Soncino English Talmud
Chullin
Daf 56b
with a straw of wheat.1 R. Shizbi said: Our geese are regarded as water birds. 2 IF IT FELL INTO THE FIRE. R. Johanan said on the authority of R. Jose b. Joshua: The size of the green patch [on any of the internal organs required to render a bird trefah] is the same as the size of the hole. Just as a hole, however small, [renders trefah], so does a green patch, however small, [render trefah]. R. Joseph, son of R. Joshua b. Levi, asked R. Joshua b. Levi: What is the law if that part of the liver which lies in front of the entrails turned green? — He replied: It would be trefah. But, retorted the other, it should not be worse than if the liver was gone?3 — Raba answered: Since the part of the liver which lies in front of the entrails has turned green, one can be certain that the bird had fallen into the fire and its internal organs had been scorched; it is therefore trefah. R. Joshua b. Levi had a hen which he sent to R. Eleazar ha-Kappar Beribbi.4 He replied. They5 are still green; and he declared it permitted. But we have learnt: IF THEY TURNED GREEN IT IS INVALID! — They said: IF THEY TURNED GREEN IT IS INVALID, only with regard to the gizzard, the heart, or the liver6 There is also a Baraitha that supports this, viz., With regard to which organs did they state the rule [that if they turned green it was invalid]? Only with regard to the gizzard, the heart, or the liver. R. Isaac b. Joseph had a hen which he sent to R. Abbahu.4 He replied. They5 have turned red; and he declared it trefah. But we have learnt: IF THEY REMAINED RED IT IS VALID! — He replied, [The rule is:] If organs which are normally red turned green, or organs which are normally green turned red [it is trefah]; for they said: IF THEY REMAINED RED IT IS VALID, only with regard to the heart, the gizzard, or the liver. R. Samuel b. Hiyya said in the name of R. Mani: If organs which are normally red turned green [on the hen falling into the fire], but after being cooked turned again to red, it is valid. Why? For it was merely the smoke that had entered into them [and had discoloured them temporarily]. R. Nahman b. Isaac remarked: Then we too can say likewise: If organs which are normally red did not turn green [on the hen falling into the fire], but after being cooked were found to have turned green, it is invalid. Why? Their shame has only now been brought to light!7 Therefore, said R. Ashi, one should not eat [a hen that had fallen into the fire] without first cooking the internal organs.8 But this is not right, for we do not assume any taint [without cause].9 IF ONE TROD UPON IT OR KNOCKED IT AGAINST A WALL . . . IT IS VALID. R. Eleazar b. Antigonos said in the name of R. Eleazar son of R. Jannai: In each case the bird must be examined.10 MISHNAH. AND THE FOLLOWING [DEFECTS] DO NOT RENDER BIRDS TREFAH: IF THE WINDPIPE WAS PIERCED OR SLIT LENGTHWISE; IF A WEASEL STRUCK IT ON THE HEAD IN SUCH A PLACE AS WOULD NOT RENDER IT TREFAH;11 IF THE CROP WAS PIERCED (RABBI SAYS, EVEN IF IT WAS GONE); IF THE ENTRAILS PROTRUDED [FROM THE BODY] BUT WERE NOT PIERCED; IF ITS WINGS WERE BROKEN, OR ITS LEGS; OR IF ITS FEATHERS WERE PLUCKED OUT. R. JUDAH SAYS, IF ITS DOWN12 WAS GONE IT IS INVALID. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: It is related of R. Simai and R. Zadok that when they were on their way to Lydda in order to intercalate the year they spent the Sabbath at Ono,13 and they ruled concerning the womb as Rabbi concerning the crop. It was asked: Does it mean, they ruled that if the womb was gone it was forbidden.14 and they also ruled, like Rabbi, that if the crop was gone it was permitted? Or, does it mean, they ruled that if the womb was gone it was permitted just as Rabbi rules concerning the crop, but in the case of the crop they do not agree with Rabbi's ruling?15 — It remains undecided. Rabbah, others say R. Joshua b. Levi, said: The top of the crop is regarded as the gullet.16 Where is this? — R. Bibi b. Abaye said: It is that part of the crop at which point it begins to elongate. 17 IF THE ENTRAILS PROTRUDED. R. Samuel b. R. Isaac said: The Mishnah refers only to the case where they were not twisted18 [when put back], but if they were twisted [when put back] it would be trefah, for it is written: Hath He not made thee and established thee?19 which implies that the Holy One, blessed be He, created in man every organ on its foundation,20 so that if any one organ is twisted man cannot live. It was taught: R. Meir used to expound this verse as follows: Hath He not made thee and established thee? [Israel is] a community21 wherein all [classes] are to be found: out of them come their priests, out of them their prophets, out of them their princes, out of them their kings, as it is written: Out of them shall come forth the corner-stone, out of them the stake etc. 22 A gentile23 once saw a man fall from the roof to the ground so that his belly burst open and his entrails protruded. [The gentile] thereupon brought the son [of the victim] and by an optical illusion made out as if he slaughtered him in the presence of the father.24 bird. the spinal cord has not been severed. only make one decision and that with regard to the womb? to form into the tube of the oesophagus. entrails, thus they would be replaced without the aid of the hand of man.
Sefaria