Chullin 11b

חולין י״א ע״ב

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

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Topic

Where do we learn that we may follow a majority that is not in front of us (רובא דליתא קמן)? Proofs from the goats of יום כיפור, striking a father, a murderer, עדים זוממין, and שחיטה itself.

Overview

This amud brings several proofs that the תורה relies on a majority we cannot see in front of us. It begins by finishing the proof from the goats of יום כיפור: the goat for עזאזל is never checked for being a טריפה, the lottery only works on a goat fit for ה׳, and the goat falls apart on the way down, so we must rely on the majority. רב מרי proves it from the death penalty for striking a father, since fatherhood rests on רוב בעילות אחר הבעל, even when the parents were in prison. רב כהנא proves it from executing a murderer, though the victim might have been a טרפה; we cannot examine the body, and even if we did, the sword wound could hide an earlier hole. רבינא proves it from עדים זוממין, who are executed only when their target is still alive, so there is no body to check. רב אשי proves it from שחיטה itself, since the cut wipes out the very spot where a hole might have been. That last proof is pushed back: maybe we rely on the majority only where checking is impossible, and even רבי מאיר, who worries about the minority, must eat meat. The amud ends with a suggestion that רבי מאיר really does avoid meat, which the גמרא answers on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ProofFinishing the proof from the two goats of יום כיפור
2. RejectionMaybe it does not matter if the goat is a טריפה
3. ResolutionThe lottery only works on a goat fit for a קרבן
4. RejectionMaybe we check the goat afterward
5. ResolutionThe goat falls apart, so it cannot be checked
6. Proofרב מרי's proof from someone who strikes his father
7. ChallengeMaybe the parents were locked in prison together
8. ResolutionNo one can fully guard against forbidden relations
9. ProofProof from executing a murderer
10. RejectionMaybe we examine the victim's body
11. ResolutionExamining would disgrace the body
12. RejectionMaybe we disgrace the body to save the murderer's life
13. ResolutionThe sword wound could hide an earlier hole
14. ProofProof from עדים זוממין
15. RejectionMaybe we examine the man who was executed
16. ResolutionWitnesses are executed only if the man was not killed
17. ProofProof for following the majority from slaughter itself
18. RejectionMaybe we rely on the majority only when checking is impossible
19. ProofSupport from רבי מאיר: even he must eat meat
20. ResolutionConsidering the reply that רבי מאיר indeed avoids meat