The gemara continues to extrapolate verses related to the fight between Yaakov and the angel. They also extrapolate the dream of Pharoah’s butler in eight different ways. The gemara then returns to the sciatic nerve – why is it not forbidden in birds? Which part of the nerve is forbidden?
Chullin 92
02.27.2019 | כ״ב באדר א׳ תשע״ט
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Chullin 92
״בָּרוּךְ״ – אוֹפַנִּים הוּא דְּאָמְרִי לֵיהּ. וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְיְהִיב רְשׁוּתָא, אִתְיְהִיב.
The Gemara answers that it is the ofanim who say the verse: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place,” as the next verse mentions “the noise of the ofanim” (Ezekiel 3:13), and Rav Ḥanina’s statement citing Rav was referring not to ofanim but to ministering angels. And if you wish, say that once permission has been given to them to mention the name of God after three words when they say: “Holy, holy, holy,” permission is also given to them to mention the name of God again while praising Him even after fewer than three words.
״וַיָּשַׂר אֶל מַלְאָךְ וַיֻּכָל בָּכָה וַיִּתְחַנֶּן לוֹ״ – אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי נַעֲשָׂה שַׂר לְמִי, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים״ – הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר יַעֲקֹב נַעֲשָׂה שַׂר לַמַּלְאָךְ.
The Gemara continues to discuss Jacob wrestling with the angel. The prophet states: “So he strove [vayyasar] with an angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him; at Beth El he would find him, and there he would speak with us” (Hosea 12:5). From this verse I do not know who became master [sar], i.e., was victorious, over whom. When another verse states: “And he said: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with angels and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29), you must say that Jacob became master over the angel.
״בָּכָה וַיִּתְחַנֶּן לוֹ״ – אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי בָּכָה לְמִי, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְּחֵנִי״, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: מַלְאָךְ בָּכָה לְיַעֲקֹב.
The verse in Hosea states: “He wept, and made supplication to him.” From this verse I do not know who cried to whom. When another verse states: “And he said: Let me go, for the dawn has risen” (Genesis 32:27), you must say that the angel cried to Jacob.
״כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים״, אָמַר רַבָּה: רֶמֶז רָמַז לוֹ שֶׁעֲתִידִים שְׁנֵי שָׂרִים לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, רֹאשׁ גּוֹלָה שֶׁבְּבָבֶל וְנָשִׂיא שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִכָּאן רָמַז לוֹ גָּלוּת.
The verse states: “And he said: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with angels [elohim] and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29). Rabba says: The angel intimated to Jacob that in the future two princes would emerge from him: They are the Exilarch who is in Babylonia and the Nasi who is in Eretz Yisrael. And from here he also intimated to Jacob that there would be an exile.
״וּבַגֶּפֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״, אָמַר רַב חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרֵי גֵּאִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּכׇל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, פְּעָמִים שֶׁשְּׁנַיִם כָּאן וְאֶחָד בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, פְּעָמִים שֶׁשְּׁנַיִם בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶחָד כָּאן. יְהִיבוּ רַבָּנַן עֵינַיְיהוּ בְּרַבָּנָא עוּקְבָא וְרַבָּנָא נְחֶמְיָה בְּנֵי בְרַתֵּיה דְּרַב.
Similarly, with regard to the dream of Pharaoh’s butler, the verse states: “And in the vine were three branches [sarigim]; and as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10). Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba says that Rav says: These three branches refer to the three proud princes [sarei ge’im] who emerge from the Jewish people in each and every generation. There are times when two are here in Babylonia and one is in Eretz Yisrael, and there are times when two are in Eretz Yisrael and one is here in Babylonia. When this was stated in the study hall, the Sages present turned their eyes toward Rabbana Ukva and Rabbana Neḥemya, the sons of the daughter of Rav, who were from the family of the Exilarch and were two leaders of the generation who resided in Babylonia.
רָבָא אָמַר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרֵי גוֹיִם, שֶׁמְלַמְּדִים זְכוּת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכׇל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
Rava says a different explanation of the verse: These three branches [sarigim] are the three ministering angels appointed to oversee the gentiles [sarei goyim], who plead in favor of the Jewish people in each and every generation.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה הָעוֹלָם, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שְׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ הָאִמָּהוֹת, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים.
It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says an alternate interpretation of the verse. “Vine”; this is a reference to the world. “Three branches”; this is a reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the matriarchs. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the twelve tribes, i.e., the twelve sons of Jacob.
אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: וְכִי מַרְאִין לוֹ לְאָדָם מַה שֶּׁהָיָה? וַהֲלֹא אֵין מַרְאִין לוֹ לְאָדָם אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת! אֶלָּא ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה תּוֹרָה, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – אֵלּוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְרִין, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: But is a person shown in a dream what was in the past? Isn’t it true that one is shown only what will be in the future? Since the patriarchs, matriarchs, and sons of Jacob were all born prior to this dream, the dream was not alluding to them. Rather, the verse should be interpreted as follows: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Torah. “Three branches”; these are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the members of the Sanhedrin. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the righteous people who live in each and every generation.
אָמַר רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: עֲדַיִין צְרִיכִין אָנוּ לַמּוֹדָעִי, דְּמוֹקֵים לֵיהּ כּוּלֵּיהּ בְּחַד מָקוֹם. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה מִקְדָּשׁ, מֶלֶךְ, וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ פִּרְחֵי כְהוּנָּה, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ נְסָכִים.
Rabban Gamliel said: In order to understand this verse (Genesis 40:10) we still need the explanation of Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i, who is an expert in matters of aggada, as he interprets all of the phrases in the verse as referring to one location. Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: “Vine”; this is a reference to Jerusalem. “Three branches”; this is a reference to the Temple, the king and the High Priest. “And as it was budding [poraḥat], its blossoms shot forth”; these are the young priests [pirḥei khehunna]. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the wine libations.
רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מוֹקֵים לַהּ בְּמַתָּנוֹת, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זוֹ תּוֹרָה, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה בְּאֵר, עַמּוּד עָנָן, וּמָן, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ נְסָכִים.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi interprets it with reference to the gifts that God gave the Jewish people, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Torah. “Three branches”; this is a reference to the miraculous items that accompanied the Jewish people in the wilderness and sustained and protected them: The well, the pillar of cloud, and the manna. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the first fruits that are brought to the Temple. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the wine libations.
רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּסִּיעַ״. ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה רְגָלִים שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹלִין בָּהֶן בְּכׇל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה. ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל פָּרוּ וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ״.
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba says: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Jewish people, and similarly another verse states: “You plucked up a vine out of Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it” (Psalms 80:9). “Three branches”; these are the three pilgrimage Festivals, on which the Jewish people ascend to Jerusalem every year. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth,” means that the time has arrived for the Jewish people to be fruitful and multiply, and similarly another verse states: “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7).
״עָלְתָה נִצָּה״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִיגָּאֵל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וְיֵז נִצְחָם עַל בְּגָדַי וְכׇל מַלְבּוּשַׁי אֶגְאָלְתִּי״, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת כּוֹס הַתַּרְעֵלָה.
“Its blossoms [nitzah] shot forth” means that the time has arrived for the Jewish people to be redeemed. And similarly another verse states: “And their eternity [nitzḥam] is dashed against My garments, and I have redeemed all My raiment” (Isaiah 63:3). “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes” means that the time has arrived for Egypt to drink the cup of fury, i.e., to receive its punishment.
וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רָבָא: שְׁלֹשָׁה כּוֹסוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בְּמִצְרַיִם לָמָה? אֶחָד, שֶׁשָּׁתָת בִּימֵי מֹשֶׁה, וְאֶחָד שֶׁשָּׁתָת בִּימֵי פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה, וְאֶחָד שֶׁעֲתִידָה לִשְׁתּוֹת עִם כׇּל הַגּוֹיִם.
And this is as Rava said: Why are there three cups stated with regard to Egypt in the dream of Pharaoh’s butler (see Genesis 40:11)? They are an allusion to three cups of misfortune that would later befall Egypt: One that Egypt drank in the days of Moses during the ten plagues and the Exodus; one that Egypt drank in the days of Pharaoh Nekho, the king of Egypt defeated by Nebuchadnezzar; and one that Egypt will drink in the future with all the other nations, when they are punished in the time of the Messiah.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַבָּא לְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא: כִּי דָרֵישׁ לְהוּ רַב לְהָנֵי קְרָאֵי בְּאַגַּדְתָּא, כְּוָותָךְ דָּרֵישׁ לְהוּ.
Rabbi Abba said to Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba: When Rav interpreted these verses homiletically he interpreted them according to the way in which you have interpreted them, and not according to any of the other opinions cited above.
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: אוּמָּה זוֹ כְּגֶפֶן נִמְשְׁלָה. זְמוֹרוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי בָתִּים, אֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, עָלִין שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, קְנוֹקָנוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ רֵיקָנִים שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
Similar to Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba’s interpretation of the word vine as an allusion to the Jewish people, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: This nation is likened to a vine. The branches of the vine support the clusters of grapes, the leaves, and the tendrils; these are represented among the Jewish people by the homeowners, who provide financial support for the entire nation. The clusters of grapes on the vine, these are the Torah scholars. The leaves on the vine, which protect the grapes, these are the ignoramuses, who protect the Torah scholars. The tendrils of the vine, which do not directly serve the grapes themselves, these are the empty ones of the Jewish people.
וְהַיְינוּ דִּשְׁלַחוּ מִתָּם: לִיבְעֵי רַחֲמִים אִיתְכָּלַיָּא עַל עָלַיָּא, דְּאִילְמָלֵא עָלַיָּא לָא מִתְקַיְּימָן אִיתְכָּלַיָּא.
And this is the meaning of the instruction that they sent from there, i.e., from Eretz Yisrael: Let the clusters of grapes pray for the leaves, as were it not for the leaves, the clusters of grapes would not survive.
״וָאֶכְּרֶהָ לִּי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּסֶף״, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק: אֵין ״כִּירָה״ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן מְכִירָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּקִבְרִי אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי״.
§ The Gemara cites homiletical interpretations of other verses that pertain to the leaders of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael and Babylonia. The verse states: “So I bought her [va’ekkereha] to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and a ḥomer of barley, and a half-ḥomer of barley” (Hosea 3:2). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: The term kira, which forms the basis of the verb va’ekkereha, is nothing other than language referring to a sale [mekhira], as it is stated that Joseph said: “My father made me swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave that I have acquired [kariti] for me in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me” (Genesis 50:5).
״בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר״ – זֶה חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן שֶׁבּוֹ נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, ״כָּסֶף״ – אֵלּוּ צַדִּיקִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר ״צְרוֹר הַכֶּסֶף לָקַח בְּיָדוֹ״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan continues: “For fifteen pieces of silver”; this is a reference to the fifteenth of Nisan, the date on which the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt. “Silver”; these are the righteous people. And similarly, another verse states: “He has taken the bag of silver with him” (Proverbs 7:20), a reference to God taking the righteous away prior to the destruction of the First Temple (see Sanhedrin 96b).
״חוֹמֶר שְׂעוֹרִים וְלֶתֶךְ שְׂעוֹרִים״ – אֵלּוּ אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה צַדִּיקִים שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּים בָּהֶם, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם שְׁלֹשִׁים כָּאן וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִם שְׁלֹשִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּאן. כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וָאֶקְחָה שְׁלֹשִׁים הַכֶּסֶף וָאַשְׁלִיךְ אֹתוֹ בֵּית ה׳ אֶל הַיּוֹצֵר״ – הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: שְׁלֹשִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּאן.
The verse states: “A ḥomer of barley, and a half-ḥomer of barley.” A ḥomer equals thirty se’a, and a half-ḥomer equals fifteen se’a, totaling forty-five se’a; these are the forty-five righteous individuals in whose merit the world continues to exist. And although the verse alludes to the fact that thirty of these righteous individuals are in one place and fifteen are elsewhere, I do not know if thirty are here in Babylonia and fifteen are in Eretz Yisrael, or if thirty are in Eretz Yisrael and fifteen are here in Babylonia. When it says in a different verse: “And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the treasury, in the house of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:13), you must say that thirty of the righteous individuals are in Eretz Yisrael and fifteen are here in Babylonia.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: וְרוּבַּיְיהוּ מִשְׁתַּכְחִי בְּבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא דְּתוּתֵי אַפְּתָא, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״וָאֹמַר אֲלֵיהֶם אִם טוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם הָבוּ שְׂכָרִי וְאִם לֹא חֲדָלוּ וַיִּשְׁקְלוּ אֶת שְׂכָרִי שְׁלֹשִׁים כָּסֶף״.
Abaye said: And most of the fifteen righteous individuals in Babylonia are found in the synagogue under the upper room. And this is the meaning of that which is written: “And I said to them: If it is good in your eyes, give me my hire; and if not, refrain. And they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12).
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים צַדִּיקֵי אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיְּימִים עֲלֵיהֶם. עוּלָּא אָמַר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים מִצְוֹת שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בְּנֵי נֹחַ, וְאֵין מְקַיְּימִין אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשָׁה. אַחַת
Rabbi Yehuda says: These are the thirty righteous individuals among the nations of the world, in whose merit the nations of the world continue to exist. Ulla says: These are the thirty mitzvot that the descendants of Noah initially accepted upon themselves; but they fulfill only three of them. One of these three mitzvot is
שֶׁאֵין כּוֹתְבִין כְּתוּבָּה לִזְכָרִים, וְאַחַת שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹקְלִין בְּשַׂר הַמֵּת בְּמָקוֹלִין, וְאַחַת שֶׁמְּכַבְּדִין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה.
that they do not write a marriage contract for a wedding between two males; although they violate the prohibition against engaging in homosexuality, they are not so brazen as to write a marriage contract as for a regular marriage. And one of the three mitzvot is that although they are suspected of eating human beings, they do not weigh the flesh of the dead in butcher shops [bemakkulin] and sell it publicly; and one is that they honor the Torah.
וְאֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג בָּעוֹף. וְהָא קָא חָזֵינַן דְּאִית לֵיהּ? אִית לֵיהּ, וְלָא עֲגִיל.
§ The mishna teaches (89b) that the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve does not apply to a bird due to the fact that the verse is referring to the sciatic nerve as being “upon the spoon of the thigh” (Genesis 32:33), and a bird has no spoon of the thigh. The Gemara challenges: But we see that it does have a protrusion of flesh on its thigh. The Gemara answers: It has a protrusion, but that protrusion is not rounded.
בָּעֵי רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: אִית לֵיהּ לְעוֹף וַעֲגִיל, אִית לֵיהּ לִבְהֵמָה וְלָא עֲגִיל, מַאי? בָּתַר דִּידֵיהּ אָזְלִינַן, אוֹ בָּתַר מִינֵיהּ אָזְלִינַן? תֵּיקוּ.
Rabbi Yirmeya raises a dilemma: If a bird has a protrusion on its thigh bone and it is rounded, or an animal has a protrusion on its thigh bone but it is not rounded, what is the halakha? Do we follow it, i.e., does the status of the sciatic nerve depend upon the physical properties of each particular animal, or do we follow its species, so that the sciatic nerve of an animal is always forbidden and that of a bird is always permitted? The Gemara responds: The question shall stand unresolved.
וְנוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל. אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: וְחֶלְבּוֹ מוּתָּר לְדִבְרֵי הַכֹּל.
§ The mishna states that the prohibition of the sciatic nerve applies to a late-term animal fetus in the womb. Rabbi Yehuda says: It does not apply to a fetus; and its fat is permitted. Shmuel says: When the mishna states: And its fat is permitted, that is according to everyone.
חֶלְבּוֹ דְּמַאי? אִילֵימָא דִּשְׁלִיל – וְהָא מִיפְלָג פְּלִיגִי בֵּיהּ, דְּתַנְיָא: נוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל, וְחֶלְבּוֹ אָסוּר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל, וְחֶלְבּוֹ מוּתָּר.
The Gemara asks: The fat of what? If we say that it is referring to the fat of a fetus, don’t the tanna’im disagree about it, as it is taught in a baraita: The prohibition of the sciatic nerve applies to a late-term fetus, and its fat is prohibited; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says that the prohibition of the sciatic nerve does not apply to a late-term fetus, and its fat is permitted.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: מַחְלוֹקֶת בְּבֶן תִּשְׁעָה חַי, וְהָלַךְ רַבִּי מֵאִיר לְשִׁיטָתוֹ, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה לְשִׁיטָתוֹ.
And Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Oshaya says in explanation of the baraita: This dispute applies to a nine-month-old, i.e., a full-term, fetus that remains alive after its mother has been slaughtered. And Rabbi Meir followed his general opinion in this regard (see 74a), that this fetus is considered a live animal independent of its mother. Consequently, it must undergo ritual slaughter in order for its meat to be permitted for consumption, and its fats and sciatic nerve are forbidden like those of any other animal. And Rabbi Yehuda followed his general opinion that such a fetus is not considered a live animal but rather part of its mother. Consequently, it does not require ritual slaughter, and its fats and sciatic nerve are permitted.
וְאֶלָּא חֶלְבּוֹ דְּגִיד? הָא מִיפְלָג פְּלִיגִי בָּהּ, דְּתַנְיָא: גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מְחַטֵּט אַחֲרָיו בְּכׇל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא, וְחוֹתֵךְ שׇׁמְנוֹ מֵעִיקָּרוֹ – דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: גּוֹמְמוֹ עִם הַשּׁוֹפִי.
But rather, perhaps Shmuel’s statement was said with regard to the fat of the sciatic nerve. But the tanna’im disagree about this case as well, as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to the sciatic nerve, one scrapes around it to remove it entirely in any place that it is found in the thigh, and one cuts out its fat from its source, i.e., even the fat that is embedded in the flesh; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says: One cuts out the nerve and fat so that they are level with the flesh [hashufi] of the thigh, but there is no need to scrape out the parts embedded in the flesh. Consequently, there is a dispute about the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve as well.
לְעוֹלָם חֶלְבּוֹ דְּגִיד, מוֹדֶה שְׁמוּאֵל דִּלְרַבִּי מֵאִיר מִדְּרַבָּנַן אָסוּר, דְּתַנְיָא: וְשׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשִׁים נָהֲגוּ בּוֹ אִיסּוּר. מַאי לָאו רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: מוּתָּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְאָסוּר מִדְּרַבָּנַן?
The Gemara answers: Actually, Shmuel was referring to the fat of the sciatic nerve, and Shmuel concedes that according to the opinion of Rabbi Meir the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve is forbidden by rabbinic law but permitted by Torah law. As it is taught in a baraita: Its fat is permitted by Torah law, but the Jewish people are holy and treated it as forbidden. The Gemara infers: What, is it not that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said that the fat is permitted by Torah law but forbidden by rabbinic law?
מִמַּאי דִּילְמָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, אֲבָל לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא נָמֵי אֲסִיר!
The Gemara challenges this: From where can it be proven that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir? Perhaps it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, but according to the opinion of Rabbi Meir it is even forbidden by Torah law.
לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דְּתַנְיָא: גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מְחַטֵּט אַחֲרָיו בְּכׇל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא, וְשׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר. מַאן שָׁמְעַתְּ לֵיהּ דְּאִית לֵיהּ חֲטִיטָה? רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְקָאָמַר: שׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר.
The Gemara rejects this challenge: It would not enter your mind that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to the sciatic nerve, one scrapes around it to remove it entirely from any place that it is found in the thigh, and its fat is permitted. The Gemara explains: Whom have you heard who holds that scraping is required? It is Rabbi Meir. And the baraita states that its fat is permitted. Consequently, Rabbi Meir must hold that the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve is permitted by Torah law and forbidden by rabbinic law.
אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מָרְתָּא, אָמַר רַב: לֹא אָסְרָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא קְנוֹקָנוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ. עוּלָּא אָמַר: עֵץ הוּא, וְהַתּוֹרָה חִיְּיבָה עָלָיו.
§ With regard to the sciatic nerve Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta says that Rav says: The Torah prohibited only its thin, tendril-like nerve fibers [kenokanot] that branch off and run alongside the sciatic nerve, under the flesh. By contrast, the sciatic nerve itself, which is inedible and has no flavor, is therefore considered like wood rather than food, and is not forbidden. Conversely, Ulla says: The sciatic nerve is inedible and has no flavor, like wood, but nevertheless the Torah rendered one liable for eating it.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: כְּוָותֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת אָמַר רַב אַסִּי: חוּטִין שֶׁבַּחֵלֶב אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן, אַלְמָא ״חֵלֶב״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא וְלֹא חוּטִין, הָכָא נָמֵי ״גִּיד״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא וְלֹא קְנוֹקָנוֹת.
Abaye said: It stands to reason that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Ulla, because Rav Sheshet said that Rav Asi said: The strands of veins that are in the forbidden fat are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. Apparently, when the Merciful One states in the Torah that it is prohibited to eat fat, the prohibition applies only to the fat itself but not to the strands of veins. Here also, the Merciful One states in the Torah that it is prohibited to eat the sciatic nerve, but that does not include the tendril-like nerve fibers.
גּוּפָא: אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת אָמַר רַב אַסִּי: חוּטִין שֶׁבַּחֵלֶב אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן. שֶׁבַּכּוּלְיָא אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן. לוֹבֶן כּוּלְיָא – רַבִּי וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא: חַד אָסַר, וְחַד שָׁרֵי.
§ The Gemara now returns to the matter itself cited in the discussion above: Rav Sheshet said that Rav Asi said: The strands of veins that are in the forbidden fat are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. The strands of veins that are in the kidney are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. With regard to the white fat of the kidney, there is a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and Rabbi Ḥiyya: One of them prohibits its consumption, because it is similar to the fats that are prohibited by the Torah; and one of them permits eating it.
רַבָּה מְמַרְטֵט לֵיהּ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְמַרְטֵט לֵיהּ, רַבִּי אַסִּי גָּאֵים לֵיהּ. אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: כְּוָותֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַסִּי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל:
The Gemara relates that Rabba would scrape every remnant of white fat away from the kidney. Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan would scrape it away from the kidney. By contrast, Rabbi Asi would cut it from the surface of the kidney but would not scrape out the rest of it. Abaye said: It stands to reason that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Asi, because Rabbi Abba said that Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said:
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Meryll Page
Minneapolis, MN, United States
I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.
Adina Hagege
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
When I was working and taking care of my children, learning was never on the list. Now that I have more time I have two different Gemora classes and the nach yomi as well as the mishna yomi daily.
Shoshana Shinnar
Jerusalem, Israel
At almost 70 I am just beginning my journey with Talmud and Hadran. I began not late, but right when I was called to learn. It is never too late to begin! The understanding patience of staff and participants with more experience and knowledge has been fabulous. The joy of learning never stops and for me. It is a new life, a new light, a new depth of love of The Holy One, Blessed be He.
Deborah Hoffman-Wade
Richmond, CA, United States
When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.
Ruth Leah Kahan
Ra’anana, Israel
In January 2020, my chevruta suggested that we “up our game. Let’s do Daf Yomi” – and she sent me the Hadran link. I lost my job (and went freelance), there was a pandemic, and I am still opening the podcast with my breakfast coffee, or after Shabbat with popcorn. My Aramaic is improving. I will need a new bookcase, though.
Rhondda May
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I was moved to tears by the Hadran Siyyum HaShas. I have learned Torah all my life, but never connected to learning Gemara on a regular basis until then. Seeing the sheer joy Talmud Torah at the siyyum, I felt compelled to be part of it, and I haven’t missed a day!
It’s not always easy, but it is so worthwhile, and it has strengthened my love of learning. It is part of my life now.
Michelle Lewis
Beit Shemesh, Israel
It has been a pleasure keeping pace with this wonderful and scholarly group of women.
Janice Block
Beit Shemesh, Israel
I am a Reform rabbi and took Talmud courses in rabbinical school, but I knew there was so much more to learn. It felt inauthentic to serve as a rabbi without having read the entire Talmud, so when the opportunity arose to start Daf Yomi in 2020, I dove in! Thanks to Hadran, Daf Yomi has enriched my understanding of rabbinic Judaism and deepened my love of Jewish text & tradition. Todah rabbah!
Rabbi Nicki Greninger
California, United States
Chullin 92
״בָּרוּךְ״ – אוֹפַנִּים הוּא דְּאָמְרִי לֵיהּ. וְאִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְיְהִיב רְשׁוּתָא, אִתְיְהִיב.
The Gemara answers that it is the ofanim who say the verse: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place,” as the next verse mentions “the noise of the ofanim” (Ezekiel 3:13), and Rav Ḥanina’s statement citing Rav was referring not to ofanim but to ministering angels. And if you wish, say that once permission has been given to them to mention the name of God after three words when they say: “Holy, holy, holy,” permission is also given to them to mention the name of God again while praising Him even after fewer than three words.
״וַיָּשַׂר אֶל מַלְאָךְ וַיֻּכָל בָּכָה וַיִּתְחַנֶּן לוֹ״ – אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי נַעֲשָׂה שַׂר לְמִי, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים״ – הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר יַעֲקֹב נַעֲשָׂה שַׂר לַמַּלְאָךְ.
The Gemara continues to discuss Jacob wrestling with the angel. The prophet states: “So he strove [vayyasar] with an angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him; at Beth El he would find him, and there he would speak with us” (Hosea 12:5). From this verse I do not know who became master [sar], i.e., was victorious, over whom. When another verse states: “And he said: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with angels and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29), you must say that Jacob became master over the angel.
״בָּכָה וַיִּתְחַנֶּן לוֹ״ – אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי בָּכָה לְמִי, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״וַיֹּאמֶר שַׁלְּחֵנִי״, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: מַלְאָךְ בָּכָה לְיַעֲקֹב.
The verse in Hosea states: “He wept, and made supplication to him.” From this verse I do not know who cried to whom. When another verse states: “And he said: Let me go, for the dawn has risen” (Genesis 32:27), you must say that the angel cried to Jacob.
״כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים״, אָמַר רַבָּה: רֶמֶז רָמַז לוֹ שֶׁעֲתִידִים שְׁנֵי שָׂרִים לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, רֹאשׁ גּוֹלָה שֶׁבְּבָבֶל וְנָשִׂיא שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִכָּאן רָמַז לוֹ גָּלוּת.
The verse states: “And he said: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with angels [elohim] and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29). Rabba says: The angel intimated to Jacob that in the future two princes would emerge from him: They are the Exilarch who is in Babylonia and the Nasi who is in Eretz Yisrael. And from here he also intimated to Jacob that there would be an exile.
״וּבַגֶּפֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״, אָמַר רַב חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרֵי גֵּאִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּכׇל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, פְּעָמִים שֶׁשְּׁנַיִם כָּאן וְאֶחָד בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, פְּעָמִים שֶׁשְּׁנַיִם בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶחָד כָּאן. יְהִיבוּ רַבָּנַן עֵינַיְיהוּ בְּרַבָּנָא עוּקְבָא וְרַבָּנָא נְחֶמְיָה בְּנֵי בְרַתֵּיה דְּרַב.
Similarly, with regard to the dream of Pharaoh’s butler, the verse states: “And in the vine were three branches [sarigim]; and as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10). Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba says that Rav says: These three branches refer to the three proud princes [sarei ge’im] who emerge from the Jewish people in each and every generation. There are times when two are here in Babylonia and one is in Eretz Yisrael, and there are times when two are in Eretz Yisrael and one is here in Babylonia. When this was stated in the study hall, the Sages present turned their eyes toward Rabbana Ukva and Rabbana Neḥemya, the sons of the daughter of Rav, who were from the family of the Exilarch and were two leaders of the generation who resided in Babylonia.
רָבָא אָמַר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרֵי גוֹיִם, שֶׁמְלַמְּדִים זְכוּת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכׇל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
Rava says a different explanation of the verse: These three branches [sarigim] are the three ministering angels appointed to oversee the gentiles [sarei goyim], who plead in favor of the Jewish people in each and every generation.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה הָעוֹלָם, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שְׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ הָאִמָּהוֹת, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים.
It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says an alternate interpretation of the verse. “Vine”; this is a reference to the world. “Three branches”; this is a reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the matriarchs. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the twelve tribes, i.e., the twelve sons of Jacob.
אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: וְכִי מַרְאִין לוֹ לְאָדָם מַה שֶּׁהָיָה? וַהֲלֹא אֵין מַרְאִין לוֹ לְאָדָם אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת! אֶלָּא ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה תּוֹרָה, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – אֵלּוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְרִין, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: But is a person shown in a dream what was in the past? Isn’t it true that one is shown only what will be in the future? Since the patriarchs, matriarchs, and sons of Jacob were all born prior to this dream, the dream was not alluding to them. Rather, the verse should be interpreted as follows: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Torah. “Three branches”; these are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the members of the Sanhedrin. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the righteous people who live in each and every generation.
אָמַר רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: עֲדַיִין צְרִיכִין אָנוּ לַמּוֹדָעִי, דְּמוֹקֵים לֵיהּ כּוּלֵּיהּ בְּחַד מָקוֹם. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זֶה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה מִקְדָּשׁ, מֶלֶךְ, וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ פִּרְחֵי כְהוּנָּה, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ נְסָכִים.
Rabban Gamliel said: In order to understand this verse (Genesis 40:10) we still need the explanation of Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i, who is an expert in matters of aggada, as he interprets all of the phrases in the verse as referring to one location. Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i says: “Vine”; this is a reference to Jerusalem. “Three branches”; this is a reference to the Temple, the king and the High Priest. “And as it was budding [poraḥat], its blossoms shot forth”; these are the young priests [pirḥei khehunna]. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the wine libations.
רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מוֹקֵים לַהּ בְּמַתָּנוֹת, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: ״גֶּפֶן״ – זוֹ תּוֹרָה, ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – זֶה בְּאֵר, עַמּוּד עָנָן, וּמָן, ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – אֵלּוּ נְסָכִים.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi interprets it with reference to the gifts that God gave the Jewish people, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Torah. “Three branches”; this is a reference to the miraculous items that accompanied the Jewish people in the wilderness and sustained and protected them: The well, the pillar of cloud, and the manna. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”; these are the first fruits that are brought to the Temple. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”; these are the wine libations.
רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: ״גֶּפֶן״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״גֶּפֶן מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּסִּיעַ״. ״שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂרִיגִים״ – אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה רְגָלִים שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹלִין בָּהֶן בְּכׇל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה. ״וְהִיא כְפֹרַחַת עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְרוֹת וְלִרְבּוֹת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל פָּרוּ וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ״.
Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba says: “Vine”; this is a reference to the Jewish people, and similarly another verse states: “You plucked up a vine out of Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it” (Psalms 80:9). “Three branches”; these are the three pilgrimage Festivals, on which the Jewish people ascend to Jerusalem every year. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth,” means that the time has arrived for the Jewish people to be fruitful and multiply, and similarly another verse states: “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7).
״עָלְתָה נִצָּה״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִיגָּאֵל, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וְיֵז נִצְחָם עַל בְּגָדַי וְכׇל מַלְבּוּשַׁי אֶגְאָלְתִּי״, ״הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים״ – הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת כּוֹס הַתַּרְעֵלָה.
“Its blossoms [nitzah] shot forth” means that the time has arrived for the Jewish people to be redeemed. And similarly another verse states: “And their eternity [nitzḥam] is dashed against My garments, and I have redeemed all My raiment” (Isaiah 63:3). “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes” means that the time has arrived for Egypt to drink the cup of fury, i.e., to receive its punishment.
וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רָבָא: שְׁלֹשָׁה כּוֹסוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בְּמִצְרַיִם לָמָה? אֶחָד, שֶׁשָּׁתָת בִּימֵי מֹשֶׁה, וְאֶחָד שֶׁשָּׁתָת בִּימֵי פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה, וְאֶחָד שֶׁעֲתִידָה לִשְׁתּוֹת עִם כׇּל הַגּוֹיִם.
And this is as Rava said: Why are there three cups stated with regard to Egypt in the dream of Pharaoh’s butler (see Genesis 40:11)? They are an allusion to three cups of misfortune that would later befall Egypt: One that Egypt drank in the days of Moses during the ten plagues and the Exodus; one that Egypt drank in the days of Pharaoh Nekho, the king of Egypt defeated by Nebuchadnezzar; and one that Egypt will drink in the future with all the other nations, when they are punished in the time of the Messiah.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַבָּא לְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא: כִּי דָרֵישׁ לְהוּ רַב לְהָנֵי קְרָאֵי בְּאַגַּדְתָּא, כְּוָותָךְ דָּרֵישׁ לְהוּ.
Rabbi Abba said to Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba: When Rav interpreted these verses homiletically he interpreted them according to the way in which you have interpreted them, and not according to any of the other opinions cited above.
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: אוּמָּה זוֹ כְּגֶפֶן נִמְשְׁלָה. זְמוֹרוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי בָתִּים, אֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים, עָלִין שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, קְנוֹקָנוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ – אֵלּוּ רֵיקָנִים שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
Similar to Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba’s interpretation of the word vine as an allusion to the Jewish people, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: This nation is likened to a vine. The branches of the vine support the clusters of grapes, the leaves, and the tendrils; these are represented among the Jewish people by the homeowners, who provide financial support for the entire nation. The clusters of grapes on the vine, these are the Torah scholars. The leaves on the vine, which protect the grapes, these are the ignoramuses, who protect the Torah scholars. The tendrils of the vine, which do not directly serve the grapes themselves, these are the empty ones of the Jewish people.
וְהַיְינוּ דִּשְׁלַחוּ מִתָּם: לִיבְעֵי רַחֲמִים אִיתְכָּלַיָּא עַל עָלַיָּא, דְּאִילְמָלֵא עָלַיָּא לָא מִתְקַיְּימָן אִיתְכָּלַיָּא.
And this is the meaning of the instruction that they sent from there, i.e., from Eretz Yisrael: Let the clusters of grapes pray for the leaves, as were it not for the leaves, the clusters of grapes would not survive.
״וָאֶכְּרֶהָ לִּי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּסֶף״, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק: אֵין ״כִּירָה״ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן מְכִירָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּקִבְרִי אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי״.
§ The Gemara cites homiletical interpretations of other verses that pertain to the leaders of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael and Babylonia. The verse states: “So I bought her [va’ekkereha] to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and a ḥomer of barley, and a half-ḥomer of barley” (Hosea 3:2). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak: The term kira, which forms the basis of the verb va’ekkereha, is nothing other than language referring to a sale [mekhira], as it is stated that Joseph said: “My father made me swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave that I have acquired [kariti] for me in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me” (Genesis 50:5).
״בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר״ – זֶה חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן שֶׁבּוֹ נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, ״כָּסֶף״ – אֵלּוּ צַדִּיקִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר ״צְרוֹר הַכֶּסֶף לָקַח בְּיָדוֹ״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan continues: “For fifteen pieces of silver”; this is a reference to the fifteenth of Nisan, the date on which the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt. “Silver”; these are the righteous people. And similarly, another verse states: “He has taken the bag of silver with him” (Proverbs 7:20), a reference to God taking the righteous away prior to the destruction of the First Temple (see Sanhedrin 96b).
״חוֹמֶר שְׂעוֹרִים וְלֶתֶךְ שְׂעוֹרִים״ – אֵלּוּ אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה צַדִּיקִים שֶׁהָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּים בָּהֶם, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם שְׁלֹשִׁים כָּאן וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִם שְׁלֹשִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּאן. כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וָאֶקְחָה שְׁלֹשִׁים הַכֶּסֶף וָאַשְׁלִיךְ אֹתוֹ בֵּית ה׳ אֶל הַיּוֹצֵר״ – הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: שְׁלֹשִׁים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר כָּאן.
The verse states: “A ḥomer of barley, and a half-ḥomer of barley.” A ḥomer equals thirty se’a, and a half-ḥomer equals fifteen se’a, totaling forty-five se’a; these are the forty-five righteous individuals in whose merit the world continues to exist. And although the verse alludes to the fact that thirty of these righteous individuals are in one place and fifteen are elsewhere, I do not know if thirty are here in Babylonia and fifteen are in Eretz Yisrael, or if thirty are in Eretz Yisrael and fifteen are here in Babylonia. When it says in a different verse: “And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the treasury, in the house of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:13), you must say that thirty of the righteous individuals are in Eretz Yisrael and fifteen are here in Babylonia.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: וְרוּבַּיְיהוּ מִשְׁתַּכְחִי בְּבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא דְּתוּתֵי אַפְּתָא, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״וָאֹמַר אֲלֵיהֶם אִם טוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם הָבוּ שְׂכָרִי וְאִם לֹא חֲדָלוּ וַיִּשְׁקְלוּ אֶת שְׂכָרִי שְׁלֹשִׁים כָּסֶף״.
Abaye said: And most of the fifteen righteous individuals in Babylonia are found in the synagogue under the upper room. And this is the meaning of that which is written: “And I said to them: If it is good in your eyes, give me my hire; and if not, refrain. And they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12).
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים צַדִּיקֵי אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיְּימִים עֲלֵיהֶם. עוּלָּא אָמַר: אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים מִצְוֹת שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בְּנֵי נֹחַ, וְאֵין מְקַיְּימִין אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשָׁה. אַחַת
Rabbi Yehuda says: These are the thirty righteous individuals among the nations of the world, in whose merit the nations of the world continue to exist. Ulla says: These are the thirty mitzvot that the descendants of Noah initially accepted upon themselves; but they fulfill only three of them. One of these three mitzvot is
שֶׁאֵין כּוֹתְבִין כְּתוּבָּה לִזְכָרִים, וְאַחַת שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹקְלִין בְּשַׂר הַמֵּת בְּמָקוֹלִין, וְאַחַת שֶׁמְּכַבְּדִין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה.
that they do not write a marriage contract for a wedding between two males; although they violate the prohibition against engaging in homosexuality, they are not so brazen as to write a marriage contract as for a regular marriage. And one of the three mitzvot is that although they are suspected of eating human beings, they do not weigh the flesh of the dead in butcher shops [bemakkulin] and sell it publicly; and one is that they honor the Torah.
וְאֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג בָּעוֹף. וְהָא קָא חָזֵינַן דְּאִית לֵיהּ? אִית לֵיהּ, וְלָא עֲגִיל.
§ The mishna teaches (89b) that the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve does not apply to a bird due to the fact that the verse is referring to the sciatic nerve as being “upon the spoon of the thigh” (Genesis 32:33), and a bird has no spoon of the thigh. The Gemara challenges: But we see that it does have a protrusion of flesh on its thigh. The Gemara answers: It has a protrusion, but that protrusion is not rounded.
בָּעֵי רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: אִית לֵיהּ לְעוֹף וַעֲגִיל, אִית לֵיהּ לִבְהֵמָה וְלָא עֲגִיל, מַאי? בָּתַר דִּידֵיהּ אָזְלִינַן, אוֹ בָּתַר מִינֵיהּ אָזְלִינַן? תֵּיקוּ.
Rabbi Yirmeya raises a dilemma: If a bird has a protrusion on its thigh bone and it is rounded, or an animal has a protrusion on its thigh bone but it is not rounded, what is the halakha? Do we follow it, i.e., does the status of the sciatic nerve depend upon the physical properties of each particular animal, or do we follow its species, so that the sciatic nerve of an animal is always forbidden and that of a bird is always permitted? The Gemara responds: The question shall stand unresolved.
וְנוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל. אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: וְחֶלְבּוֹ מוּתָּר לְדִבְרֵי הַכֹּל.
§ The mishna states that the prohibition of the sciatic nerve applies to a late-term animal fetus in the womb. Rabbi Yehuda says: It does not apply to a fetus; and its fat is permitted. Shmuel says: When the mishna states: And its fat is permitted, that is according to everyone.
חֶלְבּוֹ דְּמַאי? אִילֵימָא דִּשְׁלִיל – וְהָא מִיפְלָג פְּלִיגִי בֵּיהּ, דְּתַנְיָא: נוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל, וְחֶלְבּוֹ אָסוּר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג בַּשְּׁלִיל, וְחֶלְבּוֹ מוּתָּר.
The Gemara asks: The fat of what? If we say that it is referring to the fat of a fetus, don’t the tanna’im disagree about it, as it is taught in a baraita: The prohibition of the sciatic nerve applies to a late-term fetus, and its fat is prohibited; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says that the prohibition of the sciatic nerve does not apply to a late-term fetus, and its fat is permitted.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: מַחְלוֹקֶת בְּבֶן תִּשְׁעָה חַי, וְהָלַךְ רַבִּי מֵאִיר לְשִׁיטָתוֹ, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה לְשִׁיטָתוֹ.
And Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Oshaya says in explanation of the baraita: This dispute applies to a nine-month-old, i.e., a full-term, fetus that remains alive after its mother has been slaughtered. And Rabbi Meir followed his general opinion in this regard (see 74a), that this fetus is considered a live animal independent of its mother. Consequently, it must undergo ritual slaughter in order for its meat to be permitted for consumption, and its fats and sciatic nerve are forbidden like those of any other animal. And Rabbi Yehuda followed his general opinion that such a fetus is not considered a live animal but rather part of its mother. Consequently, it does not require ritual slaughter, and its fats and sciatic nerve are permitted.
וְאֶלָּא חֶלְבּוֹ דְּגִיד? הָא מִיפְלָג פְּלִיגִי בָּהּ, דְּתַנְיָא: גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מְחַטֵּט אַחֲרָיו בְּכׇל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא, וְחוֹתֵךְ שׇׁמְנוֹ מֵעִיקָּרוֹ – דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: גּוֹמְמוֹ עִם הַשּׁוֹפִי.
But rather, perhaps Shmuel’s statement was said with regard to the fat of the sciatic nerve. But the tanna’im disagree about this case as well, as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to the sciatic nerve, one scrapes around it to remove it entirely in any place that it is found in the thigh, and one cuts out its fat from its source, i.e., even the fat that is embedded in the flesh; this is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehuda says: One cuts out the nerve and fat so that they are level with the flesh [hashufi] of the thigh, but there is no need to scrape out the parts embedded in the flesh. Consequently, there is a dispute about the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve as well.
לְעוֹלָם חֶלְבּוֹ דְּגִיד, מוֹדֶה שְׁמוּאֵל דִּלְרַבִּי מֵאִיר מִדְּרַבָּנַן אָסוּר, דְּתַנְיָא: וְשׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשִׁים נָהֲגוּ בּוֹ אִיסּוּר. מַאי לָאו רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: מוּתָּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְאָסוּר מִדְּרַבָּנַן?
The Gemara answers: Actually, Shmuel was referring to the fat of the sciatic nerve, and Shmuel concedes that according to the opinion of Rabbi Meir the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve is forbidden by rabbinic law but permitted by Torah law. As it is taught in a baraita: Its fat is permitted by Torah law, but the Jewish people are holy and treated it as forbidden. The Gemara infers: What, is it not that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said that the fat is permitted by Torah law but forbidden by rabbinic law?
מִמַּאי דִּילְמָא רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הִיא, אֲבָל לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא נָמֵי אֲסִיר!
The Gemara challenges this: From where can it be proven that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir? Perhaps it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, but according to the opinion of Rabbi Meir it is even forbidden by Torah law.
לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דְּתַנְיָא: גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מְחַטֵּט אַחֲרָיו בְּכׇל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא, וְשׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר. מַאן שָׁמְעַתְּ לֵיהּ דְּאִית לֵיהּ חֲטִיטָה? רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְקָאָמַר: שׇׁמְנוֹ מוּתָּר.
The Gemara rejects this challenge: It would not enter your mind that this baraita is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to the sciatic nerve, one scrapes around it to remove it entirely from any place that it is found in the thigh, and its fat is permitted. The Gemara explains: Whom have you heard who holds that scraping is required? It is Rabbi Meir. And the baraita states that its fat is permitted. Consequently, Rabbi Meir must hold that the fat surrounding the sciatic nerve is permitted by Torah law and forbidden by rabbinic law.
אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מָרְתָּא, אָמַר רַב: לֹא אָסְרָה תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא קְנוֹקָנוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ. עוּלָּא אָמַר: עֵץ הוּא, וְהַתּוֹרָה חִיְּיבָה עָלָיו.
§ With regard to the sciatic nerve Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta says that Rav says: The Torah prohibited only its thin, tendril-like nerve fibers [kenokanot] that branch off and run alongside the sciatic nerve, under the flesh. By contrast, the sciatic nerve itself, which is inedible and has no flavor, is therefore considered like wood rather than food, and is not forbidden. Conversely, Ulla says: The sciatic nerve is inedible and has no flavor, like wood, but nevertheless the Torah rendered one liable for eating it.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: כְּוָותֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת אָמַר רַב אַסִּי: חוּטִין שֶׁבַּחֵלֶב אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן, אַלְמָא ״חֵלֶב״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא וְלֹא חוּטִין, הָכָא נָמֵי ״גִּיד״ אָמַר רַחֲמָנָא וְלֹא קְנוֹקָנוֹת.
Abaye said: It stands to reason that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Ulla, because Rav Sheshet said that Rav Asi said: The strands of veins that are in the forbidden fat are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. Apparently, when the Merciful One states in the Torah that it is prohibited to eat fat, the prohibition applies only to the fat itself but not to the strands of veins. Here also, the Merciful One states in the Torah that it is prohibited to eat the sciatic nerve, but that does not include the tendril-like nerve fibers.
גּוּפָא: אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת אָמַר רַב אַסִּי: חוּטִין שֶׁבַּחֵלֶב אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן. שֶׁבַּכּוּלְיָא אֲסוּרִין, וְאֵין חַיָּיבִין עֲלֵיהֶן. לוֹבֶן כּוּלְיָא – רַבִּי וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא: חַד אָסַר, וְחַד שָׁרֵי.
§ The Gemara now returns to the matter itself cited in the discussion above: Rav Sheshet said that Rav Asi said: The strands of veins that are in the forbidden fat are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. The strands of veins that are in the kidney are forbidden, but one is not liable for eating them. With regard to the white fat of the kidney, there is a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and Rabbi Ḥiyya: One of them prohibits its consumption, because it is similar to the fats that are prohibited by the Torah; and one of them permits eating it.
רַבָּה מְמַרְטֵט לֵיהּ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְמַרְטֵט לֵיהּ, רַבִּי אַסִּי גָּאֵים לֵיהּ. אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: כְּוָותֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַסִּי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל:
The Gemara relates that Rabba would scrape every remnant of white fat away from the kidney. Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan would scrape it away from the kidney. By contrast, Rabbi Asi would cut it from the surface of the kidney but would not scrape out the rest of it. Abaye said: It stands to reason that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Asi, because Rabbi Abba said that Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said:
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