Chullin

Scripture here came and provided a positive precept as a remedy for1 the [disregarded] prohibition to indicate that the prohibition is not punishable by stripes: so R. Judah.2 R. Jacob says. This is not the reason,3 but because it is a prohibition which involves no action [in the contravention thereof], and any prohibition which involves no action [in the contravention thereof] is not punishable by stripes. 4 Come and hear: If a person ate two sciatic nerves from the two [right] thighs of two animals, he has incurred eighty stripes. R. Judah says: He has only incurred forty stripes. Now what are the circumstances of the case? If you say [that he ate them] one after the other and that there were two warnings, then what is the reason of R. Judah who says that he has incurred forty stripes and no more? Obviously then [he ate them] together and there was only one warning. Now whose view is expressed by the first Tanna? If you say that of the Rabbis who differ with Symmachos, but surely if there [in our Mishnah] where there are separate prohibitions the Rabbis exempt [the wrongdoer from an additional penalty], how much more so in this case. Hence it is, no doubt, that of Symmachos! — No. I maintain [that he ate them] one after the other; but when you ask, ‘Then what is R. Judah's reason?’5 [I reply that] in this case one was not as much as an olive's bulk.6 For it has been taught: If a person ate [the whole of] it but it was not as much as an olive's bulk, he is liable. R. Judah says, [He is not liable] unless it was as much as an olive's bulk.7 MISHNAH. AT FOUR PERIODS IN THE YEAR HE WHO SELLS A BEAST TO ANOTHER MUST INFORM HIM, I SOLD TO-DAY ITS DAM TO BE SLAUGHTERED’, OR. ‘I SOLD TO-DAY ITS YOUNG TO BE SLAUGHTERED’,8 NAMELY, ON THE EVE OF THE LAST DAY9 OF THE FEAST [OF TABERNACLES], ON THE EVE OF THE FIRST DAY OF PASSOVER, ON THE EVE OF PENTECOST, AND ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR; ACCORDING TO R. JOSE THE GALILEAN, ALSO ON THE EVE OF THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, IN GALILEE.10 R. JUDAH SAYS, THIS IS SO, ONLY WHEN THERE WAS NO INTERVAL,11 BUT IF THERE WAS AN INTERVAL. HE NEED NOT INFORM HIM. YET R. JUDAH AGREES THAT IF HE SOLD THE DAM TO THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE YOUNG TO THE BRIDE, HE MUST INFORM THEM OF IT, FOR IT IS CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL EACH SLAUGHTER [THEIR BEAST] ON THE SAME DAY. AT THESE FOUR PERIODS A BUTCHER CAN BE COMPELLED TO SLAUGHTER A BEAST AGAINST HIS WILL; EVEN IF THE OX WAS WORTH A THOUSAND DENARS12 AND THE PURCHASER HAS ONLY [PAID] A DENAR,13 THE BUTCHER IS COMPELLED TO SLAUGHTER IT. THEREFORE IF THE ANIMAL DIED, THE LOSS FALLS UPON THE PURCHASER.14 AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR IT IS NOT SO,15 THEREFORE IF THE ANIMAL DIED, THE LOSS FALLS UPON THE SELLER. GEMARA. A Tanna taught: If he did not inform him, he [the Purchaser] may go and slaughter it without any hesitation whatsoever. R. JUDAH SAYS, THIS IS SO . . . [IF HE SOLD THE DAM TO THE BRIDEGROOM], etc. Why does he particularly state THE DAM TO THE BRIDEGROOM and THE YOUNG TO THE BRIDE? — He incidentally tells us that it is the proper thing for the bridegroom's family to make16 [greater festivities] than the bride's family. AT THESE FOUR PERIODS, etc. But he [the purchaser] has not drawn it into his possession?17 — R. Huna answered: We must assume that he had done so. If so, why [does it say] in the last clause, AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR IT IS NOT SO; THEREFORE IF THE ANIMAL DIED THE LOSS FALLS UPON THE SELLER? But he has already drawn [the animal] into his possession?18 — R. Samuel son of R. Isaac answered: In fact he had not drawn it into his possession, but here the case was that the seller had transferred [a portion to the purchaser] through a third party. Now at these four periods it is an advantage for him [to have meat],19 and it is an established rule20 that one may act to another's advantage in his absence; whereas at other times of the year it is a disadvantage for him21 and one may not act to another's disadvantage save in his presence. R. Eliezer answered in the name of R. Johanan that at these four periods the Rabbis adopted the Biblical law. For R. Johanan has said: By Biblical law, [the payment of] money confers title. Why then was it decreed that only meshikah22 confers title? As a precautionary measure, lest he [the vendor] say to him [the purchaser]. ‘Your wheat was burnt in the loft’.23 MISHNAH. THE ‘ONE DAY’24 MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE LAW OF ‘IT AND ITS YOUNG’ MEANS THE DAY AND THE NIGHT PRECEDING IT.25 THIS WAS EXPOUNDED BY R. SIMEON B. ZOMA: THE EXPRESSION ‘ONE DAY’ IS MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CREATION26 AND ALSO IN CONNECTION WITH THE LAW OF ‘IT AND ITS YOUNG’. AS THE ‘ONE DAY’ MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CREATION MEANS THE DAY AND THE NIGHT PRECEDING IT, SO TOO THE ‘ONE DAY’ MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE LAW OF ‘IT AND ITS YOUNG’ MEANS THE DAY AND THE NIGHT PRECEDING IT. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: This was expounded by R. Simeon b. Zoma: Since the whole passage deals only with the laws concerning consecrated animals,27 and with regard to consecrated matters [a day means] the day and the night following it,28 I might have thought that here also it is the same, it is therefore written here ‘one day’ and also ‘one day’ in connection with the Creation, as the ‘one day’ mentioned in connection with the Creation means the day and the night preceding it, so, too, the ‘one day’ mentioned in connection with the law of ‘It and its young’ means the day and the night preceding it. even though the warning in this case is a dubious one, for whenever warned the offender could reply. ‘It is still night and I have yet time to eat it’. by stripes. Judah, therefore, he only incurs forty stripes. According to the Rabbis, however, if a man ate the entire sciatic nerve, even though in all it was not as much as an olive's bulk, being a distinct entity, he is liable. The Rabbis therefore hold that in the above case he incurs eighty stripes. meat prepared for the Festival that is on the following day. This information is necessary in order to avoid the slaughtering of the dam and its young on the same day celebrations and feasting. On the eve of the commencement of the Feast of Tabernacles, Israelites are usually preoccupied with the erection of ‘booths’ and would not find time for purchasing and slaughtering animals. the goods had not left the vendor's possession, the latter would not trouble to save them if they caught fire. The Rabbis therefore decreed that the ownership should not pass until there had been a meshikah by the purchaser, for then the purchaser would usually carry away the goods with him. the other hand, if he slaughtered the dam during the day, he may as soon as the night sets in slaughter the young. unto the Lord. offering; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. Thus it may be eaten the whole of the night following the day.