutionPossible defense: the ברייתא teaches something the משנה did not
15. RejectionRejected: our משנה itself implies that unlaid eggs are permitted
16. ResolutionPossible defense: perhaps בית הלל forbid even eggs inside the hen
17. RejectionRejected: the ברייתא would then match neither בית שמאי nor בית הלל
18. ResolutionThird explanation: only a laid egg can hatch chicks
19. QuestionWhat practical difference does this make?
20. ResponseIt matters for buying and selling