Talking Talmud

Hullin 33: Impure Hands, More and Less 02.06.2026 16min

A new mishnah! What happens if the animal doesn't bleed at the time of shechitah? Apparently, that's a kosher shechitah. And one's impure hands won't render the meat impure (unless the slaughtering itself made it susceptible to impurity, and not just the liquid of the blood). The Gemara reexplains the mishnah to explain that the mishnah could not be talking about sacrificial foods, with several follow-up points to make the case that much stronger. Also, the Gemara delves into the impure hands, and what degree of impurity they may carry. Plus, the case of someone who purifies his hands and then exposes them to impure hands again - depending on how much exposure his whole body received, it may make a difference for what degree of impurity do his hand carry.

Hullin 32: Invalid Shechitah 01.06.2026 13min

2 mishnayot! 1 - A person is slaughtering an animal and the knife falls and he picks it up to complete the slaughtering... as long as the shechitah is completed in the time that it would take to slaughter the animal to begin with, that's kosher. If it takes more time, then it's not a valid shechitah. But different animals - and fowl - take different amounts of time to do the shechitah. Does the statement of "shechting the animal" apply to every animal/bird, or does the time fluctuate depending on the animal/bird at hand? 2 - What if only one of the simanim/pipes were severed correctly, of the esophagus and trachea? If the animal is unfit, it is presented as a treyfa - but then the Gemara addresses such cases as a neveilah.

Hullin 31: The Question of Intent - Again 31.05.2026 20min

A new mishnah! In the case of a knife fell and slaughtered the animal officially correctly, the shechitah is not actually kosher because a person must be involved doing the slaughtering. But if a person dropped the knife, even without intent, then the person is there as an agent, and the shechitah may well be kosher. The question is whether intent is required for shechitah to be valid. Also, the case of produce that falls into a channel of water, and the produce is removed by a person who has impure hands - but the process itself will purify his hands. The water is one of 7 liquids that, when in contact with produce, makes the produce susceptible to impurity. Plus, the levels of purity and impurity - and how immersion in the mikveh to be purified requires intent for the required level of purity to follow - for example, to eat ma'aser sheni food. Which seems to require more planning than we might have thought.

Hullin 30: The Many Paths to Shechitah 30.05.2026 16min

If there's more than one incision in the pipe, can that be kosher shechitah? It's a machloket. What about 2 people holding the knife for one animal's slaughter? That's one incision, but 2 people with 2 knives, which means 2 incisions, and it has all kinds of insecurities associated with it - and could result in non-kosher shechitah, but we really don't worry about that, and allow it. Note the many cases of shechitah that are left without conclusions. Also, a new mishnah: 1 person who slaughters 2 animals simultaneously; likewise, the 2 people holding one knife (as presented in the Gemara on the daf right before the mishnah), even with 2 cuts -- all of those cases are kosher shechitah. But decapitation in one motion is not considered valid. With the possibility of it being kosher if the length of the knife is the breadth of the animal's neck.

Hullin 29: The Impact of the Collective on 50/50 29.05.2026 17min

More on the question of when a siman is cut precisely halfway across - is that 50/50 considered the majority or not? (it's still a machloket). With the parallel to the requirement that at least half of the population of the Jews need to be pure to be able to participate in the Pesach sacrifice. That 50/50 seems to be acceptable, rather than leaving a full half of the people to make up the sacrifice on Pesach Sheni (14th of Iyar). But as much as this example is brought in parallel to the shechitah case, they're also quite different. Also, when is the action of slaughtering actually considered to be an act of shechitah? From the beginning of the process or only once it has been concluded? The practical implication being for incomplete draws of the knife and so on.

Hullin 28: Making the Best of an Imprecise Mechanism 28.05.2026 20min

On the bird's "one siman" being severed, does it make a difference which of the esophagus or the trachea is cut? It's a machloket, whether "either one" is enough or one specific one needs to be cut. The Gemara provides a mnemonic to support 5 different arguments, half of which support the one view above and the other half the other view. Plus, the order of when the simanim themselves are examined in the context of shechitah, and then the order of cutting. Also, what if one of the simanim were cut to be 50/50 cut/not cut -- does that count as the majority being cut or not at all cut? But how can anyone be certain, to that degree of precision?

Hullin 27: Ritual Slaughtering 27.05.2026 21min

Chapter 2! A new mishnah... On slaughtering a "bird," where cutting one "siman" (windpipe or gullet) is sufficient for kosher shechitah, or an "animal" - that requires both simanim for kosher shechitah. Which leads to a discussion of partial completion of cutting, and how much must be cut to be considered as if it were cut in full for a kosher shechitah. Plus, sourcing "shechitah" in the Torah and the fact that it's done at the neck of the animal. Also, a "drasha" on how an animal's shechitah is kosher, how fish are killed, without a requirement for shechitah, why fowl only require the severing of one pipe, and more. Plus, the interpretations that shed light on the domesticated animals as compared to the non-domesticated animals, which seem to have lesser requirements.

Hullin 26: Servitude, Seduction, Refusal, Halitzah, and Havdalah 26.05.2026 17min

Another 2 mishnayot: 1 - In the case of a girl who's to be sold to be a servant, if she is sold, then her father would not receive a fine in the event of her being raped or seduced, because it's a full sale. And vice versa. 2 - In the case of refusal, there's no halitzah, and vice versa. But there is a case of refusal, where a non-minor girl can refuse, and also would be eligible for halitzah. Also, the horn blasts calling for the coming Shabbat or festival, the terms are different for each, with details regarding Havdalah, as well, in its respective proximity to the day of the festival (before or after). (Note the holiday preceding Shabbat, as we just experienced with Shavuot and Shabbat)

Hullin 25: Snippets of Caveats 25.05.2026 13min

2 small mishnayot: 1. On vessels of wood and metal, how they each have that which is stringent and that which is lenient, as compared to the other. 2. On bitter almonds and sweet almonds, how they each have that which is obligated in the one and exempt in the other, and vice versa. Note the two different kinds of almond trees. And note that roasting almonds counteracts the cyanide at its core. Also, on "Temed" - an fermented ersatz grape juice that is not initially eligible for purchase with ma'aser sheni money -- and it would invalidate a mikveh -- until it's truly fermented. Plus, orphan brothers who are exempt from tithing their animals, but need to separate them nonetheless.

Hullin 24: Staying Youthful by Standing on One Foot 24.05.2026 10min

2 tiny mishnayot: 1 - There is that which is problematic for kohanim - to do the Temple service (namely blemishes) - that are not a problem for levi'im (Levites), and vice versa, where Levites can only serve at certain ages of majority and not for life. 2 - There is that which is impure for earthenware vessels that is pure for all other vessels, and vice versa. The Gemara goes on to explain the details of these cases.

Hullin 23: In Between 24.05.2026 11min

One who takes an oath to offer a burnt offering of a ram -- that is, at least 13 months old -- or a lamb -- 12 months, and then offers a "palgeis" -- the animal during that month from age 12 to 13 months. Has he fulfilled his oath? Given that he also brings the accompanying elements, like the grain offering and libations, one might think yes, but he didn't fulfill his own word. Plus, one who takes an oath to bring bread or matzah, and instead brings "si'ur," that which is not yet bread, but too leavened for matzah. Both of these cases are not concluded, but left as questions for which the decisions are held in abeyance: "Teiku." Also, a new mishnah: On the red heifer and the eglah arufah -- where there are details that are valid for the one and invalid for the other, and vice versa.

Hullin 22: Doves and Young Pigeons 24.05.2026 12min

A new mishnah! On bird offerings - and at what age they are suitable for offerings, depending on whether they are "doves" or "pigeons." What about the transition age? Note that both ages need to be stipulated because logic might steer us astray otherwise. Also, the Torah is specific to prevent us to think that all doves and/or all young pigeons would be acceptable. With key yellowing of plumage making the difference.

Hullin 21: Imparting Impurity from the Death Throes 21.05.2026 18min

If a neckbone of person were person - in parallel to the bird's neck the other day - the question arises as to whether or when the status of impurity kicks in. With the example of Eli the high priest of the Book of Samuel (I), who fell, whose neckbone broke, and who died, "because he was old." Also, a beraita on the melikah of a bird burnt-offering. And how it's different from a burnt-offering bird's melikah. With physical directions, in its intricacy.

Hullin 20: The Mitzvah of Melikah 20.05.2026 15min

Diving into the details of melikah -- specifically the process, and the debated points of that process. Also, some ways in which melikah is different from shechitah, the slaughtering of the animals that are not birds. Also, on what happens if the bird's neckbone breaks in such a way that it cuts the flesh as well, then there's no shechitah - and the animal is a "neveilah" - with death that didn't happen via shechitah. As compared to a tereifah.

Hullin 19: When the Animal's Life Departs 19.05.2026 16min

A descriptive daf... of details of slaughtering. That is, cutting the trachea in ways that are not obviously kosher, but may be so, and that leads to disputes over how and when which cutting took priority to determine the kashrut of the shechitah. Plus, a description of the sages sitting in rows and learning, considering different permutations where the shechitah is kosher or not. Also, what if the person doing the slaughtering is not Jewish? When is there leeway to see that shechitah as kosher? And all the implications for melikah...

Hullin 18: Serration, Cartilage, and the Stringencies of Babylonia 18.05.2026 17min

In the case of a person who doesn't send his knife to be approved by a Torah scholar, the shochet should be ostracized or, alternatively, removed from his position, depending on whose opinion or the specific circumstances. And "removing from his position" doesn't stop there - he can't sell his meat as kosher, and it is to be wiped with feces so that it can't be sold to non-Jews either. Also: 2 new mishnayot - 1: On attempting shechitah with a rounded sickle with rounded serration - it's a machloket whether that's permitted. 2. On where precisely to slaughter on the trachea. Plus, if the slaughtering were done in a lower piece of cartilage, then it's not kosher according to Rav or Shmuel, but then someone who should be their follower (or either) ate from that shechitah. Note the distinction between the leniency in the land of Israel compared to the stringency in Babylonia, and how one needed to navigate the various practices.

Hullin 17: Knives Out 17.05.2026 17min

On the phrasing of everyone can slaughter, everywhere and when, and with anything that can do proper slaughter (for example, a shard of glass). The Gemara shifts the focus from the animal to the person during the slaughtering - to include the Samaritan and a sinner, for example. Plus, Shmuel's father sent a knife and a question about it to the sages in the land of Israel to determine the permissibility of using it for shechitah. Also, the concerns about notched knives and how we know to check such a knife from the Torah. Plus, the different ways of checking the knife, including the sage who tested it on his own tongue.

Hullin 16: Machine Shechitah 16.05.2026 16min

What if one accomplishes shechitah by means of a mechanism that slaughters the animal - is that shechitah kosher? The answer lies in how much human involvement there is to activate that mechanism. Also, parsing the statements that "all are slaughtered" -- namely, every animal needs proper slaughtering. Plus, how eating meat in the wilderness was not allowed because shechitah wasn't possible, but then, when the Israelites came to the land of Israel, they were able to slaughter and eat the meat of animals. And now (in the time of the Gemara), after exile, shechitah continues instead of returning to the practice of the wilderness. Plus, the dispute between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva with regard to how meat could be made acceptable in the wilderness.

Hullin 15: Shechting and Cooking on Shabbat: A Decree against Temptation 15.05.2026 16min

More on Hilkhot Shabbat - with a baraita that connects between Hullin and Shabbat. One who cooks on Shabbat without intent, one can eat that food (though the person who cooked it may have to wait until after Shabbat, depending on whom you ask) - even before the end of Shabbat. If it was intentional, then the food can't be eaten, even after Shabbat, by anyone. Also, what about doing shechitah for someone who is ill on Shabbat, in the event that such a person would need that meat on Shabbat? The ill person is eligible to eat this meat, of course, but can a healthy person eat from that same shechitah that was done on Shabbat? Note the rabbinic decree to prevent the temptation of increasing the cooking on Shabbat. Plus, all tools that are sharp enough and smooth enough will yield a kosher shechitah.

Hullin 14: What Is the Purpose of Animals? 14.05.2026 17min

A new mishnah (a tiny one)! One who slaughters an animal on Shabbat or Yom Kippur is liable for a death sentence, but the shechitah itself is kosher. But that would only hold true in the case where nothing could have been done to prepare the same shechitah before Shabbat (at the latest, some time on Friday) -- otherwise, it has to be prepared in advance. Especially if meat were to be given to dogs, for example. But can an animal really be "prepared" in advance? Are they really in the world to serve human beings? The Gemara says that their primary purpose is to live in the world, reproduce, and so on. Also, the rest of the Gemara addresses many different concepts of Shabbat - the first being "nolad" -- that which comes into existence on Shabbat. With application to the juices that emerge from the fruit over Shabbat (grapes, olives, and more). Plus, the concern regarding when animals are in the service of human beings - after shechitah is clear, but when in the decision to slaughter the animal to begin with?