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Avodah Zarah 40a

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Avodah Zarah 40a

Avodah Zarah 40a. The full printed text of this folio side — 14 numbered segments, about 470 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

שׁוֹטְטוֹת בּוֹ. הַשְׁתָּא כִּילְבִּית אַחַת אָמְרַתְּ שְׁרֵי, שְׁתֵּי כִּילְבִּיּוֹת מִבַּעְיָא? לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן בִּפְתוּחוֹת, כָּאן בִּסְתוּמוֹת.

floating in it. The Gemara asks: Now that you have said that brine which has only one kilbit in it is permitted, is it necessary to teach that brine that has two kilbiyot in it is also permitted? The Gemara explains that it is not difficult: Here, two kilbiyot are required to permit the brine, as it is contained in open barrels, but there, only one is required, since it is in sealed barrels.

Segment 2

אִיתְּמַר: רַב הוּנָא אָמַר: עַד (שֶׁתְּהֵא) [שֶׁיְּהֵא] רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר, רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: אוֹ רֹאשׁ אוֹ שִׁדְרָה. מֵתִיב רַב עוּקְבָא בַּר חָמָא: וּבַדָּגִים כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת! אֲמַר אַבָּיֵי: כִּי תַּנְיָא הָהִיא בְּאָרָא וּפַלְמוּדָא, דְּדָמוּ רֵישַׁיְיהוּ לִטְמֵאִים.

§ It was stated that Rav Huna says: Tarit is not permitted for consumption until its head and spine are recognizable. Rav Naḥman says: It is permitted if either the head or the spine is recognizable. Rav Ukva bar Ḥama raises an objection from a mishna ( Ḥullin 59a): And with regard to fish, any that has fins and scales is permitted. Evidently, the kashrut of fish is determined only by its fins and scales, not its head or its spine. Abaye said: When that mishna is taught, it is in reference to the ara’a and falmuda fish, whose heads are similar to the heads of non-kosher fish.

Segment 3

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אָסוּר עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: מֵרֵישׁ הֲוָה מְטַבֵּילְנָא בְּצִירָן, כֵּיוָן דִּשְׁמַעְנָא לְהָא דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אָסוּר עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר, בְּצִירָן נָמֵי לָא מְטַבֵּילְנָא.

The Gemara analyzes the dispute between Rav Huna and Rav Naḥman. Rav Yehuda said in the name of Ulla: The dispute applies to dipping foods in their brine, but with regard to eating their actual bodies, everyone agrees that it is prohibited until both the head and the spine are recognizable. The Gemara notes that Rabbi Zeira said: Originally, I would dip foods in their brine, but once I heard that which Rav Yehuda said in the name of Ulla: The dispute is only with regard to dipping foods in their brine, but with regard to eating their actual bodies everyone agrees that it is prohibited until both the head and the spine are recognizable; I too no longer dip foods in their brine.

Segment 4

אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, הִלְכְתָא: עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר שֶׁל כׇּל אַחַת וְאַחַת. מֵיתִיבִי: חֲתִיכוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן סִימָן, בֵּין בְּכוּלָּן בֵּין בְּמִקְצָתָן, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּאֶחָד מִמֵּאָה שֶׁבָּהֶן — כּוּלָּן מוּתָּרוֹת, וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁהֵבִיא גָּרָב שֶׁל חֲתִיכוֹת, וְנִמְצָא סִימָן בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן, וְהִתִּיר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אֶת הַגָּרָב כּוּלּוֹ!

Rav Pappa said: The halakha is that tarit is prohibited until the head and spine of each and every fish is recognizable. The Gemara raises an objection to Rav Pappa’s statement from a baraita : With regard to pieces of fish that have a sign of kashrut, whether this sign is present in all of them or only in a minority of them, and even if it is present in only one fish out of one hundred of them, they are all permitted. And there was an incident involving a certain gentile who brought a large jug of pieces of fish, and a sign of kashrut was found in one of them, and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel permitted the entire jug of fish. This apparently contradicts Rav Pappa’s assertion that all the pieces must be recognizable for them to be permitted.

Segment 5

תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב פָּפָּא: כְּשֶׁחֲתִיכוֹת שָׁווֹת. אִי הָכִי, מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא נֵיחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא אִתְרְמִי, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

Rav Pappa interpreted that baraita as referring to a case where the pieces correspond to each other, i.e., they fit together so that it is clear that they are all from the same fish. The Gemara raises a difficulty: If that is so, what is the purpose of stating this explicitly? If the pieces correspond it is obvious that they are permitted, as they evidently come from the same kosher fish. The Gemara explains that this was taught lest you say that one should be concerned that perhaps the pieces merely happened to fit together; the baraita therefore teaches us that in such a case the pieces are permitted.

Segment 6

הָהוּא אַרְבָּא דְּצַחַנְתָּא דַּאֲתַי לְסִיכְרָא, נְפַק רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא וַחֲזָא בֵּיהּ קִלְפֵי וְשַׁרְיֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: וּמִי אִיכָּא דְּשָׁרֵי כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא בְּאַתְרָא דִּשְׁכִיחִי קִלְפֵי? נָפֵק שִׁיפּוּרֵי דְּרָבָא וְאָסַר, שִׁיפּוּרֵי דְּרַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא וְשָׁרֵי.

The Gemara relates that there was a certain ship carrying tzaḥanta which came to the city of Sikhra. Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana went out and saw that the fish had scales on them and permitted them, as any fish with scales is kosher. Rava said to him: But is there anyone who permits tzaḥanta in a case like this, when it is from a land where fish with scales are common and it is very possible that the scales are from kosher fish that had been in the boat previously? Shofarot went out from the court of Rava to herald a declaration promulgating his ruling, and he thereby prohibited all the fish on that boat. And shofarot went out from the court of Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana, and he thereby permitted the fish.

Segment 7

אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּפְתִּי: לְדִידִי אָמַר לִי רַב פַּפֵּי, כִּי שְׁרָא רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא — בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן לָא. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: לְדִידִי אָמַר לִי רַב פָּפָּא, כִּי שְׁרָא רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא — אֲפִילּוּ בְּגוּפָן.

The Gemara presents two interpretations of the above ruling. Rav Yirmeya of Difti said: Rav Pappi said to me that when Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana permitted the fish on the ship, he was referring only to their brine, but with regard to their bodies, no, he did not permit them. Rav Ashi said: Rav Pappa said to me that when Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana permitted the fish, he was referring even to their bodies.

Segment 8

וַאֲנָא לָא מֵיסָר אָסַרְנָא, דְּקָאָמַר לִי רַב פָּפָּא, וְלָא מִישְׁרֵא שָׁרֵינָא, דְּהָא אָמַר (לִי) רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר שֶׁל כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד.

Rav Ashi continued: And I do not prohibit the fish, as Rav Pappa said to me that Rav Huna permitted it, but I also do not permit the fish, as Rav Yehuda said to me in the name of Ulla that the dispute between Rava and Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana is referring to dipping foods in their brine, but with regard to eating their actual bodies, everyone agrees that it is prohibited until both the head and spine of each and every fish are recognizable.

Segment 9

יָתֵיב רַב חִינָּנָא בַּר אִידִי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה, וְיָתֵיב וְקָאָמַר: גּוֹי שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲרֵיבָה מְלֵאָה חָבִיּוֹת, וְנִמְצֵאת כִּילְבִּית בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן — פְּתוּחוֹת, כּוּלָּן מוּתָּרוֹת; סְתוּמוֹת, הִיא מוּתֶּרֶת וְכוּלָּן אֲסוּרוֹת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָךְ הָא? מִתְּלָתָא קְרָאֵי שְׁמִיעַ לִי, מֵרַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן.

Rav Ḥinnana bar Idi sat before Rav Adda bar Ahava, and he sat and said: With regard to a gentile who brought a boat that was full of barrels of fish brine, and a kilbit was found in one of the barrels, the halakha is as follows: If the barrels were open, they are all permitted; if they were closed, then the barrel with the kilbit is permitted, and all the others are prohibited. Rav Adda bar Ahava said to him: From where do you know this? Rav Ḥinnana bar Idi responded: I heard this from three verses, i.e., great Sages upon whom one can rely as though their statements were recorded in verses: From Rav and Shmuel and Rabbi Yoḥanan.

Segment 10

אָמַר רַב בְּרוֹנָא אָמַר רַב: קִירְבֵי דָּגִים וְעוּבָּרָן אֵין נִקָּחִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמּוּמְחֶה. רָמֵי לֵיהּ עוּלָּא לְרַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי דְּמִן בֵּירֵי, מִדְּקָאָמַר רַב: קִירְבֵי דָּגִים וְעוּבָּרָן אֵין נִקָּחִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמּוּמְחֶה — מִכְּלָל דְּדָג טָמֵא אִית לֵיהּ עוּבָּר, וּרְמִינְהִי: דָּג טָמֵא מַשְׁרִיץ, דָּג טָהוֹר מֵטִיל בֵּיצִים!

§ The Gemara discusses the halakha with regard to other parts of fish. Rav Beruna says that Rav says: Fish intestines and their roe may be purchased only from an expert. Ulla raises a contradiction to Rabbi Dostai of Biri: From the fact that Rav says: Fish intestines and their roe may be purchased only from an expert, it may be inferred that a non-kosher fish has roe, as otherwise there would be no reason to permit only roe purchased from an expert. And the Gemara raises a contradiction to this claim from the following baraita : A non-kosher fish gives birth whereas a kosher fish lays eggs.

Segment 11

סְמִי מִכָּאן ״עוּבָּרָן״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא: לָא תִּיסְמֵי, תַּרְוַיְיהוּ מְטִילֵי בֵּיצִים נִינְהוּ, אֶלָּא זֶה מַשְׁרִיץ מִבַּחוּץ, וְזֶה מַשְׁרִיץ מִבִּפְנִים.

Rabbi Dostai accepted this opinion and said: Delete the phrase: Their roe, from here. Rabbi Zeira said to him: Do not delete it, as both kosher and non-kosher fish are fish that lay, i.e., produce, eggs, but this kosher fish propagates externally by laying eggs in the water which later hatch, and that non-kosher fish propagates internally by keeping the eggs in its own body until they develop. Nevertheless, both produce roe, and there is therefore reason to be concerned that a Jew might purchase non-kosher roe.

Segment 12

לְמָה לִי מוּמְחֶה? לִבְדּוֹק בְּסִימָנִין! דְּתַנְיָא: כְּסִימָנֵי בֵיצִים כָּךְ סִימָנֵי דָגִים. סִימָנֵי דָגִים סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ? סִימָנֵי דָגִים ״סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׁקֶשֶׁת״ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ! אֶלָּא, כְּסִימָנֵי בֵיצִים כָּךְ סִימָנֵי עוּבְּרֵי דָגִים.

The Gemara asks: But even so, why do I need an expert? Let one check the signs of kashrut on the roe himself, as it is taught in a baraita : Like the signs of bird eggs, so are the signs of fish. The Gemara interjects: Does it enter your mind to say that the signs of kashrut for fish are the same as the signs of kashrut for eggs? This is not so, as the signs of kosher fish are the possession of fins and scales, as written in the Torah with regard to them. Rather, the baraita means to say: Like the signs of bird eggs, so are the signs of fish roe.

Segment 13

וְאֵלּוּ הֵן סִימָנֵי בֵיצִים: כֹּל שֶׁכּוֹדֶרֶת וַעֲגוּלְגֹּלֶת, רֹאשָׁהּ אֶחָד כַּד וְרֹאשָׁהּ אֶחָד חַד — טְהוֹרָה, שְׁנֵי רָאשֶׁיהָ חַדִּין וּשְׁנֵי רָאשֶׁיהָ כַּדִּין — טְמֵאָה, חֶלְמוֹן מִבַּחוּץ וְחֶלְבּוֹן מִבִּפְנִים — טְמֵאָה, חֶלְבּוֹן מִבַּחוּץ וְחֶלְמוֹן מִבִּפְנִים — טָהוֹר, חֶלְבּוֹן וְחֶלְמוֹן מְעוֹרָבִין זֶה בָּזֶה — זוֹ הִיא בֵּיצַת הַשֶּׁרֶץ. אָמַר רָבָא: כְּשֶׁנִּימּוֹחוּ.

The baraita continues: And these are the signs of bird eggs: Any egg that narrows at the top and is rounded, so that one of its ends is wide and the other one of its ends is pointed is kosher. If both of its ends are sharp or both of its ends are wide, it is non-kosher. If the yolk is on the outside and the albumen is on the inside, it is non-kosher; if the albumen is on the outside and the yolk is on the inside, it is kosher. If the yolk and albumen are mixed with each other, this is the egg of a creeping animal. Considering that one can easily determine the kashrut of such eggs, why are only those purchased from an expert permitted? Rava says: Rav’s ruling refers specifically to a case where the eggs have melted together and it is impossible to determine whether or not they are kosher based on these signs.

Segment 14

וּלְרַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי דְּמִן בֵּירֵי, דְּאָמַר: סְמִי מִכָּאן ״עוּבָּרָן״,

The Gemara asks: But according to the opinion of Rabbi Dostai of Biri, who accepted the idea that non-kosher fish do not lay eggs and says: Delete from here the phrase: Their roe, it is difficult.

Avodah Zarah 40a

Avodah Zarah 40a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

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Gilyon HaShas

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