Chullin

According to Hananiah, however, [the implication of the verse is this]: It says: ‘it’, which indicates the male parent, and it also says: ‘its young’, which relates to that parent to whom the young clings; hence it is clear that the law applies both to the male and female parent. R. Huna b. Hiyya said in the name of Samuel: The halachah1 is in accordance with Hananiah's view. Moreover, Samuel is consistent in his opinion. For we have learnt: R. Judah says. The offspring of a mare, even though their sire was an ass, are permitted [to interbreed];2 but the offspring of a she-ass may not [interbreed] with the offspring of a mare. But Rab Judah had stated in the name of Samuel that this was the view of R. Judah only. who maintained that we do not take into consideration the seed of the male parent,3 the Sages however say. All mules are one kind. Who is meant by the ‘Sages’? It is Hananiah, who maintains that we must take into consideration the seed of the male parent; accordingly the one is the offspring of a mare and an ass-stallion and the other is the offspring of a she-ass and a horse, but they are both one kind.4 The question was raised: Was R. Judah certain that we do not take into consideration the seed of the male parent or was he in doubt about it? What practical difference would this make? — On the question of permitting the offspring5 to breed with the [species of the] dam. If you say that he [R. Judah] was certain of it, then the offspring is permitted to breed with the [species of the] dam; but if you say that he was in doubt about it, then it is forbidden for the offspring to breed with the [species of the] dam.6 What [is to be said about this]? — Come and hear. R. Judah says. All the offspring of a mare, even though their sire was an ass, are permitted to interbreed. Now what are the circumstances of the case? If you say that the sire of this offspring was an ass-stallion and of that also an ass-stallion; then was it necessary to state this?7 You must therefore say that the sire of this offspring was a horse and of that an ass-stallion,8 and [R. Judah] declares that they may interbreed, hence is it clear that he [R. Judah] was certain about it!9 — It is not so. I still say that the sire of this offspring was an ass-stallion and of that also an ass-stallion, and as to your retort, ‘Was it necessary to state this?’ [I reply that] you might have argued that the horse in the one copulates with the ass in the other, and the ass in the one copulates with the horse in the other;10 he therefore teaches us [that it is not so]. Come and hear: R. Judah says: If a mule was on heat it may not be mated with a horse or an ass, but only with one of its own kind. Now if you say that [R. Judah] was certain about it, why may it not be mated with the species of its dam? — Because we know not the species of its dam. But it says ‘Only with one of its own kind’!11 — It means this: It may not be mated with any kind of horse12 or any kind of ass, because we do not know its true species.13 Then let us examine it by the following signs? For Abaye has stated: If its voice is harsh, it is the offspring of a she-ass; if its voice is shrill, it is the offspring of a mare. And R. Papa has stated: If its ears are long and its tail short, it is the offspring of a she-ass; if its ears are short and its tail long, it is the offspring of a mare! — We must suppose here that it was dumb and mutilated.14 What has been decided then? — Come and hear: R. Huna the son of R. Joshua said: All agree that the offspring is forbidden to breed with the dam. Hence it is clear that [R. Judah] was in doubt about it. This proves it. R. Abba said to his servant, ‘When you harness the mules to my carriage see that they are very like each other15 and then harness them’. This shows that he is of the opinion that we do not take into consideration the seed of the male parent;16 therefore, the offspring of a mare may not interbreed with the offspring of a she-ass. For the prohibition, cf. Lev. XIX. 19. interbreed. The fact that Samuel gives this view of Hananiah as that of the Sages proves that he accepts it as the halachah. and an ass-stallion, may breed with a mare. certainly interbreed, whether we take into consideration the seed of the male parent or not. determines the species of the offspring, and the species of the sire is immaterial. with the half ass in the other, and vice versa, hence there is breeding of diverse kinds which would be forbidden. the abovementioned criteria. to be harnessed since each is part horse and part ass.