Chullin 51b

חולין נ״א ע״ב

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

Open Chullin 51b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The worry of crushed limbs (ריסוקי אברים): newborns, animals that fell, and birds that fell onto water or other surfaces

Overview

The גמרא first asks whether the squeezing of birth might crush a newborn's limbs (ריסוקי אברים). It tries three proofs that there is no such worry. The first two are pushed off as cases of a caesarean birth (יוצא דופן). The third, about a בכור, cannot be a caesarean birth, so the גמרא explains it as a newborn that stood firmly on its legs. רב נחמן then rules that an animal thrown down in the slaughterhouse is not suspected of crushed limbs. A story about a bull that fell loudly backs this up with רב's teaching that a falling animal digs in its hooves. Next comes a fallen animal that got up: if it stood, it needs no 24-hour wait but needs בדיקה, and if it walked, the final הלכה is that it needs no בדיקה at all. The גמרא then asks where the בדיקה is done, and says the סימנין need no checking. Last, it turns to birds: one that fell onto water and swam by its own strength is fine, and a long list shows which landing surfaces are hard enough to raise a worry.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. ProofProof from a newborn baby who becomes impure through זיבה
2. RejectionPushing off the proof: a caesarean birth
3. ProofProof from a calf born on יום טוב
4. RejectionSame answer: the calf was born by caesarean
5. ProofProof from a בכור born with its blemish
6. ChallengeThe caesarean answer cannot work for a בכור
7. ResolutionThe firstborn stood firmly on the ground
8. StatementNo worry of crushed limbs in the slaughterhouse
9. StatementThe bull that fell and bellowed
10. QuestionThe רבנן ask for his source
11. ResponseThe animal digs in its hooves as it falls
12. StatementAn animal that fell and then stood or walked
13. StatementEven if it walked, it needs checking
14. StatementStarting to stand or walk already counts
15. StatementEven struggling to stand counts
16. ConclusionThe final ruling for an animal that fell from a roof
17. StatementCheck the area of the intestines
18. StatementCheck the whole body cavity
19. QuestionDo the windpipe and gullet need checking?
20. ResponseThe סימנין are tough and don't need checking
21. StatementA bird that fell onto water and swam is fine
22. StatementOnly swimming upstream counts
23. StatementStanding water, and overtaking floating straw
24. StatementFalling onto a garment or a net
25. StatementFalling onto bundles of flax or reeds
26. StatementDifferent stages of processed flax
27. StatementPalm fibers, palm bark, and ashes