Gemara Clarity

Chullin 22b

חולין כ״ב ע״ב

Learn Chullin 22b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which ages of birds are fit for a קרבן: grown תורים, young בני יונה, and the unfit yellowing stage in between

Overview

This amud deals with which ages of birds may be brought as a קרבן. A ברייתא teaches that תורים (turtledoves) are fit only when grown and בני יונה (young pigeons) only when young. For each rule it first suggests a קל וחומר that would allow the other age, then says the פסוק blocks it. רבא shows the source: the Torah always writes plain 'תורים' and 'בני יונה' and never switches the wording. The גמרא challenges that this only limits the pigeons, and answers that the two birds are compared, so each has one fixed age. Another ברייתא learns from the word 'מן' that the in-between stage, the start of the yellowing, is unfit for both birds. It gives color signs, and יעקב קרחה and אביי add when young pigeons first become fit: when a plucked feather draws blood. Finally רבי זירא asks whether the yellowing stage is a ספק or a separate בריה, and רבא tries to prove from the פסוק's exclusion that it is a בריה.

Opening lines

וּמָה בְּנֵי יוֹנָה שֶׁלֹּא הוּכְשְׁרוּ בִּגְדוֹלִים

Now if young pigeons, which were not made fit when grown,

הוּכְשְׁרוּ בִּקְטַנִּים,

were made fit when young,

תּוֹרִים שֶׁהוּכְשְׁרוּ בִּגְדוֹלִים

then turtledoves, which were made fit when grown,

אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁהוּכְשְׁרוּ בִּקְטַנִּים?

isn't it logical that they should be made fit when young?

The steps (13)

  1. StatementTurtledoves must be grown, not young
  2. StatementYoung pigeons must be young, not grown
  3. QuestionWhere exactly does the verse teach this?
  4. Responseרבא: the Torah never switches the wording
  5. ChallengeMaybe turtledoves can be any age
  6. ResolutionThe two birds are compared to each other
  7. StatementNot every turtledove or pigeon is fit: the yellowing stage is excluded
  8. StatementThe color signs: gold for turtledoves, yellow for pigeons
  9. Statementיעקב קרחה: pigeons become fit once they reach the stage of 'יעלעו'
  10. QuestionWhen exactly is that stage?
  11. Responseאביי: when a plucked feather brings out blood
  12. Questionרבי זירא asks: is the yellowing stage a doubt or a separate creature?
  13. Proofרבא: the פסוק's exclusion shows it is a separate creature