Chullin 107b

חולין ק״ז ע״ב

Learn Chullin 107b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Washing hands for bread (a cloth, being fed, feeding), and keeping meat and cheese apart (one cloth, two guests at one table)

Overview

The גמרא finishes the story of רב eating with a cloth on his hands. He explains that he did wash, but he is delicate. רבי זירא then challenges רבי אמי and רבי אסי for eating with old wineskins on their hands instead of washing. The גמרא answers that a cloth is allowed for כהנים eating תרומה, and these two were כהנים. Next the גמרא asks two questions: does someone who is fed by another person need to wash, and does the one feeding him need to wash? Several proofs are brought and pushed away, and the final הלכה is that the eater washes and the feeder does not. A new משנה then allows meat and cheese in one cloth if they don't touch. אביי explains that cold foods that touch still need rinsing. שמואל limits the משנה's ruling on two guests eating meat and cheese at one table to guests who are strangers. Finally, רב יימר asks אביי about two brothers who don't share food, and he challenges אביי's answer; that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. Challengeשמואל asks רב: Do we really act this way?
2. Resolutionרב answers: I am delicate
3. Challengeרבי זירא challenges רבי אמי and רבי אסי
4. ResolutionA cloth is allowed for כהנים who eat תרומה
5. QuestionDoes someone who is fed by another person need to wash?
6. ProofProof attempt from רב הונא בר סחורה feeding רב המנונא
7. ProofTrying to prove from רב המנונא that no washing is needed
8. RejectionMaybe רב המנונא washed anyway
9. ProofA new proof from רב's rule about feeding a waiter
10. Resolutionרב פפא settles רב and רבי יוחנן on the waiter's ברכות
11. ProofBack to the proof: רב requires the waiter to wash
12. RejectionA waiter is different because he is busy
13. StatementDo not give bread to the waiter, and never feed an unwashed waiter
14. QuestionDoes someone who feeds another need to wash?
15. ProofProof from שמאי הזקן feeding with two hands
16. Rejectionאביי: that washing was because of שיבתא
17. Proofשמואל is hit for feeding without washing, and his father defends him
18. ConclusionThe final הלכה: the eater washes, the feeder does not
19. StatementNew משנה: meat and cheese in one cloth, and two guests at one table
20. ChallengeWhy should touching matter if both foods are cold?
21. Resolutionאביי: cold foods still need rinsing if they touch
22. Statementשמואל limits the two-guests rule to strangers
23. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל: strangers from north and south
24. ChallengeWhy would the ברייתא need to forbid one parcel?
25. ResolutionIt means 'like one parcel': people who would share
26. QuestionWhat about two brothers who are strict with each other?
27. Responseאביי answers with the case of ביתוס's cakes
28. Challengeרב יימר challenges: what about the person with only one shirt?