Talking Talmud

Hullin 78: The Mamas, Maybe the Papas, and the Children 17.07.2026 19m

Chapter 5! With a focus on the prohibition against slaughtering an animal and its offspring on the same day, and with a new mishnah. The mishnah goes through the variables of whether the animal is consecrated and the location of slaughtering, but once the offspring is also slaughtered on the same day, it's going to involve lashes for violating the halakhah. Plus, the sages open the question as to whether this is the mother and her offspring only, or also a father and his offspring (and clearly it is the case for male and female offspring, regardless of the above question). And the answer depends on the language in the verse about this case -- and comes to include both male and female animal parents .

Hullin 77: Skin and Bones 16.07.2026 19m

In the case of a bone fracture, as long as the greater portion of the bone is covered by flesh and skin, it is acceptable for consumption. With an apparent treatment of regeneration of an animal's limb via another animal's bone, which seems to have been a serious treatment at the time, with consult between the sages and veterinarians. Also, a new mishnah! One who can manage it can each the following potentially stomach-turning delicacies -- including the amniotic sac. Though the partial emergence of the amniotic sac would render all of it not-kosher. Note the practices of the Amorites that were prohibited. Also, when it comes to the idea of giving the placenta to the dogs -- what is the rationale to specify this? Note that the question is based on the potential sanctity of a potential "bekhor" -- first-born -- of the animal. Which leads to the math of how many animals would be first-borns in sanctity.

Hullin 76: Doh! Even the Sages Realize What They Could Have Said Better 15.07.2026 16m

A new mishnah! Handling the back legs of an animal, if a bone is broken, if the leg is intact... then kosher slaughtering renders the animal permitted for consumption. But where is the severing, with regard to the leg joint? And then the Gemara dives in, raising dispute on those same details -- whether the bone is broken, but the limb is not severed, how much flesh remains? Again, where is the break with regard to the leg joint?

Hullin 75: Permitting the Forbidden Fats 14.07.2026 23m

The odd case of the entirety of an animal fetus that is permitted for food after its mother is slaughtered in a kosher way - and the entire fetus is permitted, even though some animal parts are usually prohibited, even with proper slaughtering. The Gemara presents two versions of the passage addressing the different opinions on this case. Also, the case of finding the fetus alive in the womb after kosher shechitah - it doesn't need shechitah, but what's the difference between that and the original case? Whether the ben pakuah (fetus, under these terms) steps on the ground. Also, is the offspring considered the ben pakuah of its father as well as of its mother? But at the rabbinic level, the ben pakuah should be slaughtered anyway. And also the decree was made for the future generations of the ben pakuah. Plus, the informative case of terumah and demai and the possibility of asking whether even an ignoramus has separated properly. [Who's Who: Rabbi Shimon Shazuri]

Hullin 74: The Sciatic Nerve of the Fetus 13.07.2026 16m

Several cases: One who eats the extended limb from the fetus -- with that person get lashes or not, for eating the limb of a live animal? And a source for the halakhah. And the difference between "animals" vs. creepy crawlies and impurity (and susceptibility to impurity). Also, a new mishnah! On an 8-month fetus vs. a 9-month fetus, as found in the womb. And when the forbidden fat becomes permitted to eat -- and also the "gid ha-nasheh"/sciatic nerve.

Hullin 73: Impurity without Shechitah - Hypothetically Hypothetical Cases 12.07.2026 21m

Does a slaughtered animal that is a treyfa transmit impurity? It seems so. For a consecrated animal. At least at the rabbinic level of prohibition. Plus, the difference between a fetus, even with a protruding limb, as compared to other organs of the animal that might be detached from within and would lead to more complex prohibition -- it's a treyfa! Also, in the case of an animal that dies by other causes aside from kosher slaughtering, then what are the implications for the impurity of the animal, for a hanging limb, and more?

Hullin 72: On the Order of Difficult Events 11.07.2026 16m

NOTE: Another difficult episode, including mention of fetal death. Rava's understanding of the mishnah - specifically recognizing a different tradition coming from Pompedita regarding the impurity at a rabbinic level and not the level of a Torah prohibition. Including the impurity of a midwife who attends to a woman in travail. Also, a long mishnah - specifically with an eye to the purity and impurity of the animals in the fetal cases. And the impact of kosher slaughtering on the cases -- depending on the order of operations.

Hullin 71: The Very Difficult Question of Fetal Impurity 11.07.2026 24m

NOTE: This episode may be emotionally difficult, including the topic of still-births -- animal and human (not together). On the transfer of impurity from the carcass of a domesticated vs. non-domesticated animal, including that of a fetus. How does each category include the other categories (of domesticated including non-domesticated, pure including impure, etc.). With credit to Rabbi Yishmael and his methodology of learning these halakhot. Also, a new mishnah! On how the midwife becomes impure in removing the fetus. Plus, a question on how something that is fully enclosed and ritually impure can give off impurity, because it should not be able to. Nor to become impure. Plus, the question of impurity of food - as determined by whether it is fit for consumption by a dog.

Hullin 70: The Surgical Activity of a Weasel 09.07.2026 19m

More on case of the fetus -- when does the principle of "majority" apply to limbs emerging? Or does it ever? When is it considered as if it was born? What if half of the fetus has emerged, but a majority of a particular limb? A nuanced, and likely boundary-pushing case. Also, what if the fetus were wrapped while it was still internal? Is that a barrier to the sanctity of the first-born? What about its amniotic sac? What about shenanigans by a weasel that removes and replaces the fetus? Also - a new mishnah about whether the fetus is pure or impure, as per the parent, or (as the main view in the mishnah stipulates), the fetus is inherently pure and won't convey impurity. The Gemara probes this rationale. Plus, an important distinction between animals' feet - when they are paws as compared to cloven hooves.

Hullin 69: The Fetus and Its Complications for Slaughtering, Exchange, and the Sanctity of the First-Born 08.07.2026 18m

More on a fetus that extends a limb from its mother's womb and brings it back inside. What if that takes place in between the severing of the first "siman" and the second "siman" in slaughtering the mother. Will the progeny of that fetus (after it grows up) need slaughtering, though that animal itself does not require slaughtering? Also, complications of this kind of animal when it comes to exchange (temurah) for another animal that was not born with the same unusual status. Plus, the first-born (bekhor) - when it's the fetus in these kinds of cases, where it might even be dismembered to help it out of the womb (and then it isn't a bekhor after all, unless the majority of it came out whole).

Hullin 68: The Kosher Fetus 07.07.2026 13m

Chapter 4! With a new mishnah. On the case of a female animal that is slaughtered with a fetus in her womb, whether it is discovered after slaughtering or in the case that she is slaughtered during the birth. If the fetus is inside the mother at the time of the slaughtering of the mother, the fetus is considered slaughtered as well. Also, one view on a limb from the fetus that emerges from the mother's body is not kosher. And another challenges that. Plus, meat "outside the field" cannot be eaten, in contrast to the fetus that remains in the bounds of the mother.

Hullin 67: More Creepy-Crawlies -- and the Leviathan 06.07.2026 15m

Rav Huna says not to pour beer in the night with a filter, lest a creepy crawlie comes outside of the filter and into the beer, which would be a problem to drink. How does one distinguish between that which is just the normal manner of growth, which would be acceptable, and when there's a problem of unusual bug activity. Also, an investigation into the question of worms - in that they come from outside of the animal, as compared to internal "spontaneous generation." What about larvae? And what about fish larvae? Also, again, "according to its kind" - for a worm and a scorpion and a beetle and a centipede. That is, those creepy crawlies that are not considered kosher. Plus, the Leviathan, which doesn't reproduce, is a kosher fish -- and it will be the feast for the righteous in the future.

Hullin 66: Spontaneous Generation 05.07.2026 16m

Fish that have scales for part of their lives -- are likely to be kosher. But fish that have fins and no scales are not kosher. But if scales are all that matters, why doesn't the Torah just say scales? Why mention fins at all? The Gemara gives several answers. Also, the Gemara focuses on the language of the permitted and prohibited -- both of which forms are stated. Plus, eating that which grow in water is permitted, say, pits and ditches, but what about vessels? How did these creatures emerge from the water?!

Hullin 65: Birds of a Feather Dwell Together 04.07.2026 17m

Birds that claw their prey are not kosher, though there are other signs too, of course. Plus, how the bird sits on a line with its "toes" divided across the line is an indication of a possibly kosher bird. A bird that catches another bird in the air - not kosher. Also, which birds does the bird under question dwell among? Plus - grasshoppers! To be kosher, the legs, the hopping, and the name of the creature need to be in line with the kosher requirements. Each type of kosher grasshopper is described as "according to its kind," in the Torah's presentation of them. Plus, the organization of the generalizations and specifications in the Torah makes a difference as well -- regarding the traits that are required for a grasshopper to be kosher. The common traits matter - even in comparison to the specifics that might apply to a given species.

Hullin 64: Egg Versatility 03.07.2026 14m

Eggs! They can bought from anyone, including idolators, without concern that they came via a nevilah or treyfa. The eggs themselves are identifiable as coming from a kosher species (or not) -- in terms of the shape of the egg itself, and more other ways of distinguishing one from another. But not if the egg itself is mixed. Also, if eggs are cooked together -- kosher and non-kosher -- the kosher eggs are still allowed. Unfertilized eggs are also acceptable, even if the hen sat on the egg for a long time. A droplet of blood on the egg won't invalidate it either - as long as you discard that droplet of blood. But if the blood was in the yolk area of the egg, then the entirety needs to be discarded.

Hullin 63: The Torah's Non-Exhaustive List of Non-Kosher Birds 02.07.2026 16m

There are 24 non-kosher birds, and there's a long chain of transmission to that effect, but if you count the birds in the Torah, the list in Leviticus has 20 birds and the comparable list in Deuteronomy has 21 birds. So where is the count of 24 to be found? The Gemara explains. By including those birds that come along with the other ones (a few times), the count works. Also, a hundred varieties of one particular kind of bird -- from within the 24. Plus, in the lists of kosher animals vs. non-kosher animals, the Torah includes the shorter one, whether kosher or non-kosher. Also, the Gemara acknowledges that one can have halakhic expertise or animal expertise or both, but they are not the same bodies of knowledge, and the one studying Jewish law must draw on other arenas of knowledge.

Hullin 62: The Common White "Snunit" 01.07.2026 19m

The Torah's list of the non-kosher birds includes some modification, "along with its kind." This is true of the "orev," a crow. And also the white "s'nunit." Which seems to have one sign that it's a kosher bird, but Rabbi Eliezer takes a more stringent view, saying that those who treat the bird as kosher (and eat it) will pay for that. Note also the distinction between a white-bellied white snunit and a yellow-bellied white snunit. Plus, a sign of a kosher bird (like a gizzard that can be peeled) does not present in the same way in every bird that has it.

Hullin 61: Is This Bird Kosher? 30.06.2026 19m

The Gemara says that the signs for a bird to be kosher aren't explicit in the Torah - except that the Gemara also says that the signs for a bird to be not-kosher are explicit in the Torah -- via the "nesher" -- so the signs are identifiable. But does the nesher provide rules of thumb or is it specifically and only itself as a non-kosher bird? Plus, naming some non-kosher birds that are listed specifically, but that don't have all 4 signs of being a non-kosher bird that a nesher has. But these two named birds become significant in terms of representing which single kosher signs render the birds into examples for the kosher-ness of other birds too.

Hullin 60: God's Lion's Roar to Defend the Jewish People 29.06.2026 26m

A series of stories about Rabbi Yehoshua ben Haninah interacting with Roman officers, conversing with the Caesar, etc. Some of these stories need unpacking and investigation: including God as described as a lion (Amos). Plus, the lion whose roar pulled down the walls of Rome (and caused its women to miscarry). All of which points to the power residing with God, and not the Caesar. Also, how God controls the events of the world via nature -- another question by the Caesar, and Rabbi Yehoshua has a demonstration for him. Fundamentally, the series of stories provide some measure of comfort for a Jewish audience. Also, an investigation into the verses that describe the creation of the world in Genesis -- specifically, the story of the moon as a diminished light in comparison to the sun, and God's ostensible regret in how He handled the moon. Plus, the production of the world's vegetation in creation.

Hullin 59: The Species the Torah Knows, Including.... a Unicorn? 27.06.2026 19m

What are kosher animals? What are non-kosher animals? That is, from the signs listed in the Torah for domesticated and non-domesticated animals -- such as split cloven hooves and chewing its cud (for the former category). Ditto re birds -- excluding predator birds, where the forbidden ones are listed explicitly (or perhaps for the sake of deriving a general rule). Likewise for the few kosher creepy-crawlies. And fish (fins and scales). Plus, what if there is no tradition with regard to a certain animal (eg: duck; turkey). Also, the signs of the undomesticated - which might seem superfluous, but they permit the special fat, which might appear to be incorrect, so it's explicit. Plus, a unicorn. With caveats on the horns making various goats and their cousins