Chullin 76b

חולין ע״ו ע״ב

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

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Topic

The צומת הגידין (its strands and how much cutting makes a טרפה), and a broken leg bone: where the break is, and how much skin and flesh must still cover it

Overview

The גמרא finishes defining the צומת הגידין, the bundle of sinews in the thigh. In an animal it has three strands, one thick and two thin. Two versions disagree on whether cutting the thick one or the two thin ones makes the animal a טרפה. In birds there are sixteen strands, and cutting even one makes it a טרפה. רב and שמואל then argue over how much must be cut, and the גמרא gives two versions of their exchange, compared with רבנאי's report of שמואל. Next comes the משנה's broken leg bone. רב says a break above the ארכובה with most of the flesh gone makes the animal a טרפה. שמואל says only the limb is forbidden. After a back-and-forth, the ruling from ארץ ישראל follows רב, and we learn that שמואל himself took back his view. The amud ends with a bone that broke and came out of the body. The גמרא discusses how much must stay covered and whether skin counts like flesh. It then starts a case of soft sinews before רבה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. StatementThe sinews count once they look clear, even before they turn white
2. StatementThree strands: losing either the bulk or the count makes it a טרפה
3. StatementThe lenient version: something always remains
4. StatementBirds have sixteen strands, and cutting even one makes a טרפה
5. ProofA story: fifteen strands that turned out to be sixteen
6. Statementרב: cutting most of just one strand makes it a טרפה
7. Challengeשמואל: even if one strand is fully cut, two still remain
8. ConclusionInference from שמואל's objection: two strands must remain
9. StatementThis version clashes with רבנאי's report of שמואל
10. StatementSecond version: 'most' means most of each strand
11. Challengeשמואל objects: a third of each strand is enough
12. ProofThis version matches רבנאי's report
13. StatementQuoting the משנה: if the bone was broken
14. Statementרב: above or below the knee joint makes a difference
15. Statementשמואל's ruling: the animal stays kosher either way
16. Challengeרב נחמן worries that people will be misled
17. ChallengeThe same worry applies to רב too
18. Resolutionרב נחמן explains which limb he meant
19. ConclusionThe ruling from ארץ ישראל goes back and forth, then follows רב
20. Challengeרב חסדא challenges the ruling from רבי מאיר's words about a dangling limb
21. Challengeרבה suggests a stronger challenge from the משנה
22. Rejectionרב חסדא explains why the משנה is not a strong challenge
23. Statementרבי זירא hears רב's ruling taught in ארץ ישראל and says it was taught in בבל too
24. QuestionWho is אריוך? שמואל
25. ChallengeBut שמואל disagrees with רב
26. Resolutionשמואל took back his view and agreed with רב
27. StatementA broken bone that comes out: is it covered?
28. QuestionHow much counts as most of the bone?
29. ResponseTwo versions: thickness or circumference
30. ConclusionWe require both measurements
31. StatementSkin counts just like flesh
32. ChallengeShouldn't skin only join together with flesh?
33. ResolutionOur version reads 'skin or flesh'
34. StatementSecond version: skin joins with flesh
35. ChallengeShouldn't skin only finish off the flesh?
36. ProofA real case: רבי יצחק's young bird
37. RejectionA young bird is different
38. StatementA case of soft sinews comes before רבה
39. Proofרבה's first reason begins with a teaching of רבי יוחנן