Chullin 119a

חולין קי״ט ע״א

Learn Chullin 119a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When does a handle (יד) or protection (שומר) count with a small amount of food for טומאה, and is a bean's size a real minimum?

Overview

This amud deals with when an attached part of food, a יד (handle) or a שומר (protection, like a shell or bone), counts together with the food for טומאה, and how much food it needs. The גמרא tests רב and רבי יוחנן against two ברייתות about bones with a little meat on them. Each time, רב survives by agreeing with one of the two תנאים, depending on whether the bone is read as a handle or a protection. רבי יוחנן reads the thigh-bone ברייתא as all about protection and follows אחרים. Their 'bean's size' is explained as just matching the wording of the תנא קמא, and רבא shows from the word קולית that the case is about protection. Next comes a dispute: רבי חנינא says the bean's size is a real minimum for a שומר, while רבי יוחנן says it is not. Two challenges to the minimum are answered. The pod case of רבי אלעזר בן עזריה is about the stalk acting as a handle, and single grains in their shells are different because each grain is a whole item (בריה). The amud ends as רב אושעיא opens a new question, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ChallengeHow does רב explain the ברייתא?
2. ResolutionEither reading can work for רב
3. Resolutionרב agrees with one תנא in the ברייתא
4. ResolutionHow רבי יוחנן reads the earlier ברייתא
5. StatementA new source about a thigh bone with meat on it
6. ChallengeEither way, this source seems to argue with רב
7. Resolutionרב simply follows one of the two opinions
8. Resolutionרבי יוחנן reads the whole ברייתא as protection and follows אחרים
9. ChallengeBut אחרים still say a bean's size
10. Resolutionאחרים named a size only to match the תנא קמא
11. Proofרבא: the word 'thigh bone' shows it is about protection
12. StatementA dispute over whether the bean's size is a real minimum
13. ChallengeChallenge to רבי יוחנן from the words 'like a bean'
14. Resolutionאחרים named a size only because the תנא קמא did
15. ChallengeChallenge from רבי אלעזר בן עזריה's ruling on pods
16. ResolutionThe pod case is about the stalk as a handle
17. ResolutionThe pod case is about the stalk acting as a handle
18. ChallengeChallenge from grains kept in their shells
19. ResolutionA whole separate item is different
20. Questionרב אושעיא opens a new question