Chullin 18a

חולין י״ח ע״א

Learn Chullin 18a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 18a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Defects in the מזבח, a שוחט who skips the knife check, tools for שחיטה, the harvest sickle, and cutting through the windpipe ring

Overview

This amud covers several short topics. First the גמרא says a dent big enough to catch a fingernail makes the מזבח unfit. When a ברייתא gives bigger sizes, the גמרא explains that the bigger sizes are for the plaster coating and the fingernail size is for the stone itself. Next, רב הונא and רבא give different punishments for a שוחט who did not show his knife to a חכם. The גמרא explains that they do not argue: one case is a knife found good and the other a knife found damaged. A story follows in which רב אשי checks such a שוחט's knife at רבא בר חיננא's request, finds it fine, and approves it. רבה בר הונא then allows שחיטה with one detached tooth or a detached fingernail. A new משנה brings the argument between בית שמאי and בית הלל about a harvest sickle, and רבי יוחנן limits בית הלל's leniency to נבילה impurity only. Finally, a משנה about cutting through the top ring of the windpipe is ruled like רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה, but only for the large ring. The challenge to that limit continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. QuestionHow big must a dent in the altar be?
2. ResponseBig enough to catch a fingernail
3. ChallengeA ברייתא gives much bigger sizes
4. ResolutionPlaster versus stone
5. Statementרב הונא: a שוחט who skips showing his knife gets נידוי
6. Statementרבא: remove him and call his meat טרפה
7. ResolutionThey do not argue: good knife versus bad knife
8. Statementרבינא: ruin the meat so nobody buys it
9. StatementA שוחט is punished for not showing his knife
10. Statementרבא בר חיננא asks the visiting sages to look into the case
11. Statementרב אשי checks the knife and approves it
12. Challengeמר זוטרא worries about the elder's honor
13. ResolutionWe are acting as his messengers
14. StatementA detached tooth or fingernail may be used for שחיטה
15. ChallengeThe משנה forbids teeth and fingernails
16. ResolutionOne tooth is allowed; two teeth are not
17. ResolutionA detached fingernail is allowed; an attached one is not
18. Statementמשנה: Slaughtering with a harvest sickle
19. Statementבית הלל's leniency is only about impurity
20. Proofרב אשי's proof from the משנה's wording
21. RejectionThen it should have said 'impure/pure'
22. ConclusionThese words all mean the same thing
23. Statementמשנה: Slaughtering through the top ring of the windpipe
24. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יוסי ברבי יהודה
25. StatementThe leniency applies only to the large top ring
26. ChallengeChallenge: Does the leniency really not apply to the other rings?