(Mishnah): And the Alal...

Question: What is Alal?

Answer #1 (R. Yochanan): It is Marteka (Tosfos - dead flesh; Rashi - the hard sinew of the neck and spinal cord).

Answer #2 (Reish Lakish): It is meat that comes off the knife (and sticks to the skin) when flaying the animal.

Question: "You speak falsity; you are Elil (vain) healers" implies that Alal cannot heal!

Marteka cannot heal, but meat that comes off the knife can (be reconnected, and) heal!

Answer: All agree that the verse discusses Marteka. They argue about Alal of our Mishnah.

(Mishnah - R. Yehudah): If Alal is gathered together:

If there is k'Zayis in one place, one is liable for it (for entering the Mikdash after touching it; Rashi - alternatively, for eating it);

(Rav Huna): This is only if an adult gathered it together.

Question: Granted, if Alal is meat that comes off the knife, he is liable for a k'Zayis. (Since he gathered it, he shows that he is concerned for it, so it is not Batel);

However, if it is Marteka, even if he gathers it, it is hard like wood. Why is it considered Nevelah?

Answer: All agree that R. Yehudah discusses meat that comes off the knife. They argue according to the first Tana;

R. Yochanan holds that even Marteka joins for the Shi'ur for Tum'ah. Reish Lakish holds that only meat that comes off the knife joins.

Question: What is the case of meat that comes off the knife?

If he planned to eat it, it should be Tamei by itself! (Chachamim say that it only joins for Tum'ah.)

If he did not plan to eat it, it should be Batel, and considered like skin!

Answer #1 (R. Avin or R. Meisha): He planned to eat only part of it. (He did not specify which. The amount he planned to eat joins for Tum'ah.)

Answer #2 (the other of R. Avin and R. Meisha): (He did not plan to eat it.) Some meat sticks to the skin because a Chayah bit the animal. Other meat sticks due to the knife. (We are not sure which is which. The former is not Batel and joins for Tum'ah. The latter is Batel and does not join.)

(Mishnah): The beak and claws are Mekabel Tum'ah, Metamei, and join for Shi'ur for Tum'ah.

Question: The beak is hard like wood! (Tum'ah does not apply to it.)

Answer (R. Elazar): The Mishnah discusses the lower beak.

Question: Also the lower beak is hard like wood!

Answer (Rav Papa): He refers to the inner lining of the upper beak.

(R. Elazar): The Mishnah discusses the part of the claws inside the flesh.

(Rav Papa): Our Mishnah (117b) discusses horns, i.e. (the lower part,) where they bleed if cut.

(Mishnah): Similarly, one who slaughters an animal...

(R. Asi): If a Yisrael slaughters a Tamei animal, or if a Nochri slaughters a Tahor animal, it receives Tum'as Ochlim only if (a Yisrael) intends to feed it to a Nochri, and if it is Huchshar through a liquid.

Question: Why does it need Hechsher? The meat will have Tum'as Nevelah (when the animal stops quivering). It should not need Hechsher!

(Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael): "When water will be put on seeds" teaches that Hechsher is needed only for things like seeds, which will never have severe Tum'ah (to be Metamei people or Kelim).

(Beraisa - R. Yosi): Nivlas Ohf Tahor needs intent (to eat it) to be Mekabel Tum'as Ochlim. It does not need Hechsher;

This is because it will have severe Tum'ah. (It is Metamei one who eats it.)

Answer (Chizkiyah): (An animal slaughtered by or for a Nochri) needs Hechsher because one could cut it into pieces, each smaller than a k'Zayis (while it is still quivering, so it would not receive Tum'as Nevelah).

Question (R. Yirmeyah): Did Chizkiyah really say that?!

(Chizkiyah): If the majority of both Simanim of an animal were slaughtered, and it is still quivering, it is not forbidden due to Ever Min ha'Chai, even for a Nochri.

(R. Yochanan): For a Nochri, the limbs are Ever Min ha'Chai, they are forbidden.

Chizkiyah holds that it is considered dead. R. Yochanan holds that it is not considered dead.

Answer (R. Zeira): No. Chizkiyah holds that it is no longer considered alive, but it is not yet considered dead.

(R. Elazar): The Halachah follows R. Yochanan, for a Beraisa supports him;

(Beraisa): If a Yisrael slaughtered the majority of both Simanim of a Tamei animal for a Nochri, and it is still quivering, it is Mekabel Tum'as Ochlim, but not Tum'as Nevelah;

If limbs or meat separate from it, it is as if they separated from a living animal. They are forbidden to a Nochri, even after the animal dies.

If he slaughtered one Siman or its majority, and it is still quivering, it does not receive Tum'as Ochlim;

If he did Nechirah (cut or tore the Simanim lengthwise), it has no Tum'ah.

If a Nochri slaughtered the majority of both Simanim of a Tahor animal for a Yisrael, and it is still quivering, it is Mekabel Tum'as Ochlim, but not Tum'as Nevelah;

If limbs or meat separate from it, it is as if they separated from a living animal. They are forbidden to a Nochri, even after the animal dies.

If he slaughtered one Siman or its majority, or did Nechirah and it is still quivering, it has no Tum'ah.

If a Nochri began Shechitah, but did not cut enough to make the animal Terefah, and a Yisrael finished the Shechitah, it is Kosher;

If a Yisrael began Shechitah, whether or not he cut enough to make the animal Terefah, and a Nochri finished the Shechitah, the Shechitah is invalid.

If one wants to eat meat that was taken from an animal before it dies (i.e. stops quivering), he may cut some meat from where it was slaughtered, salt and rinse it very well, but he should not eat it until the animal dies.

This is permitted both to a Yisrael or Nochri.

This supports Rav Idi bar Avin. He said that this is healthy, and said also that it is permitted to Nochrim as well.

Question (R. Elazar): If a Yisrael slaughtered a Tamei animal, or a Nochri slaughtered a Tahor animal, and he paused during Shechitah, or pressed the knife, is it considered slaughtered (i.e. is it Mekabel Tum'as Ochlim while quivering)?

Answer (R. Yochanan): It must meet all preparations (conditions) of Kosher Shechitah.

Question: Why did he say "preparations"?

Answer (R. Shmuel bar Yitzchak): This includes checking the knife.

Question (R. Zeira): If a Yisrael slaughtered a Tamei animal, or a Nochri slaughtered a Tahor animal, and the animal had swallowed a Kli:

While it is still quivering, does it shield the Kli from becoming Tamei in Ohel ha'Mes?

Answer #1 (Rav Sheshes): The animal receives Tum'as Ochlim (it is considered dead). How could it possibly shield the Kli?!

Objection (and Answer #2 - R. Zeira): The animal does not have Tum'as Nevelah (it is considered alive). Why shouldn't it save the Kli?!

Answer #3 (Abaye): It does not save the Kli, because the animal receives Tum'as Ochlim (i.e. we are stringent to consider it to be dead);

If one has relations with it, he is killed, for it does not have Tum'as Nevelah. (I.e. really, it is alive.)