Chullin

IF TWO PERSONS HELD ONE KNIFE AND SLAUGHTERED [AN ANIMAL], ONE INTENDING IT AS A SACRIFICE TO ONE OF THESE THINGS AND THE OTHER FOR A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE, THE SLAUGHTERING IS INVALID. GEMARA. It is only invalid but it is not regarded as a sacrifice of the dead.1 I will point out a contradiction. [It was taught:] If a man slaughtered [an animal] as a sacrifice to mountains, hills, seas, rivers, deserts, the sun, the moon, the stars and planets. Michael the Archangel, or a small worm, it is regarded as a sacrifice of the dead!2 — Abaye explained. It is no difficulty. Here [in our Mishnah] he declared it to be a sacrifice to the mountain itself,3 but there he declared it to be a sacrifice to the deity of the mountain.4 There is indeed support for this view, for [in the Baraitha quoted] they are all stated together with ‘Michael the Archangel’. 5 This is conclusive. R. Huna stated: If his neighbour's beast was lying in front of an idol, then as soon as he has cut one of the organs of the throat he has thereby rendered it prohibited.6 He is evidently in agreement with the dictum of Ulla reported in the name of R. Johanan viz.. Although the Rabbis have declared that he who bowed down to his neighbour's beast has not rendered it prohibited, nevertheless if he performed on it an act7 [of idolatrous worship], he has thereby rendered it prohibited. R. Nahman raised this objection against R. Huna, [It was taught:] If a person [inadvertently] slaughtered on the Sabbath a sin-offering outside [the Temple Court] as a sacrifice to an idol, he is liable to three sin-offerings.8 Now if you say that as soon as he has cut one organ only he has rendered it prohibited, then he should not be liable on account of slaughtering outside, idols; v. A.Z. 45a. Hence sacrifices unto them are not sacrifices unto idols, and therefore the animal is not forbidden for use; it is however forbidden to be eaten since it has the appearance of idol worship. absolutely forbidden. the case of Michael it is an angel or spirit that is referred to. only by an act. It goes without saying that a man's own beast would be prohibited by this act. slaughtering unto idols.