Chullin 68b

חולין ס״ח ע״ב

Learn Chullin 68b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether a fetus's limb that went out of its mother and came back is permitted by her שחיטה: רב versus רבי יוחנן, and when a fetus counts as born.

Overview

This amud asks whether a fetus's leg that came out of its mother and went back in can be permitted by the mother's שחיטה. רב says such a limb stays forbidden. The גמרא defends רב against two ברייתות that seem to permit the limb. It reads 'permitted' as referring to the rest of the fetus or to the מקום חתך, and explains the second word in the פסוק as permitting a קלוט found inside a cow. Then עולא quotes רבי יוחנן, who says the limb itself is permitted, because only a חטאת stays forbidden after leaving its boundary and coming back. A ברייתא, as רבה explains it, compares meat that left its boundary to a טרפה, which can never become permitted again, so עולא is refuted. The גמרא then shows from a פסוק why מעשר שני and ביכורים are different. It brings the ארץ ישראל version of the dispute, where the question is whether a limb can be 'born' by itself, and shows the practical difference between the two versions. The amud ends with two questions about a fetus that came out bit by bit, and a proof attempt that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementEnd of the ברייתא: what impurity the meat gets
2. ChallengeThe first clause seems to permit the limb itself
3. ResolutionPermitted refers to the fetus, not the limb
4. ChallengeThe last clause makes that answer hard
5. ResolutionThe ruling is only about the place of the cut
6. Challengeאבימי's ברייתא seems to permit the returned hoof
7. ResolutionEat the fetus, not the hoof
8. ChallengeWhy mention returning if the fetus is permitted anyway?
9. Resolutionרב נחמן בר יצחק: the returning matters for the place of the cut
10. ChallengeTwo פסוקים suggest the limb itself is permitted
11. ResolutionThe second פסוק permits a קלוט inside a cow
12. ResolutionWhy a source is needed: רבי שמעון's view on a קלוט
13. Statementרבי יוחנן: the limb itself is permitted
14. Challengeרב יהודה objects: רב and שמואל forbid the limb
15. Resolutionעולא shows great respect for רב and שמואל
16. Proofרבי יוחנן's general rule from the verse about טרפה
17. ProofOnly a חטאת stays forbidden after it comes back
18. ChallengeA ברייתא challenges עולא
19. QuestionHow does the word 'טרפה' teach this?
20. Responseרבה: meat outside its boundary is like a טרפה
21. Conclusionעולא is refuted
22. QuestionWhere do we see that מעשר שני and ביכורים become permitted again?
23. ResponseThe source: 'You may not eat within your gates'
24. StatementThe version of the argument taught in ארץ ישראל
25. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two versions?
26. ResponseThe difference: the small part of the limb still inside
27. QuestionLimbs that come out and go back until most of the body has been out
28. QuestionLimbs that come out and are cut off until most of the body has come out
29. ProofOpening a proof attempt for the questions about partial birth