Chullin 49b

חולין מ״ט ע״ב

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Topic

Which fats are forbidden as חלב, which fats can seal a hole so the animal is not a טרפה, and the limits of 'the תורה cares about the money of ישראל.'

Overview

The amud opens at the end of a ברייתא where רבי ישמעאל and רבי עקיבא argue about which extra fat the פסוק forbids: the fat on the small intestines or the fat on the קבה. A second ברייתא seems to switch their views. רבי יוחנן says to reverse the names in the first ברייתא, because the second one gives exact reasoning ('מה... אף'). רב נחמן בר יצחק then explains that רבי ישמעאל only reported his forefathers' lenient practice and did not hold it himself. Next, רב and רב ששת argue whether forbidden fat can seal a hole in an organ so the animal is not a טרפה. אביי adds that the fat of a חיה does not seal, because it is not firmly attached. Two stories follow in which רבא rules leniently, partly because 'the תורה cares about the money of ישראל.' Each time he is challenged: first in a case of a תורה prohibition, then in a case of uncovered honey, which involves danger to life. The amud closes with rules about which fats seal: hat-shaped fat does not, and of the חימצא and the בר חימצא, only the בר חימצא seals. The גמרא then starts a proof of which fat is which, and that proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. StatementFirst ברייתא: which extra fat the פסוק includes
2. ChallengeA second ברייתא seems to flip the opinions
3. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: reverse the names in the first ברייתא
4. ChallengeWhy reverse the first and not the second?
5. ResolutionThe second ברייתא gives exact reasoning, so it is reliable
6. ChallengeAfter the switch, the lenient view belongs to רבי עקיבא
7. Resolutionרבי ישמעאל reported his forefathers' view but did not hold it
8. StatementDoes fat seal a hole in the innards?
9. QuestionDoes the fat of a wild animal seal?
10. Responseאביי: wild animal fat is permitted but still does not seal
11. Statementרבא permits a hole sealed by forbidden fat
12. Challengeרב פפא objects: you cannot rely on money in a Torah prohibition
13. Statementרבא permits an uncovered jug of honey
14. Challengeרב נחמן בר יצחק objects: you cannot rely on money when life is in danger
15. QuestionWhat is רבי שמעון's opinion?
16. ResponseThe ברייתא: five liquids, and רבי שמעון's snake
17. Proofרבא: at least agree with me about fish brine
18. Rejectionרב נחמן בר יצחק: at least agree with me about honey
19. StatementFat shaped like a hat does not seal a hole
20. QuestionWhere is this hat-shaped fat?
21. ResponseTwo views: fat on the rectum or the membrane of the heart
22. Statementרבא forgot which of two fats seals
23. ResponseThe בר חימצא seals, the חימצא does not
24. StatementA memory sign: the son is stronger than the father
25. QuestionWhich fat is the חימצא and which is the בר חימצא?
26. ProofStarting a proof from another statement of רב נחמן