Overview
This daf completes the discussion of Peter Chamor and then develops a fundamental Torah principle:
ืืืืฆื ืื ืืืื ืืื, ืืืืืฆื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืจ
Whatever comes from a non-kosher animal is non-kosher, and whatever comes from a kosher animal is kosher.
The Gemara also analyzes offspring born from animals of a different species and whether partial identifying signs are enough to create sanctity.
Why Does the Torah Repeat โPeter Chamorโ?
The Torah says:
ืคืืจ ืืืืจ
ืคืืจ ืืืืจ
twice.
Rabbi Yose HaGelili derives:
Only firstborn donkeys require redemption.
Not:
- Horses
- Camels
- Other non-kosher animals
The repetition excludes all other species.
The Rabbisโ Source
The Rabbis derive the exclusion differently.
The verse states:
ืื ืืงื ื ืชืืืจ
as a general statement,
followed by:
ืฉืืจ ืืฉื ืืืืืจ
as a specific statement.
Applying the rule of:
ืืื ืืคืจื
only those species specifically mentioned are included.
Thus:
- Ox
- Sheep
- Donkey
are included,
while horses and camels are excluded.
A Series of Questions About Unusual Births
The Gemara asks several unresolved questions.
Case 1
A cow gives birth to something resembling a donkey, but the offspring has some cow characteristics.
Is it considered a bechor?
Case 2
A donkey gives birth to something resembling a horse.
Do a few donkey signs suffice?
Case 3
A cow gives birth to something resembling a horse.
Can identifying signs alone create sanctity?
The Attempted Proof
The Gemara cites the Mishnah:
A kosher animal that gives birth to a non-kosher species is exempt from Bechorah.
But:
If it has some identifying signs of the mother species, it can be obligated.
The Gemara examines whether this proves that partial signs are significant even across very different species.
The proof is ultimately rejected.
The Kashrut Rule
The Mishnah had stated:
A kosher animal that gives birth to something resembling a non-kosher animal
The offspring is kosher.
A non-kosher animal that gives birth to something resembling a kosher animal
The offspring is forbidden.
The Gemara explains the source.
The Beraita
The verse states:
ืื ืืช ืื ืื ืชืืืื
The Sages derive:
There exists something that has kosher characteristics:
- Chews its cud
- Split hooves
yet may not be eaten.
What is it?
A kosher-looking offspring born from a non-kosher mother.
Proof from the Camel
The Torah says:
ืืื ืืื
regarding the camel.
The Gemara derives:
The camel itself is non-kosher.
But:
A kosher animal born from a kosher mother is not rendered non-kosher merely because it resembles a camel.
Thus:
The motherโs identity determines the status.
Rabbi Shimonโs Derivation
Rabbi Shimon derives the same rule from the repetition:
ืืื ืืื
One camel refers to:
- A camel born from a camel.
The second includes:
- A camel born from a cow.
Therefore appearance alone does not determine status.
Milk of a Non-Kosher Animal
The Gemara asks:
Why did Rabbi Shimon need special verses for milk?
Shouldnโt we already know that what comes from a non-kosher animal is prohibited?
The Gemara explains that milk is unusual.
One might have argued:
Since milk is permitted despite originating from blood-like nutrients, perhaps non-kosher milk should also be permitted.
Therefore a verse is necessary.
How Do We Know Kosher Milk Is Permitted?
The Gemara brings several proofs.
Proof 1
The verse says:
ืืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืืื
โThere will be enough goatโs milk for your food.โ
Milk is described as food.
Proof 2
David sent:
ืขืฉืจืช ืืจืืฆื ืืืื
Ten portions of cheese.
Clearly intended for consumption.
Proof 3
The Land of Israel is praised as:
ืืจืฅ ืืืช ืืื ืืืืฉ
A land flowing with milk and honey.
The Torah would not praise the Land with forbidden food.
Proof 4
Yeshayahu says:
ืืื ืฉืืจื ืืืืืโฆ ืืื ืืืื
Wine and milk are described as consumable foods.
A New Beraita: Sheep and Goats
The Gemara returns to the case:
- A sheep gives birth to a goat-like offspring.
- A goat gives birth to a sheep-like offspring.
First Opinion
If there are some identifying signs of the mother:
The offspring can have Bechor status.
Rabbi Shimon
A much stricter requirement:
The offspring must have its head and the majority of its body resembling the mother.
Rabbi Shimonโs Question
The Gemara leaves an unresolved question:
Does Rabbi Shimon require:
Head and majority
only for Bechorah,
or also for determining whether the offspring is kosher for eating?
The daf ends without resolving the issue.
Main Takeaway of the Daf
Three important principles emerge:
- Peter Chamor applies only to donkeys, not to horses or camels.
- The offspringโs kosher status follows the mother, not its appearance.
- For Bechorah, partial signs may suffice according to the Sages, while Rabbi Shimon requires the head and most of the body to resemble the mother.