Gemara Clarity

Chullin 91a

חולין צ״א ע״א

Learn Chullin 91a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Chullin 91a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Whether רבי יהודה is sure which thigh's גיד הנשה is forbidden, his sources for the right thigh, and aggadot about יעקב's wrestling

Overview

רבי יהודה holds that גיד הנשה is forbidden in only one thigh. The גמרא asks whether he is sure it is the right thigh or unsure which one. רב אשי and רבינא push away a proof from the burning of sinews of a קרבן פסח: the burning could be for the fat, or for the outer nerve, which is only forbidden מדרבנן. A proof from a משנה about lashes uses the rule that רבי יהודה holds an התראת ספק does not count. That proof is turned aside, because another report of רבי יהודה, learned from the case of leftover פסח meat, says it does count. A ברייתא about two nerves from two thighs of two animals then proves that רבי יהודה is sure. His giving only forty lashes is explained by one nerve being smaller than a כזית. The גמרא gives several sources for the right thigh: the word 'הַיָּרֵךְ', and pictures of how the מלאך wrestled with יעקב. The רבנן say the מלאך came from behind and struck both thighs. The amud ends with aggadic teachings about the name גיד הנשה, יוסף's brothers, יעקב staying behind for small jars, and the rule that a תלמיד חכם should not go out alone at night. The source for that last rule continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר:

Rav Ashi said:

לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא לְשׇׁמְנוֹ,

It is needed only for its fat,

דְּתַנְיָא: שׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר,

as it is taught: its fat is permitted,

וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשִׁים נָהֲגוּ בּוֹ אִיסּוּר.

but the Jewish people are holy and treated it as forbidden.

The steps (30)

  1. Rejectionרב אשי: the burning is needed for the fat
  2. Rejectionרבינא: the burning is needed for the outer nerve
  3. ProofA new source: lashes for eating from both nerves
  4. ProofUnsure would mean an uncertain warning
  5. ProofSource: striking or cursing two possible fathers
  6. RejectionOur משנה follows a different report of רבי יהודה
  7. ProofProof from leftover קרבן פסח meat
  8. Statementרבי יעקב gives a different reason for no lashes
  9. ProofA ברייתא about two nerves from two animals
  10. ConclusionThe wording shows רבי יהודה is certain
  11. ChallengeThen why only forty lashes?
  12. ResolutionOne nerve was smaller than a כזית
  13. QuestionWhat is רבי יהודה's source?
  14. Response"הַיָּרֵךְ" means the most important thigh
  15. ResponseHow the רבנן read the word 'the thigh'
  16. ResponseWrestling: the hand reaches the right thigh
  17. ResponseThe angel looked like a גוי
  18. ResponseThe angel looked like a Torah scholar
  19. ResponseThe רבנן: the angel came from behind and struck both thighs
  20. QuestionWhat do the רבנן learn from 'as he wrestled with him'?
  21. ResponseThe dust of the fight rose to the Throne of Glory
  22. StatementWhy it is called גיד הנשה
  23. StatementThe איסור of גיד הנשה spread to all of ישראל
  24. Statementיוסף's steward slaughters and removes the גיד הנשה in front of the brothers
  25. StatementThis fits the view that גיד הנשה was forbidden to בני נח
  26. Statementיעקב stayed behind for small jars
  27. QuestionWhy do צדיקים care so much about their money?
  28. ResponseBecause they never take what is not theirs
  29. StatementA תלמיד חכם should not go out alone at night
  30. Proofרבי אבא בר כהנא gives a different source