Chullin 43b

חולין מ״ג ע״ב

Learn Chullin 43b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 43b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Checking the וושט for a possible clawing, עולא's thorn ruling, the תורבץ הוושט, and רבא's bull ruling that combined רב's and שמואל's stringencies

Overview

This amud opens by explaining why רבה said the וושט may be checked only from the inside: it matters for ספק דרוסה, because the redness of a clawing shows only on the white inside. In a story, רבה checks from the outside and אביי reminds him of his own rule. רבה then finds two drops of blood inside and rules the animal a טריפה; he was only testing אביי. Next עולא rules that a thorn stuck in the וושט does not make us worry about a hole that healed. The גמרא defends this against four comparisons, and רב כהנא explains that the ruling covers even a thorn embedded in the wall. Then רב and שמואל argue about a hole in the תורבץ הוושט, and the גמרא tries to define exactly where that area is. רבא rules a bull טריפה by combining the strict sides of רב and שמואל. רבי אבא overturns this and makes רבא pay the owner. The amud ends as מר בריה דרבינא starts a ברייתא against mixing opinions, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. ResolutionThe inside-only check is needed for a possible clawing
2. Statementרבה checks a possibly clawed animal from the outside
3. Challengeאביי reminds רבה of his own rule
4. Conclusionרבה checks the inside, finds blood, and rules it a טריפה
5. Resolutionרבה was only testing אביי
6. Statementעולא: a thorn stuck in the gullet is not suspected of a healed hole
7. StatementA memory list for the coming challenges to עולא
8. ChallengeWhy is this different from a doubt about clawing?
9. Resolutionעולא is not concerned about a doubt of clawing either
10. ChallengeWhy is this different from two pieces of fat?
11. ResolutionThere, a prohibition was already established
12. ChallengeWhy is this different from a knife found notched?
13. ResolutionThere, a flaw appeared in the knife
14. ChallengeWhy is this different from doubtful impurity in a private place?
15. ResolutionThe impurity rules come from סוטה and cannot be compared
16. StatementA scholar's version: עולא was lenient only when the thorn was found loose
17. Rejectionרב כהנא rejects that version: the leniency covers even an embedded thorn
18. Statementרב and שמואל argue about a hole in the entrance of the gullet
19. QuestionWhere exactly is the entrance of the gullet?
20. ResponseFirst definition: the תורבץ widens when cut, the gullet stays in place
21. Rejectionרב פפי's correction: the תורבץ stays in place, the gullet contracts
22. StatementAnother view: the תורבץ is just the throat right at the gullet
23. ResponseHow big is the תורבץ? Between a wheat kernel and a barley kernel
24. Statementרבא declares the bull טריפה, using both רב's and שמואל's stringencies
25. Statementרבא explains his ruling with רב's strict view
26. ChallengeBut רב holds the תורבץ is a valid place to slaughter
27. ResolutionOn the location question, רבא follows שמואל
28. ChallengeBut שמואל requires most of it to be pierced
29. ResolutionOn the hole size, רבא follows רב
30. Rejectionרבי אבא permits the bull and makes רבא pay
31. ChallengeA ברייתא against mixing בית שמאי and בית הלל