Chullin

R. Zera said in the name of Samuel: If one made a knife red-hot and slaughtered with it, the slaughtering is valid, because [the effect of] the sharp edge precedes [the effect of] the heat.1 But, what about the sides [of the knife]?2 — The cut opens wide.3 The following question was raised: If one made a spit red-hot and struck with it, is the resulting wound4 to be regarded as a boil5 or as a burning?6 But what is the difference between the two?7 Even as it has been taught: A boil and a burning, each is declared unclean within seven days by one of two symptoms: by white hair, or spreading.8 Why, then, did the Torah deal with them separately? To teach you that they cannot unite one with the other.9 And we have learnt: What is a boil, and what is a burning? A wound caused by wood, or stone, or olive-peat, or the hot springs of Tiberias, or any wound that is not caused by fire, including a wound caused by lead just taken from the mine, is a boil. And what is a burning? A burn caused by a live coal, or hot ashes, or boiling lime, or boiling gypsum, or any burn that is caused by fire, including a burn caused by water heated by fire, is a burning. And it was further taught: In the case of [a wound which is both] a boil and a burning, if the boil came first then the subsequent burning annuls the boil [and it is considered a burn]; but if the burning came first then the subsequent boil annuls the burn [and it is considered a boil]. Now the circumstances of our case are as follows: A man had a boil of the size of half a bean,10 and was struck close to it with a red-hot spit, another wound of the size of half a bean resulting, [making the whole wound the size of a whole bean]. In such a case how [are we to consider the resulting wound]? Did the force of the blow take effect first, and the burn caused by the glowing heat that followed annul the effect of the blow, so that the whole wound is composed of a boil and a burning [each to the extent of half a bean] which do not unite [to make him unclean]? Or did the glowing heat take effect first, and the force of the blow that followed annul the effect of the glowing heat, and consequently the whole wound is composed of two boils [each to the extent of half a bean] which unite [to make him unclean]? Come and hear: R. Zera said in the name of Samuel: If one made a knife red-hot and slaughtered with it, the slaughtering is valid, because the effect of the sharp edge precedes the effect of the heat. It thus proves that the force of the blow precedes [the glowing heat]! — No; in the case of a sharp edge it is different.11 Come and hear: If one was struck with a red-hot spit, the resulting wound is regarded as a ‘burning by fire’.12 It thus proves that the force of the blow precedes [the glowing heat]. — No; here too, the wound was made by a thrust with the point, which is a sharp edge.13 R. Nahman said in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha: A knife which has been used in connection with idolatrous services14 may be used for slaughtering, but it may not be used for cutting up meat — ‘It may be used for slaughtering’, for thereby one impairs [the value];15 ‘but it may not be used for cutting up meat’, for thereby one enhances [the value],16 Raba remarked: There are times when one may not slaughter with it, to wit, if the animal is at the point of death;17 and there are times when one may cut up meat with it, to wit, if the meat was in large pieces intended for a present.18 But should not the prohibition thereof be considered on account of the forbidden fat? 19 scorching of the gullet would invalidate the slaughtering. which has been stretched taut, has been cut; therefore only the sharp edge touches the throat, but not the sides of the knife. the law as to boils and burns and provides an illustration of such a case. of a burning or a boil, by which one is declared unclean as a leper. V. Lev. XIII, 18-28. Furthermore, if these wounds remained stationary for seven days they are declared clean, whereas with other leprous wounds it is necessary to keep them under observation for a further seven days. V. Lev. XIII, 5. cannot unite; e.g., a boil the size of half a bean next to a burning also the size of half a bean cannot unite to form together a leprous wound the size of a whole bean and make one unclean as a leper. said that the heat follows the blow, but not elsewhere. ploughing, and for food, but slaughtered, it has only its food value. become carrion (which may not be eaten). that it has absorbed in the past. This forbidden fat would now be imparted into the meat.