1What is meant by the term chasairah?1 There are two organs that render an animal treifah if it is lacking the proper number. They are the lungs and the feet.2אחֲסֵרָה כֵּיצַד? שְׁנֵי אֵבָרִים הֵן שֶׁאִם חָסֵר מִנְיָנָם, טְרֵפָה. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הָרֵאָה, וְהָרַגְלַיִם.
The lungs have five lobes. When a person will drape them over his hand with the inner portion of the lung facing his face3, there will be three lobes on the right and two on the left. וְחָמֵשׁ אוּנוֹת יֵשׁ לָהּ לָרֵאָה - כְּשֶׁיִּתְלֶה אוֹתָהּ אָדָם בְּיָדוֹ וּפְנֵי רֵאָה כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו, שְׁלוֹשָׁה מִן הַיָּמִין וּשְׁנַיִם מִן הַשְּׂמֹאל.
In addition, at the right of the lung, there is a small ear-like attachment. It is not in the row of the lobes. It has a pocket of its own and it is located in the pocket. This attachment is called a rose, because that is what it looks like4. It is not counted as one of the number of lobes.וּבְצַד יָמִין מִמֶּנָּה כְּמוֹ אֹזֶן קְטַנָּה, וְאֵינָהּ בְּצַד הָאוּנוֹת, וְיֵשׁ לָהּ כְּמוֹ כִּיס בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ, וְהִיא בְּתוֹךְ הַכִּיס. וְאֹזֶן זוֹ הַקְּטַנָּה - הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת 'וַרְדָה' מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא דּוֹמָה לְוֶרֶד, וְאֵינָהּ מִן הַמִּנְיָן.
Accordingly, if an animal does not possess this “rose,” it is permitted5.לְפִיכָךְ אִם לֹא נִמְצֵאת הַוֶּרֶד, מֻתֶּרֶת.
For this is the pattern with regard to this organ, there are some animals in which it is found and some in which it is not found.שֶׁכָּךְ הוּא דַּרְכָּהּ: יֵשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת תִּמָּצֵא בָּהֶם, וְיֵשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת לֹא תִמָּצֵא בָּהֶן.

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.

If it is perforated, the animal is treifah even though its pocket seals it.6 וְאִם נִמְצֵאת נְקוּבָה - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַכִּיס שֶׁלָּהּ סוֹתֵם אֶת הַנֶּקֶב, הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה.
2If the number of lobes was lacking and one was discovered on the left side or two on the right side, the animal is treifah.בחָסֵר מִנְיַן הָאוּנוֹת, וְנִמְצֵאת אַחַת מִן הַשְּׂמֹאל אוֹ שְׁתַּיִם מִן הַיָּמִין - טְרֵפָה.
If, however, there were two on the right side and this “rose,” the animal is permitted7. וְאִם נִמְצְאוּ בַּיָּמִין שְׁתַּיִם וְזֹאת הַוַּרְדָּה, הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת.
3If the position of the lobes was switched and three were found on the left and two on the right without a “rose” or the “rose” was found together with three on the left side, it is treifah, for it is lacking on the right side8. גנִתְחַלְּפוּ הָאוּנוֹת, וְנִמְצְאוּ שָׁלוֹשׁ מִן הַשְּׂמֹאל וּשְׁתַּיִם מִן הַיָּמִין בְּלֹא וֶרֶד, אוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה הַוֶּרֶד עִם הַשָּׁלוֹשׁ בְּצַד שְׂמֹאל - הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי חֲסֵרָה מִצַּד הַיָּמִין.
4The following rules apply if the number of lobes was increased. If the extra lobe was on the side of the other lobes9 or in front of the lungs10 on the side of the heart, the animal is permitted.דנִתּוֹסְפוּ הָאוּנוֹת בְּמִנְיָנָם: אִם הָיְתָה הָאֹזֶן הַיְּתֵרָה בְּצַד הָאוּנוֹת, אוֹ מִלִּפְנֵי הָרֵאָה שֶׁהִיא לְעֻמַּת הַלֵּב - מֻתֶּרֶת.
If the extra lobe is on its back, near the ribs, the animal is treifah for an extra organ is considered equivalent to one that is lacking. This applies provided it is at least the size of a myrtle leaf11. If it is smaller than this, it is not considered as a lobe and the animal is permitted.וְאִם הָיְתָה עַל גַּבָּהּ שֶׁהִיא לְעֻמַּת הַצְּלָעוֹת - הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה, שֶׁהַיָּתֵר כְּחָסֵר. וְהוּא, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה כְּמוֹ עַלֶּה שֶׁל הֲדָס; אֲבָל פָּחוֹת מִזֶּה - אֵינָהּ אֹזֶן, וּמֻתֶּרֶת.
5When one lobe is found clinging to the one next to it, the animal is permitted. If, however, the lobes became attached out of the ordinary order, e.g., the first lobe became attached to the third, the animal is treifah12. האֹזֶן שֶׁנִּמְצֵאת דְּבוּקָה בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ הַסְּמוּכָה לָהּ, מֻתֶּרֶת. וְאִם נִסְמְכוּ שֶׁלֹּא עַל הַסֵּדֶר, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּסְמְכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה לִשְׁלִישִׁית - טְרֵפָה.
6The following laws apply if there are two lobes that appear as one lobe and do not appear as two lobes joined together.13 If there was a space about the size of a myrtle leaf14 between them - whether at their root, in their center, or at their end - so that it is clear that they are two which are attached, the animal is permitted. If not, it is lacking one of the lobes and is treifah.ונִמְצְאוּ שְׁתֵּי הָאוּנוֹת כְּאוּנָה אַחַת, וְאֵינָן נִרְאוֹת כִּשְׁתַּיִם דְּבוּקוֹת: אִם הָיָה בֵּינֵיהֶן כְּמוֹ עַלֶּה שֶׁל הֲדָס, בֵּין בְּעִיקָרָן, בֵּין בְּאֶמְצָעָן, בֵּין בְּסוֹפָן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֻּכַּר שֶׁהֵן שְׁתַּיִם דְּבוּקוֹת - מֻתֶּרֶת; וְאִם לָאו - הֲרֵי זוֹ חֲסֵרָה, וּטְרֵפָה.
7If the entire lung appears like two rows and it is not divided into lobes, it is treifah. Similarly, if the body of the lung itself15 was lacking, even if it was not perforated, it is considered as if the required number of lobes were missing and the animal is treifah16. Therefore if a dried portion that could be chipped away with one’s nail of even the slightest size was discovered within it, it is considered as lacking 17and the animal is treifah.זנִמְצֵאת כֻּלָּהּ שְׁתֵּי עֲרוּגוֹת, וְאֵין לָהּ חִתּוּךְ אָזְנַיִם - טְרֵפָה. וְכֵן אִם חָסֵר גּוּף הָרֵאָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִקְּבָה - הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּמִי שֶׁחָסֵר מִנְיַן הָאוּנוֹת, וּטְרֵפָה. לְפִיכָךְ אִם נִמְצָא מִמֶּנָּה מָקוֹם יָבֵשׁ, עַד שֶׁיִּפָּרֵךְ בַּצִּפֹּרֶן - הֲרֵי זֶה כְּחָסֵר וּטְרֵפָה, וְאַפִלּוּ הָיָה כָּל שֶׁהוּא.
8When a lung was discovered to be inflated like the leaves of a palm tree, we rule that it is forbidden because of the doubt involved.חרֵאָה שֶׁנִּמְצֵאת נְפוּחָה כְּמוֹ עִיקַר חֲרָיוֹת שֶׁל דֶקֶל - אוֹסְרִין אוֹתָהּ מִסָּפֵק.
For this is an abnormal addition to its body and perhaps an addition to its body is considered as equivalent to a lack in its body, as stated with regard to the number of lobes18. שֶׁזּוֹ תּוֹסֶפֶת מְשֻׁנָּה בְּגוּפָהּ, וְשֶׁמָּא הַתּוֹסֶפֶת בַּגּוּף כְּחִסָרוֹן כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ בַּמִּנְיָן.
9The following rules apply when an animal became frightened and was terrified to the extent that her lung19 shriveled and came closer to becoming dried out: If it became frightened through the hand of heaven, e.g., it heard a thunderclap, saw lightening, or the like, it is permitted20. If it became frightened through human activity, e.g., another animal was slaughtered in its presence or the like, it is considered as if it were lacking and it is treifah.טהַבְּהֵמָה שֶׁפָּחֲדָה וְיָרְאָה, עַד שֶׁצָּמְקָה הָרֵאָה שֶׁלָּהּ וְקָרְבָה לִהְיוֹת יְבֵשָׁה: אִם פָּחֲדָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, כְּגוֹן שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה קוֹל רַעַם אוֹ רָאַתָה זִקִּים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה - מֻתֶּרֶת; וְאִם פָּחֲדָה בִּידֵי אָדָם, כְּגוֹן שֶׁשָּׁחֲטוּ לְפָנֶיהָ בְּהֵמָה אַחֶרֶת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה - הֲרֵי זוֹ כַּחֲסֵרָה, וּטְרֵפָה.
10How do we inspect it? We place the lung in water for an entire day. In the winter, we place it in lukewarm water, in a container which will not cause the water to condense on its back21 and flow so that they will not become cold rapidly. If the season was hot, we place it in cold water in a container on which the water will condense on its back so that the water will remain cold. If the lung returns to its natural state, we assume that the animal was frightened by the hand of heaven and it is permitted22. If it does not return, we we assume that it happened due to mortal causes and the animal is treifah.יכֵּיצַד בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתָהּ? מוֹשִׁיבִין אֶת הָרֵאָה בְּמַיִם מֵעֵת לְעֵת - אִם הָיָה זְמַן הַקּוֹר, מוֹשִׁיבִין אוֹתָהּ בְּמַיִם פּוֹשְׁרִין וּבִכְלִי שֶׁאֵין הַמַּיִם מִתְמַצִּין מִגַּבּוֹ וְנוֹזְלִים כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִצּוֹנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה, וְאִם הָיָה זְמַן הַחֹם, מוֹשִׁיבִין אוֹתָהּ בְּמַיִם צוֹנֵן וּבִכְלִי שֶׁהַמַּיִם מִתְמַצִּין מִגַּבּוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשָּׁאֲרוּ קָרִים. אִם חָזְרָה לִבְרִיָּתָהּ - הֲרֵי זוֹ בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, וּמֻתֶּרֶת; וְאִם לֹא חָזְרָה - בִּידֵי אָדָם הִיא, וּטְרֵפָה.
11An animal that was lacking a foot23 from the time it came into being is treifah.יאבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהָיְתָה חֲסֵרָה רֶגֶל מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתָהּ, טְרֵפָה.
The same ruling applies if it possesses an extra foot, for an extra limb or organ is considered as if it was lacking.וְכֵן אִם הָיְתָה יְתֵרָה רֶגֶל, שֶׁכָּל הַיָּתֵר כְּחָסֵר הוּא.
If, however, it has three forefeet or only one forefoot, the animal is permitted. Accordingly, if an animal’s forefoot is cut off, the animal is permitted24.אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ לָהּ שָׁלוֹשׁ יָדַיִם, אוֹ יָד אַחַת - מֻתֶּרֶת. לְפִיכָךְ אִם נֶחְתַּךְ הַיָּד שֶׁלָּהּ, מֻתֶּרֶת.
If its leg is cut off from the joint and above,25 the animal is treifah. From the joint and below, it is permitted26.נֶחְתַּךְ הָרֶגֶל - מִן הָאַרְכֻּבָּה וּלְמַעְלָה, טְרֵפָה; מִן הָאַרְכֻּבָּה וּלְמַטָּה, מֻתֶּרֶת.
Which joint are we speaking about? The joint that is at the end of the hip close to the body.בְּאֵיזוֹ אַרְכֻּבָּה אָמְרוּ? בָּאַרְכֻּבָּה שֶׁהִיא סוֹף הַיָּרֵךְ הַסָּמוּךְ לַגּוּף.
12When the bone is broken27 above the joint, if it emerges outward entirely or in its majority, it is considered as if it were cut and fell off,28 and the animal is treifah.יבנִשְׁבַּר הָעֶצֶם לְמַעְלָה מִן הָאַרְכֻּבָּה, אִם יָצָא כֻּלּוֹ אוֹ רֻבּוֹ לַחוּץ - הֲרֵי זֶה כְּמִי שֶׁנֶּחְתַּךְ וְנָפַל, וּטְרֵפָה.
If the flesh or the skin29 was covering both the majority of the thickness and the majority of the circumference of the broken bone, the animal is permitted30. This applies even if part of the broken bone fell off and no longer is present.וְאִם הָיָה הַבָּשָׂר אוֹ הָעוֹר חוֹפֶה רֹב עָבְיוֹ וְרֹב הֶקֵּפוֹ שֶׁל עֶצֶם שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּר - הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. וְאַפִלּוּ נָפַל מִקְצַת הָעֶצֶם שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּר וְהָלַךְ לוֹ.
Soft sinews are not considered as flesh.וְגִידִים הָרַכִּים, אֵינָן חֲשׁוּבִין כְּבָשָׂר.
13The juncture of the sinews is a place in an animal and in a beast which is above the heel, at the place where the butchers hang the animal.31 There are three white sinews there, one thick and two thin.יגצֹמֶּת הַגִּידִין, הֵן בַּבְּהֵמָה וּבַחַיָּה לְמַעְלָה מִן הֶעָקֵב בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁתּוֹלִין בּוֹ הַטַּבָּחִים הַבְּהֵמָה; וְהֵן שְׁלוֹשָׁה גִּידִין לְבָנִים - אֶחָד עָבֶה, וּשְׁנַיִם דַּקִּים.
From the place where they begin and are firm and white until the place where the whiteness is removed from them and they begin to become red and soften is considered the juncture of the sinews.וּמִמְּקוֹם שֶׁיַּתְחִילוּ וְהֵן קָשִׁים וּלְבָנִים עַד שֶׁיָּסוּר הַלֹּבֶן מֵהֶן וְיַתְחִילוּ לְהִתְאַדֵּם וּלְהִתְרַכֵּךְ - זוֹ הִיא 'צֹמֶּת הַגִּידִים'.
It is approximately sixteen fingerbreadths32 long in an ox.וְהוּא כְּאֹרֶךְ שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אֶצְבָּעוֹת בַּשּׁוֹר.
14In a fowl, there are sixteen such sinews. They begin on the lowest bone, from the extra talon and continue until the conclusion of the foot which is covered by a series of crusted scales33. ידוּמִנְיַן גִּידִים אֵלּוּ בָּעוֹף, שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר גִּידִין. תְּחִלָּתָן מִן הָעֶצֶם שֶׁל מַטָּה מֵאֶצְבָּע יְתֵרָה, עַד סוֹף הָרֶגֶל שֶׁהוּא קַשְׂקַשִּׂים קַשְׂקַשִּׂים.
15When an animal’s feet are cut off at the juncture of the sinews, it is treifah.טובְּהֵמָה שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ רַגְלֶיהָ בִּמְקוֹם צֹמֶּת הַגִּידִין, טְרֵפָה.
Do not be amazed and say: “How is it possible that an animal will be permitted if its legs are cut off above the juncture of the sinews - indeed, it is permitted unless its legs are cut off above the highest joint as we explained34 - but forbidden if they are cut off at a lower point, at the juncture of the sinews? The resolution is as follows: With regard to the designation of an animal as treifah, there are times when one will cut from this point and it will live, but if one would cut from this point, it would die. We have not forbidden this animal, because its feet were cut off at a particular point,35 but rather because its sinews were severed36 and this renders it treifah, as will be explained37. וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ וְתֹאמַר: כֵּיצַד תֵּחָתֵךְ לְמַעְלָה מִצֹמֶּת הַגִּידִים וְהִיא מֻתֶּרֶת, עַד שֶׁתֵּחָתֵךְ לְמַעְלָה מִן הָאַרְכֻּבָּה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וְאִם תֵּחָתֵךְ לְמַטָּה בְּצֹמֶּת הַגִּידִין, אֲסוּרָה? שֶׁבַּטְּרֵפוֹת תֵּחָתֵךְ מִכָּאן וְתִחְיֶה, וּמִכָּאן וְתָמוּת. וְלֹא נֶאְסְרָה בְּהֵמָה זוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא חֲתוּכַת רֶגֶל מִמָּקוֹם זֶה, אֶלָא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ הַגִּידִין, שֶׁחֲתִיכָתָן מִכְּלַל הַטְּרֵפוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר.
16What is meant by the term Netulah?38 There are three limbs and organs which even though they do not cause an animal to be deemed treifah when they are perforated or if they are lacking when the animal is born,39 cause the animal to be deemed treifah. They are: the juncture of the sinews,40 the liver, and the upper jaw-bone.טזנְטוּלָה כֵּיצַד? שְׁלוֹשָׁה אֵבָרִים הֵן שֶׁאִם נִטְּלוּ טְרֵפָה, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶן לֹא דִּין נֶקֶב וְלֹא דִּין חִסָרוֹן. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: צֹמֶּת הַגִּידִים, וְהַכָּבֵד, וְלֶחִי הָעֶלְיוֹן.
17We already explained41 that when an animal or a fowl has had its legs cut off at the place of the juncture of the sinews, it is deemed treifah only because the sinews were cut.42יזוּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ שֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה שֶׁנֶּחְתַּךְ רַגְלָהּ וְכֵן הָעוֹף, בִּמְקוֹם צֹמֶּת הַגִּידִים - לֹא נַעֲשׂוּ טְרֵפָה אֶלָא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ הַגִּידִין.
Therefore if the sinews alone were severed even though the foot remains intact, the animal is treifah, because the juncture of the sinews has been removed.לְפִיכָךְ אִם נֶחְתְּכוּ הַגִּידִין לְבַדָּם, וְהָרֶגֶל קַיֶּמֶת - טְרֵפָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִטְּלָה צֹמֶּת הַגִּידִים.
18In an animal, if the thick sinew alone was severed, the animal is permitted, for the two thin ones remained. If both thin ones were severed, the animal is permitted, for the one thick one is larger than both of them. In both cases, the entire juncture was not removed, only its smaller portion.43יחנֶחְתַּךְ בַּבְּהֵמָה הָאֶחָד הֶעָבֶה לְבַדּוֹ - מֻתֶּרֶת, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִשְׁאֲרוּ הַשְּׁנַיִם הַדַּקִּין. נֶחְתְּכוּ הַשְּׁנַיִם הַדַּקִּין - מֻתֶּרֶת, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִשְׁאַר הָאֶחָד הֶעָבֶה גָּדוֹל מִשְּׁנֵיהֶן, וַהֲרֵי לֹא נִטְּלָה כָּל הַצֻּמָּה, אֶלָא מִעוּטָהּ.
If the majority of each of them was severed, the animal is treifah44. Needless to say, this applies if they were all severed or removed.נֶחְתַּךְ רֻבּוֹ שֶׁל כָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן, טְרֵפָה; וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ כֻּלָּן אוֹ נִטְּלוּ כֻּלָּן.
19With regard to a fowl, even if the majority of one of the sixteen were severed, the animal is treifah. יטוּבָעוֹף - אַפִלּוּ נֶחְתַּךְ רֻבּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מִן הַשִּׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר, טְרֵפָה.
20When a fowl’s wings are broken, it is permitted like an animal whose forelegs have been cut off.45 כוְעוֹף שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּבְּרוּ גַּפָּיו - מֻתָּר, כִּבְהֵמָה שֶׁנֶּחְתְּכוּ יָדֶיהָ.
21When the entire liver has been removed, the animal is treifah. If an olive-sized portion remains at the place from which it is suspended46 and there is an olive-sized portion at the place of the gall-bladder, it is permitted.47 If the liver slipped from its place and it is in disarray, connected with the diaphragm, the animal is permitted.48כאכָּבֵד שֶׁנִּטְּלָה כֻּלָּהּ, טְרֵפָה. וְאִם נִשְׁתַּיֵּר מִמֶּנָּה כַּזַּיִת בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁהִיא תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ, וְכַזַּיִת בִּמְקוֹם מָרָה - הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. נִדַּלְדְּלָה הַכָּבֵד, וַהֲרֵי הִיא מְעֻרָּה בַּטַּרְפֵּשׁ שֶׁלָּהּ - מֻתֶּרֶת.
If the place from which it is suspended and the portion at the place of the gall-bladder were removed, it is treifah49 even if the remainder is intact as it was previously.נִטַּל מִמֶּנָּה מְקוֹם שֶׁהִיא תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ וּמְקוֹם הַמָּרָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַשְּׁאָר קַיָּם כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא, טְרֵפָה.
22If there remained an olive-sized portion at the place of the gall-bladder and an olive-sized portion at the place from which it was suspended, the animal is kosher. If, however, the portions of the liver which remain intact were scattered, some here and some there, flattened, or elongated like a strap, there is a doubt concerning its status. It appears to me that it is forbidden.50 כבנִשְׁאַר בָּהּ כַּזַּיִת בִּמְקוֹם מָרָה, וְכַזַּיִת בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁהִיא תְּלוּיָה בּוֹ - כְּשֵׁרָה. אֲבָל הָיָה מְפֻזָּר מְעַט בְּכָאן וּמְעַט בְּכָאן, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מְרֻדָּד, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה אָרוּךְ כִּרְצוּעָה - הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה.
23When the upper jaw-bone is removed, the animal is treifah51. If, however, the lower jaw-bone is removed,52 i.e., it was cut away until the place of the gullet and the windpipe, but they were not uprooted from their connection to the throat, the animal is permitted.כגלֶחִי הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁנִּטַּל, טְרֵפָה. אֲבָל אִם נִטַּל הַתַּחְתּוֹן, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּגְמַם עַד מְקוֹם הַסִּימָנִין, וְלֹא נֶעְקְרוּ - הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת.
24Whenever it is said that an animal is treifah if a limb or organ is lacking53, so, too, it is treifah if that organ is removed.54כדכָל אֵבֶר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ אִם הָיָה חָסֵר טְרֵפָה - כָּךְ אִם נִטַּל, טְרֵפָה.
If, however, it is said that an animal is treifah if an organ is removed, the animal is not forbidden unless that organ was cut off. If, however, the animal was created lacking that organ, it is permitted. For if not, the categories of chasairah and netulah would be identical.55אֲבָל אֵבֶר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ אִם נִטַּל טְרֵפָה, אֵינָהּ נֶאֱסֶרֶת אֶלָא אִם נֶחְתַּךְ אוֹתוֹ אֵבֶר; אֲבָל אִם נִבְרֵאת חֲסֵרָה אוֹתוֹ אֵבֶר, הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת - שֶׁאִם לֹא תֹאמַר כֵּן, נִמְצֵאת הַחֲסֵרָה וְהַנְּטוּלָה אַחַת הִיא.
Whenever it is said that an animal is permitted if a limb is removed, it is certainly permitted56 if this organ was lacking from the beginning of the animal’s existence and was never created.וְכָל אֵבֶר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ שֶׁאִם נִטַּל מֻתֶּרֶת - קַל וְחֹמֶר אִם חָסֵר מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתָהּ וְלֹא נִבְרָא, שֶׁהִיא מֻתֶּרֶת.
25When the uterus of an animal, i.e., its womb, was removed or its kidneys were removed,57 it is permitted. There if it was created with only one kidney or with three kidneys58 it is permitted59. Similarly, it is permitted if a kidney was perforated.כהבְּהֵמָה שֶׁנִּטְּלָה הָאֹם שֶׁלָּהּ, וְהִיא בֵּית הָרֶחֶם, אוֹ שֶׁנִּטְּלוּ הַכְּלָיוֹת - הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. לְפִיכָךְ אִם נִבְרֵאת בְּכִלְיָה אַחַת אוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹשׁ כְּלָיוֹת, מֻתֶּרֶת. וְכֵן אִם נִקְּבָה הַכֻּלְיָא, מֻתֶּרֶת.
26Although an animal is permitted despite the fact that a kidney was removed or it was created without it, if its kidney is extremely undersized, it is treifah60. For a small animal, this means the size of a bean, for a large one, the size of a grape.61כואַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַכֻּלְיָא שֶׁנִּטְּלָה אוֹ שֶׁחֲסֵרָה מֻתֶּרֶת, אִם נִמְצֵאת קְטַנָּה בְּיוֹתֵר, וְהִקְטִינָה בַּדַּקָּה עַד כַּפּוֹל, וּבַגַּסָּה עַד כָּעֵנָב - טְרֵפָה.
Similarly, if a kidney became afflicted, i.e., its flesh became like the flesh of a dead animal that decayed after several days. Thus if one would take hold of a portion of it, it will decompose and fall apart. If this condition reached the white portion62 in the kidney, the animal is treifah.וְכֵן אִם לָקְתָה הַכֻּלְיָא, וְהוּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה בְּשָׂרָהּ כִּבְשַׂר הַמֵּת שֶׁהִבְאִישׁ אַחַר יָמִים, שֶׁאִם תֶּאֱחֹז בְּמִקְצָתוֹ, יִתְמַסְמֵס וְיִפֹּל, וְהִגִּיעַ חֹלִי זֶה, עַד הַלֹּבֶן שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַכֻּלְיָא - הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה.
Similarly, if moisture - even if it is not putrid - is found in the kidney or murky or putrid fluid is found there, it is treifah. If, however, clear water is found there,63 the animal is permitted.וְכֵן אִם נִמְצֵאת בַּכֻּלְיָא לֵחָה, אַף עַל פִּי שְׁאֵינָהּ סְרוּחָה, אוֹ שֶׁנִּמְצְאוּ בָּהּ מַיִם עֲכוּרִין, אוֹ סְרוּחִים - הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה; אֲבָל אִם נִמְצְאוּ בָּהּ מַיִם זַכִּים, הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת.