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Bechoros 7a

בכורות ז׳ ע״א

Bekhorot 7a

Learn Bechoros 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bechoros 7a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether רבי שמעון requires ראשו ורובו to permit eating an animal born to a kosher mother, plus a question about donkey urine

Overview

The גמרא asks what רבי שמעון holds: if a cow gives birth to a camel-like animal that has some of its mother's features, may it be eaten, or must its head and most of its body (ראשו ורובו) look like the mother? A first ברייתא is brought, but it may speak only about בכורה. A second ברייתא allows an animal that 'comes with one sign.' It sounds like רבי שמעון, but the גמרא answers that this תנא agrees with him on only one point. This happens twice, the second time after רבי ירמיה explains how a kosher animal can become pregnant from a קלוט born to a cow. Along the way, the גמרא shows that the argument between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע is not about זה וזה גורם. Each one keeps his usual rule and reads the פסוק 'שה כשבים ושה עזים' as a special case. Finally, a ברייתא of רבי שמעון about 'גמל גמל' proves that he requires ראשו ורובו even for eating. The amud ends with a new question put to רב ששת about donkey urine, and his answer from the wording of the משנה continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אִישְׁתַּנִּי מִגָּמָל

It is different from a camel

שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי,

so it is fine (permitted to eat),

אוֹ דִלְמָא לָא שְׁנָא?

or perhaps there is no difference?

תָּא שְׁמַע:

Come and hear:

The steps (30)

  1. QuestionIs a partial resemblance enough to permit eating?
  2. ProofA ברייתא seems to show head and majority is needed for eating too
  3. RejectionNo, head and majority is only for firstborn status
  4. ProofThe ברייתא's wording supports limiting it to firstborn
  5. RejectionHead and majority may apply to eating too; firstborn needed saying
  6. ProofA new ברייתא: 'this' you may not eat, but one with a single sign you may
  7. QuestionWhich animal is the one that comes with one sign?
  8. ResponseA non-kosher-looking baby born to a kosher mother from a kosher father
  9. Statementרבי יהושע: the father and mother must both be sheep
  10. Statementרבי אליעזר: the פסוק adds a case with a non-kosher father
  11. Proofרבי אליעזר's source: 'שור שה כשבים ושה עזים' in any case
  12. ProofA proof about רבי שמעון from the ברייתא
  13. RejectionThe ברייתא agrees with רבי שמעון on only one point
  14. ChallengeCan a kosher animal become pregnant from a non-kosher one?
  15. Proofרבי יהושע בן לוי: different kinds of animals cannot breed together
  16. ProofThe one exception to the rule about mixed pregnancies
  17. ResolutionThe father was a closed-hoof animal born to a cow
  18. ProofThe proof about רבי שמעון comes back
  19. RejectionThe ברייתא agrees with רבי שמעון on only one point
  20. QuestionIs the argument really about זה וזה גורם?
  21. ChallengeThe two רבנן seem to hold the opposite views
  22. Resolutionרבי אליעזר: usually forbidden, but the פסוק permits here
  23. Resolutionרבי יהושע: usually permitted, but the פסוק forbids here
  24. ProofA ברייתא of רבי שמעון about a camel born from a cow
  25. Conclusionרבי שמעון needs head and most of the body even for eating
  26. QuestionIs donkey urine forbidden?
  27. ChallengeWhy ask only about donkeys?
  28. ResolutionHorse and camel urine is just water
  29. QuestionThe two sides of the donkey question
  30. Responseרב ששת answers from the wording of the משנה