Chullin 123b

חולין קכ״ג ע״ב

Learn Chullin 123b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Rabbinic decrees and hide flayed past כדי אחיזה, and the dispute between ריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן over whether a torn hide is חלים (repairable).

Overview

The amud opens as רב יוסף answers רבה's two challenges about rabbinic decrees. The tear in the garment shows why it is pure, and כהנים are careful when they cut the bird עולה. Next the גמרא challenges רבה בר אבוה from our משנה about flaying a hide for a carpet: why is there no גזירה once the hide is flayed past כדי אחיזה? It answers that the משנה deals with טומאה דרבנן, and that the impure animal there is a slaughtered טרפה of קדשים, following אבוה דשמואל. A ברייתא about flaying שרצים is also turned aside: it teaches only about the hide on the neck, following רבי יוחנן בן נורי. The גמרא then returns to the torn garment. רב הונא limits the rule, and ריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן argue about whether a torn hide is חלים (repairable). ריש לקיש's view is challenged from straps cut out of a hide, from flaying, and from the neck hide, and each challenge is answered. The amud ends as רבי ירמיה begins a new challenge from an impure oven, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. Challengeרבה: then decree on the bird burnt offering too
2. Resolutionרב יוסף: the tear itself shows why it is pure
3. Resolutionרב יוסף: priests are careful
4. ChallengeCome and hear: flaying a hide for a carpet
5. ChallengeWhy not make a decree for a hide flayed more than the grasping measure?
6. ResolutionThe משנה is dealing with rabbinic impurity
7. ChallengeA pure person flaying an impure animal is Torah impurity
8. ResolutionThe impure animal is a טרפה
9. QuestionCan a טרפה make things impure?
10. ResponseYes, following אבוה דשמואל about קדשים
11. ChallengeA ברייתא about flaying creeping animals
12. ChallengeThe inference: by a camel the hide is not connected
13. RejectionThe ברייתא only speaks about the hide on the neck
14. StatementA torn garment stays connected if a scarf-sized piece is left
15. StatementIs a torn hide considered repairable?
16. ChallengeChallenge from cutting an impure hide into straps
17. ResolutionA straight cut versus a circular cut
18. ChallengeChallenge from flaying a hide for a carpet
19. ResolutionEach flayed piece counts as fallen off
20. ChallengeChallenge from the hide on the neck
21. Rejectionאביי points to the other opinion in the משנה
22. Resolutionאביי: the dispute is about a protector that comes off easily
23. Challengeרבי ירמיה begins a challenge from an impure oven