Chullin 51a

חולין נ״א ע״א

Learn Chullin 51a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Dating a needle hole in the בית הכוסות, and when to worry about ריסוק אברים

Overview

This עמוד starts by finishing a ברייתא about a needle found in the wall of the בית הכוסות. Blood on the needle means the hole was made before שחיטה, and a scab means the hole is at least three days old. The גמרא explains that missing blood proves something here only because a needle would have caught the blood. רב עוירא reports that רבי declared an animal טריפה with a needle on only one side. אביי gets the exact facts and finds that blood showed the hole went all the way through, so it is simply the משנה's case. Then the גמרא turns to ריסוק אברים, crushed limbs. It covers an animal found below a roof, רבינא's goat that jumped, a ewe dragging its legs, rams that butt each other, rams thrown by thieves, and stick blows to the back. The עמוד ends with רב נחמן's rule that being born does not cause crushed limbs, and רבא begins a supporting ברייתא that continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. StatementBlood on the needle tells us when the hole was made
2. StatementA scab shows the hole is at least three days old
3. ChallengeWhy does missing blood help here but not for other holes?
4. ResolutionThe needle gives the blood something to stick to
5. Statementרב ספרא tells אביי about רב עוירא's report
6. Statementאביי goes to great lengths to reach רב עוירא
7. Questionאביי asks for the exact facts of the case
8. Responseרב עוירא describes the case that came before רבי
9. Conclusionאביי: this is just the משנה
10. Statementרב הונא: an animal found below a roof is not suspected of crushed limbs
11. Questionרבינא's kid jumps through a skylight: why is רב הונא lenient?
12. Responseרב אשי: the animal judges the jump for itself
13. StatementThe ewe that dragged its hind legs
14. Challengeרבינא suggests the spinal cord was cut
15. ProofThe check proves רבינא right
16. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רב יימר anyway
17. StatementRams that butt each other
18. StatementRams thrown by thieves
19. StatementWhen thieves return the rams
20. StatementA stick blow along the whole spine
21. StatementThree stick blows that are dangerous
22. StatementBirth through the womb does not cause crushed limbs
23. Proofרבא brings a ברייתא that supports רב נחמן