Color Code:
Case: Black
Ruling: Green or Red
Name of opposing Tanna: Gold
Reason: Blue
Condition: Purple
Rule:Fuscia
Chapter 3
The third chapter of Meseches Chullin focuses on two topics. First, the Mishnah identifies, for both animals and birds, the physical defects that will qualify them as a Treifa. Broadly speaking, a Treifa is characterized as an animal suffering a physical ailment or injury to a particular organ or limb that, under normal circumstances, would cause it to die. Cast as a Treifa, the meat is prohibited but, if properly Shechted, the animal will not be a Niveila.
Second, the Mishnah identifies the physical traits identifying a bird, fish and locust as Kosher.
Introduction to Treifos
While the literal translation of Treifos is an animal or bird mauled by another creature, the Chachomim understood the Torah's reference to Treifa as being of broader scope. Namely, it covers injuries sustained though mauling, self infliction and even natural causes. Importantly, the defect must be to a specific organ and not be just of general illness or sickness.
The Mishnah will list specific defects and injuries and the Talmud identifies many more. The Tosfos Yom Tov, helpfully, groups them into eight broad categories:
- D'rusah: torn/mauled
- Nekuvah: a piercing or a hole in an organ
- Chaseirah: missing an organ (from birth)
- Netulah: an organ take out or removed (after birth)
- K'ruah: torn
- Nefulah: felled
- Pesukah: severed
- Shavurah: broken
Almost all of the Treifos that will be discussed in the following Mishnayos will fall within these categories.
It is important to note, that the brevity of the Mishnayos notwithstanding, the Talmud and later Meforshim both qualify and amplify the nature of the these Treifos, making a mofe fulsome description beyond the scope of this summary.
Mishnah 3:1
Our Mishnah describes those injuries and defects that will qualify an animal as a Treifa.
(א) אֵלּוּ טְרֵפוֹת בַּבְּהֵמָה.
נְקוּבַת הַוֶּשֶׁט,
וּפְסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת,
נִקַּב קְרוּם שֶׁל מֹחַ,
נִקַּב הַלֵּב לְבֵית חֲלָלוֹ,
נִשְׁבְּרָה הַשִּׁדְרָה וְנִפְסַק הַחוּט שֶׁלָּהּ,
נִטַּל הַכָּבֵד וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּיֵּר הֵימֶנּוּ כְלוּם,
הָרֵאָה שֶׁנִּקְּבָה, אוֹ שֶׁחָסְרָה, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, עַד שֶׁתִּנָּקֵב לְבֵית הַסִּמְפּוֹנוֹת.
נִקְּבָה הַקֵּבָה,
נִקְּבָה הַמָּרָה,
נִקְּבוּ הַדַּקִּין,
הַכֶּרֶס הַפְּנִימִית שֶׁנִּקְּבָה, אוֹ שֶׁנִּקְרַע רֹב הַחִיצוֹנָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הַגְּדוֹלָה טֶפַח, וְהַקְּטַנָּה בְּרֻבָּהּ.
הַמְסֵס וּבֵית הַכּוֹסוֹת שֶׁנִּקְּבוּ לַחוּץ,
נָפְלָה מִן הַגַּג,
נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ רֹב צַלְעוֹתֶיהָ,
וּדְרוּסַת הַזְּאֵב. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, דְּרוּסַת הַזְּאֵב בַּדַּקָּה, וּדְרוּסַת אֲרִי בַּגַּסָּה,
דְּרוּסַת הַנֵּץ בָּעוֹף הַדַּק, וּדְרוּסַת הַגַּס בָּעוֹף הַגָּס.
זֶה הַכְּלָל, כֹּל שֶׁאֵין כָּמוֹהָ חַיָּה, טְרֵפָה:
(1) The following [defects] render cattle terefah:If the esophagus was pierced; If the windpipe severed; If the membrane of the brain was pierced; If the heart was pierced as far as its cavity thereof; If the spine was broken and the cord severed; If the liver was gone and none of it remained; If the lung was pierced, Or if part of it was missing Rabbi Shimon says: only if it was pierced as far as the main bronchi; If the stomach, If the gall-bladder was pierced, If the intestines were pierced; If the innermost stomach was pierced, If the greater part of the outer stomach was pierced. Rabbi Judah says: in a large animal [if it was torn] to the extent of a handbreadth, and in a small animal the greater part. If the omasum (the third stomach of a ruminant) [was pierced]; Of if the second stomach was pierced on the outside; If the animal fell from the roof; If most of its ribs were fractured; Or if it was mauled by a wolf Rabbi Judah says: small animals [are terefah] if mauled by a wolf, large cattle if mauled by a lion; small fowl if mauled by a hawk, large fowl if mauled by a falcon. This is the rule: if an animal with a similar defect could not continue to live, it is terefah.
Mishnah 3:2
Our Mishnah, describes those ailments and injuries, while similar to the prior Mishnah, which do not qualify as a Treifa.
(ב) וְאֵלּוּ כְשֵׁרוֹת בַּבְּהֵמָה.
נִקְּבָה הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת אוֹ שֶׁנִּסְדְּקָה.
עַד כַּמָּה תֶּחְסַר. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, עַד כָּאִסָּר הָאִיטַלְקִי.
נִפְחֲתָה הַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת וְלֹא נִקַּב קְרוּם שֶׁל מֹחַ,
נִקַּב הַלֵּב וְלֹא לְבֵית חֲלָלוֹ,
נִשְׁבְּרָה הַשִּׁדְרָה וְלֹא נִפְסַק הַחוּט שֶׁלָּהּ,
נִטְּלָה הַכָּבֵד וְנִשְׁתַּיֵּר הֵימֶנָּה כַזָּיִת,
הַמְסֵס וּבֵית הַכּוֹסוֹת שֶׁנִּקְּבוּ זֶה לְתוֹךְ זֶה,
נִטַּל הַטְּחוֹל,
נִטְּלוּ הַכְּלָיוֹת,
נִטַּל לְחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן,
נִטַּל הָאֵם שֶׁלָּהּ,
וַחֲרוּתָה בִידֵי שָׁמָיִם.
הַגְּלוּדָה, רַבִּי מֵאִיר מַכְשִׁיר, וַחֲכָמִים פּוֹסְלִין:
(2) And the following [defects] do not render cattle terefah:If the windpipe was pierced, or cracked [lengthwise]. To what extent may it be deficient? Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel says: up to an Italian issar. If the skull was cracked but the membrane of the brain was not pierced; If the heart was pierced but not as far as its cavity; If the spine was broken but the cord was not severed; If the liver was removed but an olive's size of it remained. If the omasum or the third stomach were pierced at their juncture; If the spleen was removed, or the kidneys, or the lower jaw-bone or the womb. If [the lung] was shrunken up by an act of Heaven. If an animal was stripped of its hide: Rabbi Meir declares it valid But the rabbis declare it invalid.
Mishnah 3:3
Like Mishnah 3:1, our Mishnah lists those injuries and ailments that qualify a bird as a Treifa.
(ג) וְאֵלּוּ טְרֵפוֹת בָּעוֹף.
נְקוּבַת הַוֶּשֶׁט,
פְּסוּקַת הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת,
הִכַּתָּהּ חֻלְדָּה עַל רֹאשָׁהּ, מְקוֹם שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ טְרֵפָה,
נִקַּב הַקֻּרְקְבָן,
נִקְּבוּ הַדַּקִּין,
נָפְלָה לָאוּר וְנֶחְמְרוּ בְנֵי מֵעֶיהָ, אִם יְרֻקִּים, פְּסוּלִין. אִם אֲדֻמִּים, כְּשֵׁרִים.
דְּרָסָהּ,
וּטְרָפָהּ בַּכֹּתֶל,
אוֹ שֶׁרִצְּצַתָּהּ בְּהֵמָה וּמְפַרְכֶּסֶת, וְשָׁהֲתָה מֵעֵת לְעֵת וּשְׁחָטָהּ, כְּשֵׁרָה:
(3) The following [defects] render birds terefah:If the esophagus was pierced, If the windpipe was severed; If a weasel struck [the bird] on the head in such a place as would render it terefah. If the gizzard was pierced If the intestines were pierced. If it fell into the fire and its innards were scorched: If they turned green, it is invalid, But if they remained red it is valid. If one trod upon it or knocked it against a wall or if an animal trampled upon it, and it still jerks its limbs, and it remained alive after this for twenty-four hours, and it was thereafter slaughtered, it is valid.
Mishnah 3 4
Following the pattern, our Mishnah list those injuries and ailments that would not render a bird a Treifa.
(ד) וְאֵלּוּ כְשֵׁרוֹת בָּעוֹף.
נִקְּבָה הַגַּרְגֶּרֶת אוֹ שֶׁנִּסְדְּקָה,
הִכַּתָּהּ חֻלְדָּה עַל רֹאשָׁהּ, מְקוֹם שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ טְרֵפָה,
נִקַּב הַזֶּפֶק. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר, אֲפִלּוּ נִטָּל.
יָצְאוּ בְנֵי מֵעֶיהָ וְלֹא נִקְּבוּ,
נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ גַפֶּיהָ,
נִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ רַגְלֶיהָ,
נִמְרְטוּ כְנָפֶיהָ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אִם נִטְּלָה הַנּוֹצָה, פְּסוּלָה:
(4) And the following [defects] do not render birds terefah:If the windpipe was pierced or cracked lengthwise; If a weasel struck it on the head in such a place as would not render it terefah. If the crop was pierced Rabbi says: even if it was gone. If the innards protruded [from the body] but were not pierced. If its wings were broken, or its legs; or if [the wing’s] feathers were plucked. Rabbi Judah says: if its down was gone it is invalid.
Mishnah 3:5
Our Mishnah describes a series of ailments affecting an animal that, while seemingly rendering them sick and likely to die, nevertheless, does not render them a Treifah. Further, the Mishnah cautions against eating an animal that has either ingested poison or was bitten by a venomous snake. Although not a Treifa, the Mishnah is concerned that eating the meat of such an animal is dangerous and must be avoided.
(ה) אֲחוּזַת הַדָּם,
וְהַמְּעֻשֶּׁנֶת,
וְהַמְצֻנֶּנֶת,
וְשֶׁאָכְלָה הַרְדֻּפְנִי,
וְשֶׁאָכְלָה צוֹאַת תַּרְנְגוֹלִים,
אוֹ שֶׁשָּׁתְתָה מַיִם הָרָעִים,
כְּשֵׁרָה.
אָכְלָה סַם הַמָּוֶת אוֹ שֶׁהִכִּישָׁהּ נָחָשׁ,
מֻתֶּרֶת מִשּׁוּם טְרֵפָה, וַאֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם סַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת:
(5) [If an animal] suffered from congestion of the blood, or was overcome by smoke or by a cold, or if it ate oleander or chicken dung, or if it drank noxious water, it is permitted. If it ate poison or was bitten by a snake, it is not forbidden as trefah but it is forbidden as a danger to life.
Mishnah 3:6
Unlike with animals, rather than identify the telltale signs of a Kosher Bird, the Torah merely lists the [24] species of non-Kosher birds. The direct implication being, that any bird not so listed is Kosher and may be eaten. Nevertheless, with the vagaries of time, the precise identification of the non-Kosher birds was lost and, in their stead, the Chahcomim distilled a set of criteria for identifying a Kosher bird. Our Mishnah sets forth identifying features.
Importantly, over the generations it has become customary to consume only those birds that have some form of oral tradition as being kosher. The exact criteria are somewhat fluid and have been the subject of heated debate over the years.
(ו) סִימָנֵי בְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה נֶאֶמְרוּ מִן הַתּוֹרָה,
וְסִימָנֵי הָעוֹף לֹא נֶאֱמָרוּ.
אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים,
כָּל עוֹף הַדּוֹרֵס, טָמֵא.
כֹּל שֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ אֶצְבַּע יְתֵרָה, וְזֶפֶק, וְקֻרְקְבָנוֹ נִקְלָף, טָהוֹר.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בַּר צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר, כָּל עוֹף הַחוֹלֵק אֶת רַגְלָיו, טָמֵא:
(6) The characteristics of cattle and of wild animals are stated in the Torah. The characteristics of birds are not stated, but the sages said: every bird that seizes its prey is unclean. Every bird that has an extra toe, or a crop and a gizzard that can be peeled, is clean. Rabbi Elazar bar Zadok says: every bird that parts its toes is unclean.
Mishnah 3:7
Having set forth the Kosher signs for birds, our Mishnah turns its attention to grasshoppers/locusts and fish. Although the Torah list some of the signs of a kosher grasshopper, four legs and legs that stretch above its body (i.e., leaping legs), the concept of requiring four wings that cover most of its body is Rabbinically derived. Finally, although the Torah is clear regarding the Kosher signs for fish, requiring both scales and fins, our Mishnah sets forth some minor additional conditions and details used to identify Kosher fish.
(ז) וּבַחֲגָבִים,
כֹּל שֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ אַרְבַּע רַגְלַיִם, וְאַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם, וְקַרְסֻלַּיִם, וּכְנָפָיו חוֹפִין אֶת רֻבּוֹ.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, וּשְׁמוֹ חָגָב.
וּבַדָּגִים, כֹּל שֶׁיֶּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקָשֶׂת.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, שְׁנֵי קַשְׂקַשִּׂין וּסְנַפִּיר אֶחָד.
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן קַשְׂקַשִּׂין, הַקְּבוּעִין בּוֹ. וּסְנַפִּירִין, הַפּוֹרֵחַ בָּהֶן:
(7) Of locusts: all that have four legs, four wings, leaping legs, and wings covering the greater part of the body, [are clean.] Rabbi Yose says: its name must be locust. Of fishes: all that have fins and scales [are clean]. Rabbi Judah says: there must be [at least] two scales and one fin. The scales are those which are immovable, the fins are those [wings] by which it swims.