1

We have already explained in Hilchot Ma'achalot Assurot1 that the term trefe employed by the Torah refers to an animal that is on the verge of death. The term trefe - which literally means "torn apart" - was employed only because the Torah speaks with regard to prevalent situations, e.g., a lion or the like attacked it and wounded it, but it had not died yet.

א

כְּבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת אִסּוּרֵי מַאֲכָלוֹת שֶׁהַטְּרֵפָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה הִיא הַנּוֹטָה לָמוּת. וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר (שמות כב ל) "טְרֵפָה" אֶלָּא שֶׁדִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בָּהוֹוֶה כְּגוֹן שֶׁטְּרָפָהּ אֲרִי וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ וּשְׁבָרָהּ וַעֲדַיִן לֹא מֵתָה:

2

There are other maladies which if they affect an animal will cause it to be considered trefe. They were transmitted as a halachah to Moses at Sinai. [In particular,] eight [conditions that cause an animal to be considered as] trefe were transmitted to Moses at Sinai.2 They are derusah, nekuvah, chaseirah, netulah, pesukah, keru'ah, nefulah, and sheburah.3

ב

וְיֵשׁ שָׁם חֳלָאִים אֲחֵרִים אִם יֶאֶרְעוּ לָהּ תֵּחָשֵׁב טְרֵפָה וְהֵן הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי. וּשְׁמוֹנָה מִינֵי טְרֵפוֹת נֶאֶמְרוּ לוֹ לְמשֶׁה בְּסִינַי וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. דְּרוּסָה. נְקוּבָה. חֲסֵרָה. נְטוּלָה. פְּסוּקָה. קְרוּעָה. נְפוּלָה. וּשְׁבוּרָה:

3

Although they were all transmitted as halachot to Moses at Sinai,4 since only derusah is explicitly mentioned in the Torah,5 [our Sages] ruled more stringently with regard to it. Any questionable situation that arises with regard to derisah [causes the animal] to be forbidden. There are, by contrast, questionable situations that may arise with regard to the seven other conditions [that render an animal] trefe in which [the animal] is permitted as will be explained.6

ג

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכֻּלָּן הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי הֵן. הוֹאִיל וְאֵין לְךָ בְּפֵרוּשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא דְּרוּסָה הֶחְמִירוּ בָּהּ. וְכָל סָפֵק שֶׁיִּסְתַּפֵּק בִּדְרוּסָה אָסוּר. וּשְׁאָר שִׁבְעָה מִינֵי טְרֵפוֹת יֵשׁ בָּהֶן סְפֵקִין מֻתָּרִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר:

4

Derusah refers to a situation where a lion or the like will attack an animal and assault it with its paw or a hawk, an eagle, or the like will assault a fowl.7 [The laws of] derisah apply with regard to a large domesticated animal8 or a large wild beast only when it is attacked by a lion.9 [The laws of derisah apply with regard to] a small domesticated animal10 or a small wild beast only when it is attacked by a wolf or a larger animal. [The laws of] derisah apply with regard to kids and lambs even when attacked by cats, foxes, martens,11 and the like. Needless to say, this applies with regard to fowl.12

ד

הַדְּרוּסָה הוּא שֶׁיִּטְרֹף הָאֲרִי וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ הַבְּהֵמָה וְיִדְרֹס עָלֶיהָ בְּיָדוֹ. אוֹ יִדְרֹס הַנֵּץ וְהַנֶּשֶׁר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן עַל הָעוֹף. וְאֵין דְּרִיסָה בִּבְהֵמָה גַּסָּה וּבְחַיָּה גַּסָּה אֶלָּא לַאֲרִי בִּלְבַד. וּבִבְהֵמָה דַּקָּה מִן הַזְּאֵב וּלְמַעְלָה. וּבִגְדָיִים וּטְלָאִים אֲפִלּוּ חָתוּל וְשׁוּעָל וּנְמִיָּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן יֵשׁ לָהֶן דְּרִיסָה וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּעוֹפוֹת:

5

When a hawk attacks, the laws of derisah apply even with regard to a larger fowl.13 With regard to other birds of prey the laws of derisah apply only with regard to fowl their size and not with regard to fowl which are larger than they are.14

ה

וְהַנֵּץ יֵשׁ לוֹ דְּרִיסָה וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעוֹף גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ. אֲבָל שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת הַדּוֹרְסִים יֵשׁ לָהֶן דְּרִיסָה בְּעוֹף שֶׁכְּמוֹתָן. וְאֵין לָהֶן דְּרִיסָה בְּעוֹף שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל מֵהֶן:

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

6

[The laws of] derisah apply [when] a weasel attacks a fowl. [The laws of] derisah do not apply at all when a dog attacks, not when it attacks a fowl, an animal, or a beast. [The laws of] derisah apply [when] a hawk attacks kids or lambs should its claws penetrate to [the animal's] inner cavity.15

ו

וְיֵשׁ לְחֻלְדָּה דְּרִיסָה בְּעוֹפוֹת. וְכֶלֶב אֵין לוֹ דְּרִיסָה כָּל עִקָּר לֹא בְּעוֹף וְלֹא בִּבְהֵמָה וְחַיָּה. וְהַנֵּץ יֵשׁ לוֹ דְּרִיסָה בִּגְדָיִים וּטְלָאִים וְהוּא שֶׁיִּקֹּב בְּצִפָּרְנָיו לְבֵית הֶחָלָל:

7

[The laws of] derisah apply only [when] the attacking animal [strikes its victim] with its forelegs. If it strikes it with its hindlegs,16 we show no concern.17 [Similarly, the laws of] derisah apply only [when the attacking animal strikes its victim] with its claw. If it bites it, we show no concern unless it penetrates to its internal cavity.18 We then check if it perforated one of the organs [that cause an animal to be considered trefe if] even the tiniest perforation was made.

[The laws of] derisah apply only [when] the attacking animal has that intent. If, however, the beast of prey fell and its claws became lodged in the other animal, [the laws of] derisah do not apply.19 [Similarly, the laws of] derisah apply only [when the attacking animal] is alive. If, however, it attacked and was killed, but its claws remained lodged in the victim and were not removed until after [the attacker's] death, we are not concerned.20

ז

אֵין דְּרִיסָה אֶלָּא בְּיַד הַטּוֹרֵף אֲבָל בְּרַגְלָיו אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. וְאֵין דְּרִיסָה אֶלָּא בְּצִפֹּרֶן אֲבָל בְּשֵׁן אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נִקַּב עַד בֵּית הֶחָלָל בּוֹדְקִין שֶׁמָּא נִקַּב אֶחָד מִן הָאֵיבָרִים שֶׁנִּטְרֶפֶת בִּנְקִיבָתָן. וְאֵין דְּרִיסָה אֶלָּא בְּכַוָּנַת הַטּוֹרֵף. אֲבָל אִם נָפַל הַדּוֹרֵס וְנִשְׁתַּקְּעוּ צִפָּרְנָיו בַּנִּטְרַף אֵין זוֹ דְּרִיסָה. וְאֵין דְּרִיסָה אֶלָּא מֵחַיִּים. אֲבָל אִם דָּרַס וְנֶהֱרַג וַעֲדַיִן יָדוֹ בַּדְּרוּסָה וְלֹא שָׁמַט צִפָּרְנָיו מִמֶּנָּה אֶלָּא אַחַר מוֹתוֹ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ:

8

What are the laws applying to an animal that was attacked? Whenever we stated that "we show concern," the attacked animal should be slaughtered and its entire internal cavity - from its feet to its forehead - must be checked. If it is found to be flawless with regard to all the factors [that render an animal] trefe and there is no sign that it was attacked,21 it is permitted.22 If there is a sign that it was attacked, it is trefe and forbidden by Scriptural Law.

ח

וְכֵיצַד דִּין הַדְּרוּסָה. כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ שׁוֹחֲטִין אֶת הַנִּטְרָף וּבוֹדְקִין כָּל הֶחָלָל שֶׁלּוֹ מִכַּף הַיָּרֵךְ עַד הַקָּדְקֹד. אִם נִמְצֵאת כֻּלָּהּ שְׁלֵמָה מִכָּל מִינֵי טְרֵפוֹת וְלֹא נִמְצָא בָּהּ רשֶׁם הַדְּרִיסָה הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. וְאִם נִמְצָא בָּהּ רשֶׁם הַדְּרִיסָה הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה וַאֲסוּרָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה:

9

What is meant by "a sign that it was attacked"? That the flesh above the intestines turns red.23 If the flesh above the intestines decays to the extent it becomes like flesh which a doctor would scrape from a wound, we consider that flesh as if it were lacking and [rule that the animal is] trefe.24

ט

אֵי זֶה הוּא רשֶׁם הַדְּרִיסָה. שֶׁיַּאְדִּים הַבָּשָׂר כְּנֶגֶד בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם. וְאִם נִמֹּק הַבָּשָׂר כְּנֶגֶד בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה כְּבָשָׂר שֶׁהָרוֹפֵא גּוֹרְרוֹ מִן הַחַבּוּרָה רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ הַבָּשָׂר כְּאִלּוּ חָסֵר וּטְרֵפָה:

10

If [the predator] attacked the "signs" [which must be cut for ritual slaughter, the animal is] trefe if they turn red.25 The slightest wound [is significant]. If even the smallest portion of them becomes red because of an attack, [the animal is] trefe.26

י

וְאִם דָּרַס בַּסִּימָנִין מִשֶּׁיַּאֲדִימוּ טְרֵפָה וּדְרִיסָתָן בְּמַשֶּׁהוּ כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֶאֱדִים בָּהֶן כָּל שֶׁהוּא מֵחֲמַת דְּרִיסָה טְרֵפָה:

11

When there is a question whether [an animal] has been attacked or not, we do not permit it unless it is checked as one would [an animal] that had definitely been attacked.27

What is implied? When a lion enters among oxen and a claw was found in the back of one of them,28 we suspect that the lion attacked it. We do not rationalize and say: "Maybe it scratched itself on a wall."29

Similarly, if a fox or a marten enters among fowls, [the predator] is silent and they crowing, we fear that he attacked.30 If, however, the predator is roaring and they are crowing, [we assume that] they are crowing out of fear of him and his roaring. Similarly, if he cuts off the head of one of them,31 we assume his fury has subsided. Similarly, if both [the predator] and [the fowl] are silent, we do not suspect [anything]. For if he had harmed them, they would crow.32

יא

סְפֵק דְּרוּסָה אֲסוּרָה עַד שֶׁתִּבָּדֵק כִּדְרוּסָה וַדָּאִית. כֵּיצַד. אֲרִי שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְבֵין שְׁוָרִים וְנִמְצָא צִפֹּרֶן בְּגַבּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶן חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא אֲרִי דְּרָסוֹ. וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים שֶׁמָּא בַּכֹּתֶל נִתְחַכֵּךְ. וְכֵן שׁוּעָל אוֹ נְמִיָּה שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְבֵין הָעוֹפוֹת וְהוּא שׁוֹתֵק וְהֵן מְקַרְקְרִין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא דָּרַס. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הוּא נוֹהֵם וְהֵם מְקַרְקְרִין מִיִּרְאָתוֹ וּמִנְּהִימָתוֹ הֵן מְקַרְקְרִין. וְכֵן אִם קָטַע רֹאשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶן הִנֵּה נָח רָגְזוֹ. וְכֵן אִם שָׁתַק הוּא וְהֵם אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁאִלּוּ הִזִּיק הָיוּ מְקַרְקְרִין:

12

When there is a question of whether or not a predator entered [a place where animals are kept] or we saw [an animal] enter [such a place], but were unable to see if it is one of the predators or not, we do not harbor suspicions.33

Similarly, if a fowl entered a woods or reeds and came out with its head or neck dripping blood, we do not suspect that it was attacked. Instead, we say: "Perhaps it was wounded among the trees."34

יב

סָפֵק שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְכָאן טוֹרֵף אוֹ לֹא נִכְנַס. אוֹ שֶׁרָאִינוּ וְלֹא נוֹדַע אִם זֶה מִן הַטּוֹרְפִין אוֹ אֵינוֹ מִן הַטּוֹרְפִין אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין. וְכֵן עוֹף שֶׁנִּכְנַס לְבֵין הָעֵצִים אוֹ לְבֵין הַקָּנִים וְיָצָא וְרֹאשׁוֹ מְנַטֵּף דָּם אוֹ צַוָּארוֹ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ שֶׁמָּא נִטְרַף אֶלָּא אוֹמְרִים שֶׁמָּא בָּעֵצִים נִזַּק: