Chullin 27b

חולין כ״ז ע״ב

Learn Chullin 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 27b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The source that שחיטה is at the neck, how many סימנים animals, birds and fish need, and the view that a bird needs no שחיטה מן התורה

Overview

The גמרא first explains that the extra mention of פדר teaches the כהן to cover the cut neck with the fat when he brings the head up to the מזבח, out of respect. It then brings a ברייתא on 'זאת תורת הבהמה והעוף'. One view learns that a bird, like an animal, needs שחיטה, and the word 'זאת' keeps a bird from needing רוב שנים. רבי אליעזר learns from the same פסוק that an animal, like a bird, is made fit at the neck, though not from the back of the neck. For him, 'זאת' teaches that an animal still needs two סימנים. בר קפרא says a bird needs one סימן because the פסוק places it between animals (two סימנים) and fish (no שחיטה). The גמרא proves that fish need no שחיטה from the word 'gathered'. A teaching ties this to creation: land creatures need two, water creatures none, and birds, made from mud, one. A story about רבן יוחנן בן זכאי and an officer discusses whether birds came from water, land or mud. Finally רבי יצחק בן פנחס says a bird needs no שחיטה מן התורה, because the Torah only says 'ושפך'. The גמרא defends this view and begins testing it with challenges about כסוי הדם, which continue on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. QuestionWhy does the Torah mention the fat a first time?
2. ResponseThe fat covers the cut neck out of respect
3. StatementAnother תנא learns the neck rule from a different פסוק
4. ChallengeAnimals and birds have very different טומאה laws
5. ResolutionBoth need שחיטה
6. ChallengeShould a bird then need most of both סימנים?
7. ResolutionThe word 'זאת' limits the comparison
8. Statementרבי אליעזר: an animal, like a bird, is made fit at the neck
9. ChallengeShould an animal also be cut from the back of the neck?
10. ResolutionOnly the bird is cut from the back of the neck
11. QuestionWhat does רבי אליעזר learn from 'זאת'?
12. Response'זאת' stops an animal from needing only one סימן
13. Statementבר קפרא: a bird sits between animal and fish, so it needs one סימן
14. QuestionHow do we know fish need no שחיטה?
15. ResponseFirst suggestion: fish only need to be gathered
16. ChallengeQuail are also 'gathered'. Do they also need no slaughter?
17. ResolutionFor fish, 'gathering' replaces slaughter
18. StatementAnimals from land, fish from water, birds from mud
19. ProofBirds have fish-like scales on their feet
20. ChallengeTwo פסוקים disagree on where birds came from
21. ResolutionThe answer to the questioner: from mud
22. ResolutionThe real answer to the students: from water
23. ResolutionA second version: water for the officer, mud for the students
24. StatementBirds need no שחיטה from the Torah
25. ChallengeThen a חיה should be the same
26. ResolutionA חיה is compared to פסולי המוקדשין
27. ChallengeBirds are also compared to בהמה
28. ResolutionBut 'ושפך את דמו' is written
29. ChallengeWhy put 'ושפך' on the bird and not the חיה?
30. ResolutionThe bird is mentioned last, right before 'ושפך'
31. StatementA memory aid for the coming challenges
32. ChallengeStabbing exempts from covering, so it cannot be a bird's real שחיטה
33. ResolutionThe משנה is talking only about a חיה
34. ChallengeA ברייתא about someone who wants to keep the blood