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Chullin 76a

חולין ע״ו ע״א

Learn Chullin 76a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The משנה on an animal whose legs were cut off or broken, which ארכובה (leg joint) is meant, and the exact definition of צומת הגידין.

Overview

The משנה teaches that if an animal's leg is cut off below the ארכובה (leg joint), it stays כשרה, but a cut above it makes it a טרפה. The same is true if the צומת הגידין, the place where the leg sinews come together, is removed. If a bone breaks but the limb still hangs on, the question is whether most of the flesh around the break is intact. The גמרא asks which joint the משנה means: רבי חייא says the lower joint, sold with the head, and עולא in the name of רבי אושעיא says the upper joint, which sticks out on a camel. עולא challenges רב יהודה on why the משנה mentions צומת הגידין, and רב יהודה's answers fail because of the משנה's exact wording. רב פפא gives a different version of the discussion in which everyone agrees on the upper joint, and רב אשי teaches that טרפות cannot be compared to one another by logic. The גמרא then defines exactly where צומת הגידין is. It brings several opinions, including שמואל's rule: from where the sinews bunch together until where they spread out. אביי gives the size: four טפחים in an ox. He also gives signs that hold for every animal: sinews that stick out and are hard, thick and white are included.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳

MISHNAH:

בְּהֵמָה שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ רַגְלֶיהָ

An animal whose legs were cut off:

מִן הָאַרְכּוּבָּה וּלְמַטָּה – כְּשֵׁרָה

from the leg joint and below, it is kosher;

מִן הָאַרְכּוּבָּה וּלְמַעְלָה – פְּסוּלָה

from the leg joint and above, it is invalid (a טריפה);

The steps (27)

  1. StatementLegs cut off below or above the joint, and the cord of sinews
  2. StatementA broken bone: does the slaughter cover the limb?
  3. StatementWhat 'below' and 'above' mean
  4. QuestionWhich joint is the משנה talking about?
  5. ResponseThe joint sold with the head
  6. StatementA second view: the joint that stands out on a camel
  7. Challengeעולא asks why the משנה mentions the convergence of sinews
  8. Resolutionרב יהודה says the משנה teaches two separate cases
  9. Challengeעולא points to the word 'were cut' and רב יהודה falls silent
  10. ResolutionAfterward, רב יהודה thinks of a better answer
  11. Rejectionרב יהודה realizes the new answer would also fail
  12. Statementרב פפא's version of רב יהודה's teaching
  13. ChallengeHow can a higher cut be safe but a lower cut deadly?
  14. Resolutionטרפות cannot be compared to each other
  15. QuestionWhich sinews count as the convergence of sinews?
  16. ResponseThree opinions on where the sinews meet
  17. StatementA sage says the sinews of the ערקומא itself count
  18. Rejectionרבי אבא rejects that view: it is where butchers cut
  19. ConclusionThis matches רב אסי's view
  20. Statementשמואל: it is where the sinews bunch together
  21. QuestionHow far does it go?
  22. Responseרב יעקב: from where they join until where they spread out
  23. QuestionHow long is that in actual size?
  24. Responseאביי: four טפחים in an ox
  25. QuestionWhat about a small animal?
  26. Responseאביי: prominent sinews count, sunken ones do not
  27. StatementMore signs: hard, thick and white sinews count