Overview
Chullin 133 continues the laws of ืืจืืข, ืืืืื ืืงืืื and addresses a practical question:
Which Kohanim should receive the gifts, and what attitude should a Kohen have toward receiving them?
The daf combines halachic discussions with ethical teachings about dignity, humility, greed, and Torah scholarship.
A Kohen Must Know the Proper Preparation
The Gemara cites Rav:
The tendons found in the jaw (ืืืืื ืฉืืืื) are prohibited.
Initially the Gemara suggests that a Kohen who does not know how to remove them should not receive the gifts. Ultimately it rejects this, explaining that the concern can be resolved through proper preparation, salting, or roasting.
The conclusion is that lack of expertise alone does not disqualify a Kohen from receiving the gifts.
May a Kohen Grab the Gifts for Himself?
Rava asked Rav Yosef:
If a Kohen grabs the gifts, is he showing love for the mitzvah or disrespect for it?
The Gemara derives from the verse:
โืื ืชืโ
โAnd he shall giveโ
that the mitzvah is for the owner to give, not for the Kohen to seize.
A Kohen should receive the gifts with dignity rather than taking them for himself.
Abayeโs Personal Practice
Abaye describes how his own conduct evolved:
At first:
He would take the gifts himself, believing he was demonstrating affection for the mitzvah.
Later:
After learning โืื ืชื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืขืฆืืโ he stopped grabbing them.
Later still:
He stopped even asking people to give them to him.
Finally:
He would not even accept them when offered, except on Erev Yom Kippur, when accepting them helped strengthen the status of the Kehunah.
The Gemara presents this as a model of humility and restraint.
Giving Gifts to a Poor Torah Scholar
Rav Yosef rules:
If a poor Torah scholar lives nearby, one may designate the gifts for him even before he physically receives them.
This is based on the concept of:
ืืืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืืื
a known Kohen or Levi who regularly receives gifts from a particular family.
The Story of Rava and Rav Safra
Rava and Rav Safra were guests at a meal where Matanot Kehunah were available.
Rava arranged to acquire the rights to the gifts and ate from them.
Rav Safra did not.
Later a verse appeared to Rav Safra in a dream:
โืืขืื ืืื ืืืื ืงืจืโฆโ
He worried this reflected a failing.
Rav Yosef explained the matter and clarified that Rav Safra had acted appropriately.
The sugya develops into a broader discussion about honoring Torah and choosing proper students.
Teaching an Unworthy Student
The Gemara cites powerful statements:
Rav Yehudah in the name of Rav:
One who teaches Torah to an unworthy student:
Falls into Gehinnom.
Rabbi Zeira:
Teaching an unworthy student is like:
Throwing a stone to Mercury (Markulis).
The daf emphasizes that Torah must be entrusted responsibly.
Partnerships with Non-Jews and Kohanim
The Mishnah had taught:
A person partnering with a non-Jew or a Kohen must leave a recognizable mark (ืจืืฉืื).
The Gemara explains the purpose:
People who see meat in the marketplace should recognize why priestly gifts are absent.
In various cases involving:
- Non-Jews,
- Kohanim,
- Disqualified korban animals,
different rules apply about when marking is required.
Partial Ownership of Animal Parts
Rav Huna rules:
- Partner in the head โ exempt from the jaw.
- Partner in the foreleg โ exempt from the foreleg gift.
- Partner in the stomach โ exempt from the stomach gift.
A dispute follows whether ownership of one portion exempts only that gift or all gifts.
The Gemara concludes against the broader exemption suggested by Chiya bar Rav.
The Twenty-Four Gifts of Kehunah
A Beraita lists the famous:
24 gifts of Kehunah
including:
In the Mikdash:
- Chattat
- Asham
- Lechem HaPanim
- Minchah remnants
In Jerusalem:
- Bikurim
- Bechor
- Nazir offerings
Outside:
- Terumah
- Challah
- Reishit HaGez
- Zeroโa, Lechayayim, and Keivah
- Pidyon HaBen
- Pidyon Peter Chamor
The Gemara discusses the structure of the list and whether some gifts count separately or as groups.
Beginning of Daf 134
The Gemara opens the next sugya:
If an owner says:
โThe animal is sold except for the priestly gifts,โ
does he retain those gifts?
The Gemara distinguishes between:
- โืืืฅโ (excluding them explicitly),
- and โืขื ืื ืชโ (making a condition),
which become important concepts in later halachah.
Big Idea of the Daf
The central message of Chullin 133 is:
A Kohen has a right to receive Matanot Kehunah, but he must do so with dignity.
The daf repeatedly contrasts:
- grabbing versus receiving,
- entitlement versus humility,
- personal gain versus honoring Torah.
Even when the law grants a right, character determines how that right should be exercised.