1)

(a)The two pipes that are subject to Shechitah are called - the Kaneh (wind-pipe [sometimes referred to as the 'Gargeres']) and the Veshet (the esophagus [the food-pipe]).

(b)The Mishnah rules that the Shechitah of a bird requires the cutting of - one of the Simanim, whereas that of an animal requires - both.

(c)The Tana then write 'ha'Shochet' (Bedi'eved) - since Lechatchilah, one should cut both pipes of a bird, too (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)Another reason for this is the Tana's following statement 've'Rubo shel Echad Kamohu', which means - that it is sufficient to cut the majority of the pipe (Bedi'eved) ...

(e)... though Lechatchilah - one ought to cut the entire pipe.

2)

(a)We learn the Din of 'Echad ba'Of' from the Pasuk in Shemini "Zos Toras ha'Beheimah ve'ha'Of, ve'Chol Nefesh ha'Chayah ha'Romeses ba'Mayim". The basic difference between animals and fish to which the Tana is referring is - that whereas one needs to Shecht the two Simaninm of the former, the latter do not require Shechitah at all.

(b)And we learn the Din of birds from there - since they are compared both to the one (which requires the cutting of one Siman) and to the other (which requires no cutting at all [See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Echad ba'Of').

(c)The source for the five things ('Shehiyah, D'rasah, Chaladah, Hagramah and Ikur') that render a Shechitah Pasul is - 'Halachah le'Moshe mi'Sinai' (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)This is hinted in the Pasuk in Re'ei "ve'Zavachta ... ka'asher Tzivisicha" - as it suggests that the Dinim of Shechitah were commanded to Moshe at Sinai (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(e)Besides the Din of 'Rov Echad ba'Of ve'Rov Shenayim ba'Beheimah') - the Din that Shechitah must be performed on the two pipes of the neck is also included in the Halachah le'Moshe mi'Sinai.

3)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah rules that - one should also Shecht the Varidin (the two large blood-vessels that flank the Kaneh ...

(b)... with reference to - birds.

(c)He considers this necessary - because, since as it is customary to roast the bird whole, the large amount of blood that they contain will not be drained, rendering it Asur.

(d)Seeing as it is not necessary to Shecht them in order to achieve this, Rebbi Yehudah uses the word 'she'Yishchot' - to teach us that they should be punctured immediately after the Shechitah, before the blood dries up.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama (who does not require Shechting the Varidin).

4)

(a)The Mishnah finally rules that If one Shechts half ...

1. ... a Si'man of a bird - the Shechitah is Pasul, and the same if one Shechts half of each of ...

2. ... the two Simanim of an animal, and ....

(b)... the Shechitah is Kasher only if one Shechts the majority of the Simon or of the Simanim.

(c)Despite having ruled earlier 'Rov Echad ba'Beheimah', the Mishnah sees fit to repeat the same ruling here - since one applies to Chulin, the other, to Kodshim.

5)

(a)The Tana rules that if ...

1. ... someone Shechts the heads of two animals simultaneously (See Tosfos Yom Tov) or if ...

2. ... two people Shecht one animal together - the Shechitah is Kasher.

(b)When he adds 'Afilu Echad Lema'alah ve'Echad Lematah', he means - even if one of them is holding one end of the knife, and the other one, the other end.

6)

(a)The Mishnah rules that if someone who severs the head in one stroke - the Shechitah is Pasul ...

(b)... because that is D'rasah (applying pressure on the Simanim, instead of pulling the knife across them).

(c)The Shechitah is Kasher if one severs the head of ...

1. ... one animal or bird whilst pulling the knife in one direction - provided the knife measures at least twice the width of the neck of the animal or the bird.

2. ... two animals whilst pulling the knife in one direction - provided it measures at least one width of a neck besides those of the two wnimals.

(d)If one severs the head whilst moving the knife away and back a number of times - then the Shechitah is Kasher irrespective of the length of the knife.

7)

(a)In the previous case, the Tana validates the Shechitah even if one used an 'Izmal' - a knife that is as small as a razor.

(b)We have thought that the Shechitah is invalid, even if he uses a plain Izmal - on account of one that has horn-like ornamental ends, which is not eligible to Shecht with, in case the ends get caught under the skin during the Shechitah, and invalidate it because of 'Chaladah'.

8)

(a)In a case where a knife Shechts an animal after falling from someone's hand, the Mishnah - renders the Shechitah Pasul.

(b)We learn this from the Pasuk in Ki Savo "ve'Zavachta ve'Achalta" - implying that one may only eat what one Shechts (moving the knife intentionally).

(c)This implies that if someone throws the knife, which incidentally Shechts an animal in flight - the Shechitah is Kasher.

(d)The Shechitah is not Pasul, despite the fact that it was performed without Kavanah to actually Shecht - because Chulin does not require Kavanah.

9)

(a)When the Tana presents a case where ...

1. ... the knife or some of the Shochet's clothes fell and he picked them up, or where ...

2. ... the Shochet sharpened his knife and became tired - he is referring to where, as a result, he paused in the middle of the Shechitah.

(b)According to the Tana Kama, if the person who completed the Shechitah (See Tosfos Yom-Tov) waited the time it would take to Shecht ('K'dei Shechitah'), the Shechitah is Pasul. He means - to Shecht the same kind of animal of bird that he is currently Shechting ...

(c)... which is placed in the same position as it.

(d)And by 'K'dei Shechitah' he means - the time it takes to Shecht the majority of the two Simanim.

10)

(a)According to the Rambam, if the Shochet is Shechting a bird, 'K'dei Shchitah' refers to the Shechitah of a small animal, and incorporates - lifting it up and placing it in a crouching position (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Im Shahah K'dei Shechitah').

(b)The accepted Minhag - is like the first explanation.

(c)Rebbi Shimon disagrees with the Tana Kama's Shi'ur of Shehiyah (waiting). He portrays it as - 'the time it takes to examine the knife.

(d)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

11)

(a)The Tana now discusses a case where the Shochet Shechted either the Kaneh or the Veshet, but broke the second pipe, or either let the animal die without Shechting it or Shechted it from underneath. The Shechitah is Pasul ...

1. ... in the former case - because of 'Ikur' (breaking the pipes, as opposed to cutting them [See Tosfos Yom

2. ... in the latter case - on account of Chaladah (which actually means 'covering').

(b)Rebbi Yesheivav declares the animal ia Neveilah. Rebbi Akiva - a T'reifah.

(c)A Neveilah - is Tamei, whereas a T'reifah is not.

12)

(a)Rebbi Yesheivav in the name of Rebbi Yehoshua cited a principle that any P'sul that occurs in the Shechitah (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - renders the animal a Neveilah, whereas one that is caused externally - renders it a T'reifah.

(b)The external Pesulim are listed - in the following Perek ('Eilu T'reifos').

(c)Rebbi Akiva - conceded that he was right.

13)

(a)The Mishnah -declares the Shechitah of a Chayah, a Beheimah or a bird that does not produce blood (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - Kasher

(b)The Tana permits eating from it with Tamei hands, even though the Tana is speaking about Chulin which is being prepared 'al Taharas ha'Kodesh' (See Tosfos Yom Tov), and it is permitted - because, seeing as there is no blood, the Basar is not Muchshar Lekabeil Tum'ah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)If there is blood, it will be forbidden to do so - because the Shochet's hands (which are a Sheini le'Tum'ah), render the Basar a Sh'lishi.

(d)The Mishnah cannot be speaking about an ordinary Chulin animal (even assuming that one is particular about Tum'ah) - because there is no such thing as a Sh'lishi le'Tum'ah by Chulin.

14)

(a)According to Rebbi Shimon - the Shechitah is Machshir the Basar, even if there is no blood.

(b)He disagrees with the Tana Kama - because, he maintains, just as the Shechitah removes the meat from the realm of Eiver min ha'Chai, so too, does it render it fit to be Mekabeil Tum'ah.

(c)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

15)

(a)The Mishnah now discusses a 'Mesukenes' - an animal that is so ill that it is unable to remain standing (See Tosfos Yom Tov) ...

(b)... even if it is able to eat, even chunks of wood.

(c)According to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, after the Shechitah, for the Shechitah to be Kasher - a Mesukenes must be able to shudder (Pirchus) in both its fore and hind-legs ...

(d)... to prove that it did not die whilst it was being Shechted.

(e)Rebbi Eliezer is more lenient than Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. He maintains that - to prove that it survived the Shechitah, the animal only needs to heave a deep sigh, which squirts blood in all directions.

16)

(a)Conforming to the opinion of Rebbi Eliezer, Rebbi Shimon says that - if one Shechts a Mesukenes at night- time and discovers in the morning that the walls are covered with bloodstains, the Shechitah is Kasher.

(b)The Chachamim too, are more lenient than the Tana Kama. They validate the Shechitah of a Mesukenes (besides if it's fore or hind leg shudders - if it swishes its tail.

(c)The Shechitah of a small animal that is a Mesukenes will be Kasher if it stretches out a foreleg after is has been Shechted - and then withdraws it ...

(d)... because otherwise - it is not considered 'Pirchus'.

(e)If the animal stretches out its hind leg but does not withdraw it - the Shechitah is Kasher.

17)

(a)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim (See also Pirush ha'Mishnayos le'ha'Rambam).

(b)The Tana finally declares that an animal that is not a Mesukenes - does not require 'Pirchus' for the Shechitah to be Kasher.

18)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, Shechitah on behalf of a Nochri is Kasher (See Tosfos Yom Tov). Rebbi Eliezer declares it Pasul (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - as long as the animal belongs to him, and provided ...

(b)... the Nochri intends to eat from it, even if ...

1. ... he only intends to eat from the lobe of the liver (See Tosfos Yom Tov), but not if ...

2. ... he does not intend to eat from it at all.

(c)Rebbi Eliezer's reason is - because the mind of a Nochri is always on Avodah-Zarah.

19)

(a)Rebbi Yossi disagrees with Rebbi Eliezer. In his opinion - the idolatrous thoughts of the owner do not affect the Shechitah of the Shochet.

(b)He learns this via a Kal va'Chomer from Kodshim - where, in his opinion, the thoughts of the owner do not render the animal Pigul, even though thoughts per se invalidate it, how much more so Chulin, where they do not.

(c)The Gemara solves the problem that P'sul Machshavah applies to where one Shechts to Avodah-Zarah too - by learning the Kal va'Chomer from the fact that whereas by Kodshim, Machshavah invalidates in four Avodos, by Chulin it invalidates in only two.

(d)The ...

1. ... four Avodos to which the P'sul of Pigul applies are - Shechitah, Kabalas ha'Dam, Zerikah and Holachah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

2. ... two Avodos to which the P'sul of Machsheves Avodah-Zarah applies are - Shechitah and Zerikah.

(e)The two Pesukim (in connection with Avodah Zarah) "Zove'ach la'Elohim Yocharam" (Mishpatim) and "Bal Asich Niskeihem mi'Dam" (Tehilim) are the two Pesukim which invalidate an animal that is Shechted and sprinkled (respectively) in the name of Avodah Zarah.

20)

(a)The previous ruling does not apply to burning - since burning, which is not an Avodah, does not even invalidate a Korban that is performed with a Machsheves Pigul.

(b)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Yossi.

21)

(a)The Mishnah - declares Pasul a Shechitah that is performed in the name of mountains, hills, seas, rivers or deserts.

(b)The animal is not Asur be'Hana'ah because of Avodah-Zarah - since none of these are considered Avodah-Zarah.

(c)We learn this from the Pasuk in Re'ei "Eloheihem al he'Harom", from which we Darshen - 've'Lo he'Harim Eloheihem' (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)The Shechitah is nevertheless Pasul - mi'deRabbanan, because it resembles Avodah Zarah.

(e)If one ...

1. ... Shechts in the name of the angel who is in charge of the mountains - then it falls under the category of 'Zivchei Meisim' (Avodah Zarah) and is Asur be'Hana'ah.

2. ... of two people who are Shechting the animal Shechts in the name of mountains ... , and the other one Shechts S'tam - the Shechitah is Pasul (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

22)

(a)The Tana forbids Shechting into ...

1. ... the sea or into a river - because people will suspect him of Shechting to the angel of the sea.

2. ... a vessel - because they will suspect him of sprinkling the blood to Avodah-Zarah.

(b)He does however, permit Shechting into a pit of dirty water, but not of the water is clear - because people will suspect him of Shechting to the reflection of his own face.

(c)He ...

1. ... permits Shechting into the sea via Keilim if he is in a boat - since it is clear that he is merely keeping his boat clean.

2. ... forbids Shechting into an empty pit even in the house however - because this is what the Miynim (who worship Avodah-Zarah) do.

(d)When Shechting in a Chatzer that one wishes to keep clean however - one is permitted to Shecht beside the hole and the blood flows into it (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(e)This is forbidden in the public street however - because that too, is what the Miynim do.

23)

(a)The Mishnah rules that if someone Shechts in the name of an Olah, a Shelamim, or an Asham Taluy, a Korban Pesach or a Todah - the Shechitah is Pasul.

(b)An Asham Taluy is - an Asham that one brings in a case of Safek Kareis ...

(c)... such as where a piece of Shuman (kasher fat) and Cheilev (non-Kasher fat) are lying in front of a person and he is not sure which one he ate, or if his wife and sister are with him in the same bed and he is not sure with which one he was intimate.

24)

(a)The reason for the current ruling is - because people will think that he just declared the animal Hekdesh, and that it is permitted to Shecht Kodshim ba'Chutz.

(b)Despite the fact that the ruling is confined to a Korban Nedavah, the Tana includes in the list ...

1. ... an Asham Taluy - according to Rebbi Eliezer, who maintains that one is permitted to bring an Asham Taluy every day if he so wishes, for fear that he may have been guilty of inadvertently committing a Chiyuv Kareis.

2. ... a Korban Pesach - since one is permitted to designate a Korban Pesach any time during the year (in which case it becomes a Shelamim.

(c)Rebbi Shimon considers all the above a Kasher Shechitah - because he is not concerned (in this case) with Mar'is ha'Ayin (what people might think [See Tosfos Yom Tov]).

(d)In a case where one of two people who are Shechting an animal Shechts in the name of one of the above, whilst the other one Shechts S'tam - the Tana declares the Shechitah Pasul (See Tosfos Yom Tov & Tiferes Yisrael).

25)

(a)The Mishnah now declares Kasher a Shechitah in the name of a Chatas, an Asham Vaday, a B'chor (Beheimah), a Ma'aser Beheimah animal or a Temurah - because all of these are obligatory (they cannot be designated on the spot) and nobody will therefore suspect him of having declared the animal Hekdesh.

(b)'Asham Vaday' incorporates - Asham Gezeilos, Asham Me'ilos and Asham Shifchah Charufah (See Tos. Yom-Tov).

(c)When the Tana continues that whatever is Nidar ve'Nidav is Pasul, he is coming to include - an Olas Nazir (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'le'Shem Asham Vaday').

(d)It is not obvious that the owner is not a Nazir, seeing as ...

1. ... nobody knows that he is - since he may have undertaken Nezirus discreetly.

2. ... he does not have long hair - because he may have been a Nazir for only thirty days ('S'tam Nezius Sheloshim Yom'), in which case his Nezirus will not yet be recognizable.

26)

(a)When the Mishnah concludes 'Whatever is not Nidar ve'Nidav, is Kasher, it is coming to include - the Olah of a Yoledes, which is Kasher even in a case where the woman concerned did not in fact, give birth.

(b)People will not think that it must be a Nedavah, but rather - that she must have miscarried (which is usually not publicized [See Tosfos Yom Tov]).