Super Daf › Bekhorot 23 › Gems from the Daf
Daf prep · Bekhorot 23 · בכורות כ״ג
Before you learn Bekhorot 23
Where we left off
The Gemara is debating whether nullified impurity in fish brine revives when cooked with water. This sugya continues directly onto our daf.
The question going in
Does a nullified impurity revive upon encountering its own kind, and does nursing confirm maternal identity?
Know before you start
- חוֹזֵר וְנֵיעוֹר (Returning and reviving): A forbidden or impure minority substance can be nullified in a majority mixture. If it later encounters more of its own kind, the Gemara asks if it awakens.
- טוּמְאַת מַשָּׂא (Impurity of carrying): Certain severe impurities convey defilement to someone who carries them without physical contact. Even if touch contacts only the majority, carrying moves the entire mixture.
- קַב וְנָקִי (A kav and sifted clean): The Sages apply this praise to the teachings of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya'akov. His rulings are few in number, but the halacha always follows him.
- נְבֵילָה סְרוּחָה (Decomposed carcass): Carcass meat imparts ritual impurity only while edible to creatures. Bar Padda requires edibility for humans, while Rabbi Yoḥanan requires edibility for dogs.
Who's who
- Abaye (אַבַּיֵי, Amora): He challenges the claim that nullified impurity can revive upon contacting another mixture.
- Rav Dimi (רַב דִּימִי, Amora): He defends the position that nullified impurity returns and revives in a new mixture.
- Bar Padda (בַּר פְּדָא, Amora): He rules that severe impurity departs once carcass meat is unfit for a resident alien.
- Rabbi Yoḥanan (רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, Amora): He holds that carcass meat imparts impurity until it is unfit even for a dog.
- Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel (רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, Tanna): He rules that an animal is assumed to nurse only its own biological offspring.