Saturday, April 29, 2006

Chullin 59a-b

Dispute regarding zoology:

חולין נט.-נט: (ש"ס ווילנא); ז"ל

ת"ר אלו הן סימני חיה חיה בכלל בהמה היא לסימנין אמר רבי זירא להתיר חלבה והכי קאמר אלו הן סימני חיה שחלבה מותר כל שיש לה קרנים וטלפים רבי דוסא אומר יש לה קרנים אי אתה צריך לחזור על טלפים יש לה טלפים צריך אתה לחזור על קרנים וקרש אע"פ שאין לו אלא קרן אחת מותר כללא הוא והרי עז דיש לו קרנים וטלפים וחלבו אסור כרוכות בעינן והרי שור דכרוכות וחלבו אסור חרוקות בעינן והרי עז דחרוקות וחלבו אסור מפוצלות בעינן והרי צבי דאין מפוצלות וחלבו מותר חדורות בעינן הלכך היכא דמיפצלא לא דינא ולא דיינא היכא דלא מיפצלא בעינן כרוכות חדורות וחרוקות והוא דמיבלע חירקייהו והיינו ספיקא דעיזא כרכוז. עכ"ל


Our Rabbis taught: The following are the characteristics of wild animals ... But surely the wild animal is included under cattle with regard to the characteristics [of cleanness]! – R. Zera said, [It must be distinguished from cattle] in order that its fat be permitted to be eaten. And it should read thus: The following are the characteristics of wild animals whose fat is permitted: All that have horns and [sharp pointed] hoofs. R. Dosa says, Those that have horns need not be examined as to their hoofs, but those that have [sharp pointed] hoofs must still be examined as to their horns. And the Keresh, though it has but one horn, is permitted. But is this a general rule? Behold the goat has horns and [sharp pointed] hoofs, nevertheless its fat is forbidden! – We mean horns that are rounded. But are not the horns of an ox rounded, yet its fat is forbidden? – We mean horns that are notched. But are not the horns of the goat notched, nevertheless its fat is forbidden? – We mean horns that are forked. But the horns of the deer are not forked, nevertheless its fat is permitted! – We mean horns that are pointed. Therefore, if its horns are forked, there is no question at all about it [i.e., it is certainly a wild animal]. But if they are not forked, we then require them to be rounded and pointed and also notched, and the notches must run one into the other. This indeed is the doubt in connection with the Karkuz goat[: it has all the characteristics of wild animals save that it bears the name 'goat' (Rashi)]. [translation by Eli Cashdan in The Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Dr. I. Epstein, ed., Seder Kodashim Vol. III (Hullin I), London: Soncino, 1948]

(Reference from Rabbi Chizkiyah da Silva, Pri Chadash, Yoreh De'a 80:2.)

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