Chullin 129 - September 6, 24 Elul

<p class="MsoNormal">A braita rules that if one cuts an olive-bulk of flesh from a limb attached to a living animal, designating it for food only after cutting renders it pure, whereas designating it prior to cutting renders it susceptible to food impurity<span lang= "EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">, as it touches the limb (which has high level impurity) as it is being cut.</span> The Gemara presents Rav Asi's challenge to Rabbi Zeira as to why prior designation causes impurity, given that the cut site is a concealed place <span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang= "EN-US">(</span><em>tum</em><em><span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">at</span> beit ha-satarim</em><em><span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">)</span></em> and concealed impurity does not transmit impurity. Rava clarifies that the case involves a situation where liquids <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang= "EN-US">(<em>hechsher</em>)</span> came upon it <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">a</span>nd Rabba bar Rav Chanan questions <span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">that,</span> noting that it should not even require <em>hechsher</em> under the rule of an item destined to transmit severe impurity <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">does not need <em>hechsher</em>, since here it came from a limb with a high level of impurity</span>. Rava responds with a fundamental principle that when food functions as a connection or for a purpose other than food, it is considered <span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span>when used, it functioned like wood<span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span> and thus the rule of "destined to transmit severe impurity" does not apply. The Gemara presents five challenges that are resolved by applying this same explanation <span style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">– "</span></span>when used, it functioned like wood<span dir="rtl" lang="HE" style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" xml:lang="HE">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style= "mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" xml:lang="EN-US">