Chullin 34a

חולין ל״ד ע״א

Learn Chullin 34a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which חולין can become שלישי, and the debate between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע about whether one who eats impure food becomes as impure as the food

Overview

The גמרא is looking for the case in the משנה where meat could become שלישי (third-degree impure). Ordinary חולין normally cannot become שלישי. It first suggests חולין kept at the purity level of תרומה, following רבי יהושע. It rejects this, because no one keeps meat at the level of תרומה. It settles on חולין kept at the purity level of קדשים, which can apply even to a חיה, because meat gets mixed up with meat. עולא then brings two views. His colleagues say the משנה does not follow רבי יהושע. עולא says it does, reading רבי יהושע as 'לא מיבעיא'. The colleagues turn out to be רבה בר בר חנה, who quotes רבי יוחנן's account of a debate between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע about whether someone who eats impure food becomes as impure as the food. Each side brings a proof and the other rejects it. רבי יהושע then begins to explain that his rule about eating a שלישי applies only to תרומה, and that explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ResponseSuggestion: the משנה is about חולין kept at the purity level of תרומה, following רבי יהושע
2. RejectionRejected: nobody keeps meat at the purity level of תרומה
3. ChallengeThe alternative of קדשים runs into a problem with חיה
4. ResolutionMeat gets mixed up with meat, but not with produce
5. Statementעולא's colleagues: the משנה is about קדשים and does not follow רבי יהושע
6. Statementעולא himself: it does follow רבי יהושע, read as 'לא מיבעיא'
7. QuestionWho were the colleagues?
8. ResponseIt is רבה בר בר חנה, quoting רבי יוחנן
9. Proofרבי אליעזר: the eater can be stricter than the food
10. Rejectionרבי יהושע: the bird case is a one-time exception
11. Proofרבי יהושע: the food is stricter than the eater
12. Rejectionרבי אליעזר: amounts do not teach levels of impurity
13. Challengeרבי אליעזר: your own view does not hold together
14. Resolutionרבי יהושע finds a case of a second level making a second level
15. RejectionLiquids become first level, so the case is not a real parallel
16. ChallengeWhy should eating a third level make someone second level?
17. Resolutionרבי יהושע limits his ruling to תרומה