Chullin 28b

חולין כ״ח ע״ב

Learn Chullin 28b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Checking a doubtful duck, רבי יהודה's rule about the ורידין, and whether exactly half of a סימן counts as a majority

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a practical problem. רבא has a duck with a bloody neck, and he needs to know whether its קנה was already cut or its ושט has a hole. The גמרא rejects checking it after שחיטה and also rejects checking it before. רב יוסף, רבא's son, solves the problem: check the קנה, slaughter through the קנה alone, then turn the ושט inside out and check it. From this the גמרא learns that in a bird, 'one סימן' can be either one. Next, רב חסדא says רבי יהודה requires cutting the ורידין only in a bird, so that the blood drains. Several sources seem to make the veins part of the שחיטה itself. Each one is reread to mean puncturing them during the שחיטה, while the blood is still warm. An elder adds that the veins may even be punctured with a thorn, and a ברייתא supports רב חסדא. Finally, רב and רב כהנא argue whether exactly half of a סימן counts as a majority, and the גמרא tests רב's view with proofs that continue onto the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ChallengeSlaughter first, then check? That will not work
2. ChallengeCheck first, then slaughter? That will not work either
3. Resolutionרב יוסף's solution: cut the windpipe, then check the gullet
4. Statementרבא praises his son
5. ConclusionSo 'one סימן' can be either one
6. StatementQuoting רבי יהודה in the משנה
7. Statementרב חסדא: Only in birds, because of the blood
8. ChallengeIs it really about blood? The משנה calls it שחיטה
9. ResolutionRereading the משנה: puncture the veins during the slaughter
10. ChallengeA ברייתא says the veins are 'through slaughter'
11. ResolutionRereading the ברייתא: puncture them during the slaughter
12. ChallengeThe חכמים' argument shows רבי יהודה linked the veins to slaughter
13. ResolutionThe חכמים were really arguing about timing
14. ResolutionWhy רבי יהודה wants it done during the slaughter: warm blood flows
15. QuestionDo pausing or pressing ruin the cutting of the veins?
16. ResponseThe veins can even be punctured with a thorn
17. ProofA ברייתא supports רב חסדא: the veins are needed only in a bird
18. StatementIs exactly half of a סימן like a majority?
19. StatementThe reasoning behind רב and רב כהנא
20. StatementA memory aid for the coming proofs
21. ChallengeChallenge to רב from the משנה about half a סימן
22. ResolutionThe משנה is only a rabbinic safeguard
23. Challengeרב קטינא's proof from an object split into equal halves
24. ChallengeIf an exact split would make both halves pure, how can half count as a majority?
25. ResolutionOne vessel cannot have two majorities
26. ChallengeA new proof begins: cutting half the windpipe and pausing