Gemara Clarity

Chullin 135b

חולין קל״ה ע״ב

Learn Chullin 135b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 135b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Partnerships with a Jew or a גוי, and whether they are obligated in ראשית הגז, תרומה, חלה, פאה, בכורה and מזוזה

Overview

The גמרא finishes the debate over whether רבי אלעאי may learn the law of ראשית הגז from תרומה. The רבנן say the repeated word ראשית separates the two. רבי אלעאי answers that the repeat only marks their different kinds of holiness, and the וי"ו joins them back together. A second answer for the רבנן is that even in תרומה a partnership with a גוי is obligated. A ברייתא proves this: רבי and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל argue only about ברירה. Another explanation has רבי אלעאי learn both exemptions from the word צאנך, because in both cases the sheep is not his alone. The רבנן answer that only a גוי partner exempts, since a גוי has no obligation. רבא then shows that רבי אלעאי agrees partners are obligated in תרומה, חלה, פאה, בכורה and מזוזה, because each has a plural word in the Torah. The singular words either exclude a partnership with a גוי, teach the amount of dough for חלה, or, for ביתך, are needed for a teaching of רבה that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְרַבָּנַן:

And the Rabbis?

לָא נִכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא

Let the Merciful One not write

לָא וָי״ו וְלָא ״רֵאשִׁית״.

neither a 'vav' nor 'first'.

וְרַבִּי אִלְעַאי,

And Rabbi Ilai?

The steps (27)

  1. RejectionThe רבנן reject the comparison: the Torah repeated the word ראשית
  2. Resolutionרבי אלעאי: the פסוק separated them, then joined them
  3. ResolutionSecond answer: the רבנן obligate a partnership with a גוי even in תרומה
  4. ProofProof from a ברייתא about a field bought by a Jew and a גוי
  5. ConclusionTheir argument is only about ברירה, and all agree a partnership is obligated
  6. ResolutionAnother way: רבי אלעאי learns both exemptions from 'your flock'
  7. ResolutionWhy one word covers both partners
  8. QuestionWhat do the רבנן say to this?
  9. ResponseA גוי is not obligated, but a Jew is
  10. Statementרבא: רבי אלעאי agrees that partners must give תרומה
  11. ResolutionThe plural word תרומותיכם includes partners
  12. QuestionThen why does the Torah say 'your grain'?
  13. Response'Your grain' leaves out partnership with a גוי
  14. StatementPartners are obligated in חלה because of the plural עריסותיכם
  15. ChallengeWhy not learn חלה from תרומה instead?
  16. ResolutionYes, חלה is really learned from תרומה
  17. QuestionThen what does עריסותיכם teach?
  18. Responseעריסותיכם teaches the amount of dough
  19. StatementPartners are obligated in פאה because of the plural ובקצרכם
  20. QuestionThen what does the singular שדך teach?
  21. Responseשדך excludes a field shared with a גוי
  22. StatementFirstborn animals owned by partners are still holy
  23. QuestionWhy does the Torah use the singular 'your herd'?
  24. ResponseThe singular excludes a partnership with a non-Jew
  25. StatementA house owned by partners needs a מזוזה
  26. QuestionWhat does the singular 'your house' teach?
  27. ResponseThe word 'your house' is needed for a teaching of רבה