Gemara Clarity

Chullin 25b

חולין כ״ה ע״ב

Learn Chullin 25b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 25b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When unfinished vessels and bone vessels can become טמא; the stages when almonds are obligated in tithes; and the status of תמד before and after fermenting

Overview

The amud opens at the end of a list of finishing jobs for metal vessels. Until those jobs are done, a metal vessel cannot become טמא. The גמרא asks why metal is stricter than wood. רבי יוחנן says metal vessels are made for honor, and רב נחמן says they are expensive. The two reasons split on כלי עצם (bone vessels), and a ברייתא on "וכל מעשה עזים" proves that vessels made from animal horns and hooves can become טמא, but those made from birds cannot. A new משנה then teaches that bitter and sweet almonds are obligated in תרומה ומעשרות at opposite stages, depending on when each one is fit to eat. Next, a משנה teaches that תמד counts as water before it ferments and as wine after. It also teaches that brothers who are partners pay either the קלבון or מעשר בהמה, never both. The גמרא asks whose view the תמד ruling follows, since it seems to fit neither the רבנן nor רבי יהודה, and רב נחמן's answer begins on the next amud.

Opening lines

לָשׁוּף, לְשַׁבֵּץ, לְגָרֵר,

To smooth, to set in ornaments, to plane,

לְכַרְכֵּר, לְהַקִּישׁ בְּקוּרְנָס.

to decorate, to strike with a hammer.

מְחוּסָּר כַּן אוֹ אוֹגֶן אוֹ אוֹזֶן – טָהוֹר,

If it is missing a base, or a rim, or a handle, it is pure (it cannot become impure),

מְחוּסָּר כְּסוּי – טָמֵא.

if it is missing a cover, it is impure (it can become impure).

The steps (21)

  1. StatementThe last finishing steps for metal vessels
  2. QuestionWhy are metal and wooden vessels treated differently?
  3. Responseרבי יוחנן: metal vessels are made for honor
  4. Responseרב נחמן: metal vessels are expensive
  5. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between them?
  6. ResponseThe difference is bone vessels
  7. Proofרב נחמן is consistent: bone vessels are like metal
  8. QuestionCan bone vessels become טמא at all?
  9. ResponseYes: the פסוק includes items made from goat horns and hooves
  10. ProofThe word "all" extends this to every animal
  11. Conclusion"Goats" comes to exclude birds
  12. StatementNew משנה: Bitter and sweet almonds are opposites
  13. Statementברייתא explains which almonds are obligated
  14. Statementרבי יוסי's view: all bitter almonds are treated alike
  15. Statementרבי חנינא ruled that all bitter almonds are exempt
  16. QuestionHow can large bitter almonds be obligated?
  17. ResponseThey can be sweetened by fire
  18. StatementThe משנה on תמד before and after fermenting
  19. StatementBrothers who are partners: the premium or animal tithe
  20. ChallengeWhose view is the משנה? It seems to fit neither side
  21. ChallengeSpelling out why neither side fits