Gemara Clarity

Chullin 55a

חולין נ״ה ע״א

Learn Chullin 55a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 55a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How 'עד' is read in measures, and טרפה rulings about the spleen and kidneys

Overview

The amud opens by asking whether the word 'עד' (up to) includes the final number. The גמרא tests this with a משנה about broken clay vessels, which gives three size ranges: up to a לוג, from a לוג to a סאה, and from a סאה to two סאה. Each proof is pushed back, because each endpoint could belong to the upper range instead. Then a ברייתא says outright that each endpoint counts with the lower range. The גמרא answers with רבי יוחנן's rule that all שיעורי חכמים are read strictly, except the כגריס of כתמים. A ברייתא about a bed-rope supports this rule. Next the גמרא turns to the טחול: רב עוירא says a removed טחול is kosher but a pierced one makes the animal a טרפה. It defends him against a challenge from a משנה with two different answers. Finally it brings רב's ruling that disease in even one kidney makes the animal a טרפה, and a limit on that ruling from ארץ ישראל that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שִׁיעוּרָן בִּכְדֵי סִיכַת קָטָן

their measure is enough to anoint a small child

וְעַד לוֹג.

and this applies up to a log.

מַאי לָאו לוֹג כִּלְמַטָּה?

Is it not that a vessel of exactly a log is like below?

לֹא, לוֹג כִּלְמַעְלָה.

No, a log is like above.

The steps (15)

  1. ProofProof attempt from the first range: up to a לוג
  2. RejectionRejection: a לוג may belong to the upper range
  3. ProofSecond proof attempt: from a לוג to a סאה
  4. RejectionRejection: a סאה may belong to the upper range
  5. ProofThird proof attempt: from a סאה to two סאה
  6. RejectionRejection: two סאה may belong to the upper range
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא says outright that every endpoint counts with the lower range
  8. ResolutionThere 'up to' included the endpoint because that was stricter
  9. ProofSupport from the bed-rope ruling
  10. StatementRemoved spleen is kosher, but a pierced one is not
  11. ChallengeChallenge from cutting pieces off the spleen
  12. ResolutionThe animal is forbidden too; the wording just matches the earlier clause
  13. ResolutionA pierced spleen and a cut spleen are different cases
  14. StatementDisease in even one kidney makes the animal a טרפה
  15. Statementארץ ישראל limits the kidney ruling