Gemara Clarity

Chullin 38a

חולין ל״ח ע״א

Learn Chullin 38a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 38a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What counts as פירכוס (a sign of life) during שחיטה, and when in the שחיטה it must happen

Overview

The amud begins by finishing a list: lowing, passing excrement, or wiggling an ear during שחיטה counts as פירכוס, a sign the animal was alive. שמואל gives a broader test: any movement a dying animal does not naturally make counts. So bending a straight leg counts, but straightening a bent one does not. A ברייתא seems to say lowing and excrement do not count. The גמרא answers that only a strong sound or forceful excrement counts, while a weak sound or a trickle does not. Then comes an argument about timing. רב חסדא says the פירכוס must be at the 'end' of שחיטה, which he explains includes the middle. רבא rejects his proof. רב נחמן בר יצחק says even a movement at the beginning counts, and proves it from blood spurting onto the walls of the neck. After a back-and-forth over whether spurting is a stronger or weaker sign, the proof stands. Finally רבא holds that the פירכוס must be at the actual end of שחיטה, and he begins a proof from a ברייתא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

גּוֹעָה וְהֵטִילָה רֶיעִי

If it lows, or passed excrement,

וְכִשְׁכְּשָׁה בְּאׇזְנָהּ –

or wiggled its ear,

הֲרֵי זֶה פִּירְכּוּס.

that counts as a convulsion.

אֲמַר לְהוּ:

He said to them:

The steps (23)

  1. StatementLowing, excrement, or a wiggling ear count as convulsion
  2. Statementשמואל: any movement a dying animal doesn't make is enough
  3. QuestionWhat does a dying animal do?
  4. ResponseStraightening a leg is death; bending a straight leg is life
  5. ChallengeIsn't this already taught in the משנה?
  6. Resolutionשמואל teaches that bending a straight leg alone is enough
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא says lowing and excrement are not signs of life
  8. ResolutionStrong sound versus weak sound, forceful versus trickling
  9. Statementרב חסדא: the פירכוס must be at the end of שחיטה
  10. QuestionWhat does 'end of שחיטה' mean
  11. ResponseIt means even in the middle, just not the very start
  12. Proofרב חסדא's proof from the משנה about the stretched leg
  13. Rejectionרבא pushes away רב חסדא's proof
  14. Statementרב נחמן בר יצחק: even a movement at the start counts
  15. ProofProof from blood on the walls of the neck
  16. RejectionSpurting blood may be a stronger sign
  17. ChallengeHow can spurting be stronger, if רבי אליעזר calls it 'enough'?
  18. ResolutionSpurting is in the middle
  19. ChallengeIs spurting really stronger than the חכמים' sign?
  20. QuestionWho are the חכמים answering? Not רבן גמליאל
  21. ChallengeThey are answering רבי אליעזר, so spurting must be weaker
  22. Statementרבא: the convulsion must come at the end of the slaughter
  23. Proofרבא begins his proof from a ברייתא