## Avodah Zarah Daf 40a

###### Avodah Zarah 40a:1
[Avodah Zarah 40a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:1)

שׁוֹטְטוֹת בּוֹ. הַשְׁתָּא כִּילְבִּית אַחַת אָמְרַתְּ שְׁרֵי, שְׁתֵּי כִּילְבִּיּוֹת מִבַּעְיָא? לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן בִּפְתוּחוֹת, כָּאן בִּסְתוּמוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**floating in it.** The Gemara asks: **Now** that **you have said** that brine which has only **one *kilbit*** in it is **permitted, is it necessary** to teach that brine that has **two *kilbiyot*** in it is also permitted? The Gemara explains that it is **not difficult: Here,** two *kilbiyot* are required to permit the brine, as it is contained **in open** barrels, but **there,** only one is required, since it is **in sealed** barrels.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:2
[Avodah Zarah 40a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:2)

אִיתְּמַר: רַב הוּנָא אָמַר: עַד (שֶׁתְּהֵא) [שֶׁיְּהֵא] רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר, רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: אוֹ רֹאשׁ אוֹ שִׁדְרָה. מֵתִיב רַב עוּקְבָא בַּר חָמָא: וּבַדָּגִים כֹּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת! אֲמַר אַבָּיֵי: כִּי תַּנְיָא הָהִיא בְּאָרָא וּפַלְמוּדָא, דְּדָמוּ רֵישַׁיְיהוּ לִטְמֵאִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **It was stated** that **Rav Huna says:** *Tarit* is not permitted for consumption **until** its **head and spine** are **recognizable. Rav Naḥman says:** It is permitted if **either** the **head or** the **spine** is recognizable. **Rav Ukva bar Ḥama raises an objection** from a mishna (*Ḥullin* 59a): **And with regard to fish, any that has fins and scales** is permitted. Evidently, the kashrut of fish is determined only by its fins and scales, not its head or its spine. **Abaye said: When that** mishna **is taught,** it is **in** reference to the ***ara’a* and *falmuda*** fish, **whose heads are similar to** the heads of **non-kosher** fish.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:3
[Avodah Zarah 40a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:3)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אָסוּר עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: מֵרֵישׁ הֲוָה מְטַבֵּילְנָא בְּצִירָן, כֵּיוָן דִּשְׁמַעְנָא לְהָא דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אָסוּר עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר, בְּצִירָן נָמֵי לָא מְטַבֵּילְנָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara analyzes the dispute between Rav Huna and Rav Naḥman. **Rav Yehuda said in the name of Ulla:** The **dispute** applies **to dipping** foods **in their brine, but with regard to** eating **their** actual **bodies, everyone agrees** that it is **prohibited until** both the **head and** the **spine** are **recognizable.** The Gemara notes that **Rabbi Zeira said: Originally, I would dip** foods **in their brine,** but **once I heard that which Rav Yehuda said in the name of Ulla:** The **dispute** is only with regard **to dipping** foods **in their brine, but with regard to** eating **their** actual **bodies everyone agrees** that it is **prohibited until** both the **head and** the **spine** are **recognizable; I too no** longer **dip** foods **in their brine.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:4
[Avodah Zarah 40a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:4)

אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, הִלְכְתָא: עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר שֶׁל כׇּל אַחַת וְאַחַת. מֵיתִיבִי: חֲתִיכוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן סִימָן, בֵּין בְּכוּלָּן בֵּין בְּמִקְצָתָן, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּאֶחָד מִמֵּאָה שֶׁבָּהֶן — כּוּלָּן מוּתָּרוֹת, וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁהֵבִיא גָּרָב שֶׁל חֲתִיכוֹת, וְנִמְצָא סִימָן בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן, וְהִתִּיר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אֶת הַגָּרָב כּוּלּוֹ!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa said:** The ***halakha*** is that *tarit* is prohibited **until** the **head and spine of each and every** fish is **recognizable.** The Gemara **raises an objection** to Rav Pappa’s statement from a *baraita*: With regard to **pieces** of fish **that have a sign** of kashrut, **whether** this sign is present **in all of them or** only **in a minority of them, and even** if it is present **in** only **one** fish **out of one hundred of them, they are all permitted. And** there was **an incident involving a certain gentile who brought a large jug of pieces** of fish, **and a sign** of kashrut **was found in one of them, and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel permitted the entire jug** of fish. This apparently contradicts Rav Pappa’s assertion that all the pieces must be recognizable for them to be permitted.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:5
[Avodah Zarah 40a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:5)

תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב פָּפָּא: כְּשֶׁחֲתִיכוֹת שָׁווֹת. אִי הָכִי, מַאי לְמֵימְרָא? מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא נֵיחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא אִתְרְמִי, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa interpreted** that *baraita* as referring to a case **where the pieces correspond** to each other, i.e., they fit together so that it is clear that they are all from the same fish. The Gemara raises a difficulty: **If that is so, what** is the purpose **of stating** this explicitly? If the pieces correspond it is obvious that they are permitted, as they evidently come from the same kosher fish. The Gemara explains that this was taught **lest you say** that one should **be concerned** that **perhaps** the pieces merely **happened** to fit together; the *baraita* therefore **teaches us** that in such a case the pieces are permitted.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:6
[Avodah Zarah 40a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:6)

הָהוּא אַרְבָּא דְּצַחַנְתָּא דַּאֲתַי לְסִיכְרָא, נְפַק רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא וַחֲזָא בֵּיהּ קִלְפֵי וְשַׁרְיֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: וּמִי אִיכָּא דְּשָׁרֵי כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא בְּאַתְרָא דִּשְׁכִיחִי קִלְפֵי? נָפֵק שִׁיפּוּרֵי דְּרָבָא וְאָסַר, שִׁיפּוּרֵי דְּרַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא וְשָׁרֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that there was **a certain ship** carrying ***tzaḥanta* which came to** the city of **Sikhra. Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana went out and saw** that the fish had **scales on them and permitted them,** as any fish with scales is kosher. **Rava said to him: But is there anyone who permits** *tzaḥanta* in **a case like this,** when it is from **a land where** fish with **scales are common** and it is very possible that the scales are from kosher fish that had been in the boat previously? ***Shofarot* went out** from the court **of Rava** to herald a declaration promulgating his ruling, **and he** thereby **prohibited** all the fish on that boat. And ***shofarot*** went out from the court **of Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana, and he** thereby **permitted** the fish.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:7
[Avodah Zarah 40a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:7)

אָמַר רַב יִרְמְיָה מִדִּפְתִּי: לְדִידִי אָמַר לִי רַב פַּפֵּי, כִּי שְׁרָא רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא — בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן לָא. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: לְדִידִי אָמַר לִי רַב פָּפָּא, כִּי שְׁרָא רַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא — אֲפִילּוּ בְּגוּפָן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara presents two interpretations of the above ruling. **Rav Yirmeya of Difti said: Rav Pappi said to me** that **when Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana permitted** the fish on the ship, he was referring only **to their brine, but with regard to their bodies, no,** he did not permit them. **Rav Ashi said: Rav Pappa said to me** that **when Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana permitted** the fish, he was referring **even to their bodies.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:8
[Avodah Zarah 40a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:8)

וַאֲנָא לָא מֵיסָר אָסַרְנָא, דְּקָאָמַר לִי רַב פָּפָּא, וְלָא מִישְׁרֵא שָׁרֵינָא, דְּהָא אָמַר (לִי) רַב יְהוּדָה מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּעוּלָּא: מַחְלוֹקֶת לְטַבֵּל בְּצִירָן, אֲבָל בְּגוּפָן — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא רֹאשׁ וְשִׁדְרָה נִיכָּר שֶׁל כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Ashi continued: **And I do not prohibit** the fish, **as Rav Pappa said to me** that Rav Huna permitted it, **but I** also **do not permit** the fish, **as Rav Yehuda said to me in the name of Ulla** that the **dispute** between Rava and Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana is referring **to dipping** foods **in their brine, but with regard to** eating **their** actual **bodies, everyone agrees** that it is prohibited **until** both the **head and spine of each and every** fish are **recognizable.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:9
[Avodah Zarah 40a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:9)

יָתֵיב רַב חִינָּנָא בַּר אִידִי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה, וְיָתֵיב וְקָאָמַר: גּוֹי שֶׁהֵבִיא עֲרֵיבָה מְלֵאָה חָבִיּוֹת, וְנִמְצֵאת כִּילְבִּית בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן — פְּתוּחוֹת, כּוּלָּן מוּתָּרוֹת; סְתוּמוֹת, הִיא מוּתֶּרֶת וְכוּלָּן אֲסוּרוֹת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָךְ הָא? מִתְּלָתָא קְרָאֵי שְׁמִיעַ לִי, מֵרַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Ḥinnana bar Idi sat before Rav Adda bar Ahava, and he sat and said:** With regard to **a gentile who brought a boat** that was **full of barrels** of fish brine, **and a *kilbit* was found in one of** the barrels, the *halakha* is as follows: If the barrels were **open,** they are **all permitted;** if they were **closed,** then the barrel with the *kilbit* **is permitted, and all** the others **are prohibited.** Rav Adda bar Ahava **said to him: From where** do **you** know **this?** Rav Ḥinnana bar Idi responded: **I heard** this **from three verses,** i.e., great Sages upon whom one can rely as though their statements were recorded in verses: **From Rav and Shmuel and Rabbi Yoḥanan.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:10
[Avodah Zarah 40a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:10)

אָמַר רַב בְּרוֹנָא אָמַר רַב: קִירְבֵי דָּגִים וְעוּבָּרָן אֵין נִקָּחִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמּוּמְחֶה. רָמֵי לֵיהּ עוּלָּא לְרַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי דְּמִן בֵּירֵי, מִדְּקָאָמַר רַב: קִירְבֵי דָּגִים וְעוּבָּרָן אֵין נִקָּחִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמּוּמְחֶה — מִכְּלָל דְּדָג טָמֵא אִית לֵיהּ עוּבָּר, וּרְמִינְהִי: דָּג טָמֵא מַשְׁרִיץ, דָּג טָהוֹר מֵטִיל בֵּיצִים!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara discusses the *halakha* with regard to other parts of fish. **Rav Beruna says** that **Rav says: Fish intestines and their roe may be purchased only from an expert. Ulla raises a contradiction to Rabbi Dostai of Biri: From** the fact **that Rav says: Fish intestines and their roe may be purchased only from an expert,** it may be **inferred that a non-kosher fish has roe,** as otherwise there would be no reason to permit only roe purchased from an expert. **And** the Gemara **raises a contradiction** to this claim from the following *baraita*: **A non-kosher fish gives birth** whereas **a kosher fish lays eggs.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:11
[Avodah Zarah 40a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:11)

סְמִי מִכָּאן ״עוּבָּרָן״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא: לָא תִּיסְמֵי, תַּרְוַיְיהוּ מְטִילֵי בֵּיצִים נִינְהוּ, אֶלָּא זֶה מַשְׁרִיץ מִבַּחוּץ, וְזֶה מַשְׁרִיץ מִבִּפְנִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Dostai accepted this opinion and said: **Delete** the phrase: **Their roe, from here. Rabbi Zeira said to him: Do not delete** it, as **both** kosher and non-kosher fish **are** fish that **lay,** i.e., produce, **eggs, but this** kosher fish **propagates externally** by laying eggs in the water which later hatch, **and that** non-kosher fish **propagates internally** by keeping the eggs in its own body until they develop. Nevertheless, both produce roe, and there is therefore reason to be concerned that a Jew might purchase non-kosher roe.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:12
[Avodah Zarah 40a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:12)

לְמָה לִי מוּמְחֶה? לִבְדּוֹק בְּסִימָנִין! דְּתַנְיָא: כְּסִימָנֵי בֵיצִים כָּךְ סִימָנֵי דָגִים. סִימָנֵי דָגִים סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ? סִימָנֵי דָגִים ״סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׁקֶשֶׁת״ כְּתִיב בְּהוּ! אֶלָּא, כְּסִימָנֵי בֵיצִים כָּךְ סִימָנֵי עוּבְּרֵי דָגִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: But even so, **why do I** need **an expert? Let** one **check the signs** of kashrut on the roe himself, **as it is taught** in a *baraita*: **Like the signs of** bird **eggs, so are the signs of fish.** The Gemara interjects: Does it **enter your mind** to say that the **signs of** kashrut for **fish** are the same as the signs of kashrut for eggs? This is not so, as the **signs of** kosher **fish are** the possession of **fins and scales,** as **written** in the Torah **with regard to them. Rather,** the *baraita* means to say: **Like the signs of** bird **eggs, so are the signs of fish roe.**


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:13
[Avodah Zarah 40a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:13)

וְאֵלּוּ הֵן סִימָנֵי בֵיצִים: כֹּל שֶׁכּוֹדֶרֶת וַעֲגוּלְגֹּלֶת, רֹאשָׁהּ אֶחָד כַּד וְרֹאשָׁהּ אֶחָד חַד — טְהוֹרָה, שְׁנֵי רָאשֶׁיהָ חַדִּין וּשְׁנֵי רָאשֶׁיהָ כַּדִּין — טְמֵאָה, חֶלְמוֹן מִבַּחוּץ וְחֶלְבּוֹן מִבִּפְנִים — טְמֵאָה, חֶלְבּוֹן מִבַּחוּץ וְחֶלְמוֹן מִבִּפְנִים — טָהוֹר, חֶלְבּוֹן וְחֶלְמוֹן מְעוֹרָבִין זֶה בָּזֶה — זוֹ הִיא בֵּיצַת הַשֶּׁרֶץ. אָמַר רָבָא: כְּשֶׁנִּימּוֹחוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **And these are the signs of** bird **eggs: Any** egg **that narrows** at the top **and is rounded,** so that **one of its ends is wide and** the other **one of its ends is pointed** is **kosher.** If **both of its ends are sharp or both of its ends are wide,** it is **non-kosher.** If the **yolk** is **on the outside and** the **albumen** is **on the inside,** it is **non-kosher;** if the **albumen** is **on the outside and** the **yolk** is **on the inside,** it is **kosher.** If the **yolk and albumen are mixed with each other, this is the egg of a creeping animal.** Considering that one can easily determine the kashrut of such eggs, why are only those purchased from an expert permitted? **Rava says:** Rav’s ruling refers specifically to a case **where** the eggs **have melted** together and it is impossible to determine whether or not they are kosher based on these signs.


###### Avodah Zarah 40a:14
[Avodah Zarah 40a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/40a:14)

וּלְרַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי דְּמִן בֵּירֵי, דְּאָמַר: סְמִי מִכָּאן ״עוּבָּרָן״,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But according to** the opinion of **Rabbi Dostai of Biri, who** accepted the idea that non-kosher fish do not lay eggs and **says: Delete from here** the phrase: **Their roe,** it is difficult.