Chullin 46b

חולין מ״ו ע״ב

Learn Chullin 46b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Checking the lung: a hole in only one layer, רב יוסף's air test, and רבא's rulings on peeled, reddened, dried, scabbed and stuck-together lungs.

Overview

This amud is about checking an animal's lung to see if it is a טרפה. First it finishes רבא's ruling that a lung whose outer layer peeled off, leaving it red like a date, is כשרה. Next it asks what happens if only the inner layer of the lung has a hole. רב אחא and רבינא disagree, and the הלכה is that the outer layer protects. The proof is רב יוסף's test with a feather, saliva, straw or lukewarm water: if no air escapes, the sound is just air between the layers. After a memory aid (סימן), the גמרא goes through a series of רבא's rulings. For a reddened lung, רבינא shows there is no real difference between part and all. A partly dried lung is a טרפה only if it crumbles under a fingernail, and the גמרא shows even the רבנן can agree to this. Scabs and dark spots are כשרה, cysts may not be compared to each other, and two lobes stuck together out of their natural order make the animal a טרפה.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementFinishing the ruling: a peeled lung that looks like a red date is kosher
2. QuestionInner layer pierced, outer layer whole: does it protect?
3. Responseרב אחא and רבינא disagree
4. ConclusionThe הלכה: the outer layer protects
5. Proofרב יוסף's test when we know where the sound comes from
6. StatementIf we don't know where the sound comes from: use a basin of water
7. StatementWhy lukewarm water, not hot or cold
8. ConclusionNo bubbles means kosher: the sound is air between the layers
9. StatementA memory aid for the next rulings
10. StatementA peeled lung that looks like a red date is kosher
11. StatementA lung that turned red: part is kosher, all is not
12. Challengeרבינא: if part heals, the whole should heal too
13. ResolutionSuggested answer: compare the lung to the eight שרצים
14. RejectionThen even part should be a טרפה
15. ConclusionNo difference between part and all
16. StatementA partly dried lung is a טרפה
17. QuestionHow dry must it be?
18. ResponseDry enough to crumble with a fingernail
19. QuestionWhose opinion is the fingernail rule?
20. ResolutionEven the רבנן can agree, because a lung can heal
21. StatementA lung full of scabs or marks is still kosher
22. StatementYou may not compare cysts on the lung
23. StatementTwo lobes stuck together cannot be checked
24. StatementOnly lobes out of their natural order