Chullin 6b

חולין ו׳ ע״ב

Learn Chullin 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Do we worry that an עם הארץ will secretly swap food? Two challenges, from the innkeeper and from the women grinding grain, are each answered by showing a special motive in that case.

Overview

Just before this, the גמרא explained that a mother-in-law is suspected of swapping food only because of a special motive. Now it asks whether we ever worry about swapping in general. It brings a משנה about an innkeeper suspected of swapping, and answers that she has a special motive: she wants the Torah student to eat her hot food. Next it brings a ברייתא about the wife of a חבר grinding grain with the wife of an עם הארץ, where רבי שמעון בן אלעזר says the עם הארץ's wife even hands out grain. The גמרא reasons that someone who steals would surely swap. רב יוסף answers that she too feels justified: 'the ox eats from its threshing.' The גמרא then turns to a story about רבי מאיר eating a vegetable leaf in בית שאן, which led רבי to permit all of בית שאן. When רבי's family objects that he is overturning their ancestors' practice, רבי begins his answer with the פסוק about חזקיהו breaking the copper snake. He asks why the righteous kings אסא and יהושפט had not already destroyed it, and his answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. ChallengeChallenge from the innkeeper who swaps food
2. ResolutionThe innkeeper also has a good motive
3. ChallengeChallenge from the women grinding grain
4. Statementרבי שמעון בן אלעזר: the other woman gives her grain to eat
5. ChallengeIf she steals, surely she swaps
6. Resolutionרב יוסף: she thinks the grinder deserves a share
7. StatementTestimony about רבי מאיר leads רבי to permit בית שאן
8. ChallengeThe family objects to changing an old practice
9. Resolutionרבי begins his answer with the פסוק of the copper snake
10. QuestionWhy did אסא and יהושפט not destroy the snake?