Chullin 53a

חולין נ״ג ע״א

Learn Chullin 53a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

דרוסה: which predators make an animal a טריפה, how the clawing must happen, and doubtful clawing (ספק דרוסה)

Overview

The גמרא explains that whether a cat or a weasel has דרוסה depends on the victim: birds, adult sheep, or kids and lambs. רב אשי asks whether non-kosher birds other than the hawk have דרוסה. The answer is yes, and the hawk is named in the משנה because it is stronger. Two versions follow about the fox, and they agree that a cat has דרוסה and a dog does not. אביי lists four conditions for real דרוסה: front leg, claw, on purpose, and a living attacker. He adds that the venom enters only when the claws are pulled out. רב rules that a claw found in an ox's back after a lion came in is only a ספק דרוסה, so the ox is permitted, and אביי narrows this ruling. Finally the גמרא brings the מחלוקת between רב and שמואל about ספק דרוסה and starts listing cases where everyone agrees we do not worry. That list continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (32)

1. QuestionFirst question: does a cat have the power of clawing?
2. Responseרב answers: even a weasel has clawing
3. QuestionSecond question: does a weasel have the power of clawing?
4. Responseרב answers: even a cat has no clawing
5. QuestionThird question: what about both the cat and the weasel?
6. Responseרב answers: a cat yes, a weasel no
7. ResolutionEach answer depends on the size of the victim
8. Questionרב אשי asks about other non-kosher birds
9. Responseרב הלל reports רב כהנא's answer: yes
10. ChallengeThe משנה mentions only the hawk
11. ResolutionThe hawk can harm a bird its own size
12. ResolutionSecond version: the hawk can harm even a bigger bird
13. StatementA fox has no דרוסה
14. ChallengeA story where the fox did count
15. ResolutionIt was really a cat
16. StatementSecond version: a fox does have דרוסה
17. ChallengeThe same story, where the fox did not count
18. ResolutionIt was really a dog
19. ProofA tradition that a dog has no דרוסה
20. StatementFour rules for what counts as דרוסה
21. ChallengeWhy say that clawing after death does not count?
22. ResolutionThe case of a paw cut off mid-attack
23. StatementA lion among oxen and a claw in one ox's back
24. ResponseThe reason: a lion that claws keeps its claw
25. ChallengeOn the contrary: the same logic points to the lion
26. ResolutionA tie, so the ox keeps its status
27. Conclusionרב follows his own known view
28. StatementOnly an actual moist claw removes the worry
29. StatementSeveral claws in a row bring back the worry
30. Statementרב and שמואל argue about an uncertain clawing
31. StatementEveryone agrees: no worry if it may not have entered, or may have been a dog
32. StatementEveryone agrees: a quiet, calmed, or just noisy predator