Gemara Clarity

Chullin 42a

חולין מ״ב ע״א

Learn Chullin 42a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

End of פרק השוחט; the משנה listing the טרפות; and the Torah sources for whether a טרפה can live

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the last discussion of פרק השוחט. The גמרא explains that רבי אלעזר's ruling was needed because a wife may have miscarried privately, which still obligates her in a קרבן יולדת. A הדרן then closes the chapter. A new משנה opens פרק אלו טרפות and lists injuries that make an animal a טרפה, forbidden even after proper שחיטה. The list includes the וושט, גרגרת, brain membrane, heart, spine, liver, lung, stomachs, intestines, a fall, broken ribs, and a predator's clawing. It ends with the rule that any animal that could not survive in such a condition is a טרפה. In the גמרא, ריש לקיש looks for a Torah hint that a טרפה cannot live, and finds it in "וזאת החיה אשר תאכלו". The גמרא then searches for the source of the opposing view that a טרפה can live. It ends with a ברייתא about eighteen טרפות told to משה at סיני, and then challenges that number, since more cases seem to exist.

Opening lines

מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא:

You might have said:

אִם אִיתָא דְּיָלְדָה –

If it were so that she gave birth,

קָלָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ,

there would have been publicity about it,

קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן:

so he teaches us:

The steps (19)

  1. ResolutionWhy the ruling was needed: she may have miscarried
  2. ConclusionHadran: closing the chapter of השוחט
  3. StatementThe משנה begins listing טרפות
  4. StatementA pierced or damaged lung, and רבי שמעון's view
  5. StatementStomach, gallbladder, intestines, and the rumen
  6. StatementThe המסס and בית הכוסות pierced to the outside
  7. StatementMore טרפות and the general rule
  8. QuestionWhere does the Torah hint at טרפה?
  9. ChallengeThe Torah says טרפה openly
  10. QuestionThe real question: a טרפה cannot live
  11. ResponseSource: "וזאת החיה אשר תאכלו"
  12. QuestionWhat about the view that a טרפה can live?
  13. ResponseSame פסוק, read the other way
  14. QuestionWhat does the first opinion do with the word זאת?
  15. Responseזאת teaches that God showed משה each animal
  16. ChallengeThe second opinion also needs זאת for that lesson
  17. ResolutionThe גמרא agrees and asks for a new source
  18. ResponseThe verse calls the forbidden animals 'living,' meaning the eighteen טרפות
  19. ChallengeAre there really only eighteen טרפות?