Super Daf › Bekhorot 24 › Gems from the Daf
Iyun of the day · Bekhorot 24 · בכורות כ״ד
The Nature of Shearing a Firstborn
איסור גיזה בבכור
The Torah explicitly prohibits shearing a consecrated firstborn animal. How can the Sages permit plucking its wool when preparing for slaughter?
The Torah forbids shearing a firstborn animal, stating: 'You shall not shear the firstborn of your flock'. This prohibition preserves the sanctity of the animal.
A practical problem arises when slaughtering a firstborn or inspecting its blemish. Thick wool may obstruct the blade or conceal a disqualifying flaw.
The Mishnah permits clearing this wool by plucking it, provided one does not move the wool from its place.
The question
Does plucking wool fall inherently outside the biblical prohibition of shearing, or is it technically shearing that the Sages permit only when performed abnormally?
Through the sources
The Mishnah (Gemara)
הַשּׁוֹחֵט אֶת הַבְּכוֹר, עוֹשֶׂה מָקוֹם בְּקוֹפִיץ מִיכָּן וּמִיכָּן, וְתוֹלֵשׁ אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְזִיזֶנּוּ מִמְּקוֹמוֹOne may pluck wool to prepare the slaughter site. However, one must not move the wool from its place.
Rashi (Rishonim)
שלא יאמרו גזיזה עביד בקדשים אלא יניחנו מסובך עם הצמר מכאן ומכאןLeaving the wool entangled prevents passersby from suspecting a violation. Leaving it in place serves solely to avoid the appearance of shearing.
Rabbeinu Gershom (Rishonim)
לצמר ממקומו מן האחד ובהכי לא חשיב גוזזIf the wool remains in its location, the act lacks the definition of harvesting. Thus, without total removal, it is not considered shearing.
Ran (Rishonim)
The definition of shearing requires the normal method of removal. Plucking wool by hand is permitted because plucking is not shearing.
Mishneh Torah (Halacha)
הַשּׁוֹחֵט בְּכוֹר אוֹ שְׁאָר מֻקְדָּשִׁין. תּוֹלֵשׁ אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן לַעֲשׂוֹת מָקוֹם לַסַּכִּין. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְזִיזֶנּוּ מִמְּקוֹמוֹThe Rambam rules that one may pluck hair to make space for the knife. One must satisfy the condition that he does not remove the wool.
Mishneh LaMelech (Acharonim)
לא שנו אלא ביד אבל בכלי אסורThe Gemara restricts this dispensation strictly to manual pulling. Using an instrument is forbidden because shearing requires an implement.
Ways to understand it
Absence of Shearing Technique
Biblical shearing is defined by the standard craft of harvesting wool with tools. Plucking by hand is an abnormal deviation, so plucking is not shearing by biblical definition.
Incomplete Act of Severance
Shearing is not complete without clearing the detached wool away. Retaining the wool entangled on the neck ensures that no true shearing occurred.
Where it lands
The halacha follows Rabbi Yosei ben HaMeshullam, as codified by the Rambam. One slaughtering a firstborn or examining a blemish may pluck wool by hand. However, the detached wool must remain entangled on the animal so that one does not displace the wool.
The prohibition of shearing applies only to standard harvesting and removal, permitting necessary manual plucking that remains in place.