1

What is meant by the term pesukah?1 If the skin that covers the marrow2 of the spinal cord is severed, [the animal] is trefe. [This applies] provided the majority of the circumference [of the skin] is severed. If, however, the skin is split lengthwise or perforated, [the animal] is permitted. Similarly, if the backbone was broken, but the spinal cord was not split or the marrow within the cord was crushed and it would wobble, [the animal] is permitted because its skin is still intact.

א

פְּסוּקָה כֵּיצַד. חוּט הַשִּׁדְרָה שֶׁנִּפְסַק הָעוֹר הַחוֹפֶה אֶת הַמֹּחַ טְרֵפָה. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיִּפָּסֵק רֹב הֶקֵּפוֹ. אֲבָל אִם נִסְדַּק הָעוֹר לְאָרְכּוֹ אוֹ נִקַּב מֻתֶּרֶת. וְכֵן אִם נִשְׁבְּרָה הַשִּׁדְרָה וְלֹא נִפְסַק הַחוּט שֶׁלָּהּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּתְמַעֵךְ הַמֹּחַ שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַחוּט וְנִתְנַדְנֵד הוֹאִיל וְעוֹרוֹ קַיָּם הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת:

2

If the marrow decomposes and it can be poured like water or like molten wax to the extent that the spinal cord cannot stand when it is lifted up, [the animal] is trefe. If [the reason] it cannot stand is because of its weight, [the animal's] status is doubtful.3

ב

הֻמְרַךְ הַמֹּחַ וְנִשְׁפַּךְ כַּמַּיִם אוֹ כְּדוֹנַג שֶׁנָּמֵס עַד שֶׁיִּמָּצֵא הַחוּט כְּשֶׁמַּעֲמִידוֹ אֵינוֹ עוֹמֵד הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. וְאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד מִפְּנֵי כָּבְדּוֹ הֲרֵי זוֹ סָפֵק:

3

To where does the spinal cord extend? It begins behind the two glands at the beginning of the neck and extends until the second divider.4 Thus nothing remains after it except the third divider which is close to the beginning of the tail.

ג

עַד הֵיכָן חוּט הַשִּׁדְרָה. תְּחִלָּתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ לַפּוֹלִין שֶׁבִּתְחִלַּת הָעֹרֶף עַד סוֹף פָּרָשָׁה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁאֵר אַחֲרֶיהָ אֶלָּא פָּרָשָׁה שְׁלִישִׁית הַסְּמוּכָה לִתְחִלַּת הָאַלְיָה:

4

There are three dividers. They are three bones that cleave to each other below the vertebrae of the backbone. The spinal cord of a fowl extends to in between the wings.5 Below these places, we are not concerned with the cord that extends there, even if its skin was severed or its marrow decays.6

ד

וְשָׁלֹשׁ פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הֵן וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. שְׁלֹשָׁה עֲצָמוֹת דְּבוּקִין זֶה בָּזֶה לְמַטָּה מֵחֻלְיוֹת שֶׁל שִׁדְרָה. וְחוּט הַשִּׁדְרָה בָּעוֹף עַד בֵּין אֲגַפַּיִים. אֲבָל לְמַטָּה מִמְּקוֹמוֹת אֵלּוּ אֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין עַל הַחוּט הַנִּמְשָׁךְ לְשָׁם בֵּין שֶׁנִּפְסַק עוֹרוֹ בֵּין שֶׁנִּמְרַךְ הַמֹּחַ:

5

What is meant by the term keru'ah?7 [This concerns] the flesh which covers the majority of [the animal's] belly. If it is ripped open, the belly will [fall] out. If this flesh is ripped open, [the animal] is trefe. [This applies] even if the tear did not reach the belly itself to the extent that it is seen. Instead, since the majority of the thickness of this flesh was ripped open8 or removed, [the animal] is trefe.

What is the measure of the tear? It must be a handbreadth long. If the animal was small and the majority of the length9 of the flesh covering the belly was torn, it is trefe even though the tear is not a handbreadth long. For the majority [of its length] was torn.

ה

קְרוּעָה כֵּיצַד. בָּשָׂר הַחוֹפֶה אֶת רֹב הַכֶּרֶס וְהוּא הַמָּקוֹם מִן הַבֶּטֶן שֶׁאִם יִקָּרַע יֵצֵא הַכֶּרֶס אִם נִקְרַע בָּשָׂר זֶה טְרֵפָה. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ הַקֶּרַע לַכֶּרֶס עַד שֶׁנִּרְאֵית. אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּקְרַע רֹב עֳבִי הַבָּשָׂר הַזֶּה אוֹ נִטַּל טְרֵפָה. וְכַמָּה שִׁעוּר הַקֶּרַע בְּאָרְכּוֹ אֹרֶךְ טֶפַח. וְאִם הָיְתָה בְּהֵמָה קְטַנָּה וְנִקְרַע רֹב אֹרֶךְ הַבָּשָׂר הַחוֹפֶה אֶת הַכֶּרֶס אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בְּאֹרֶךְ הַקֶּרַע טֶפַח טְרֵפָה הוֹאִיל וְנִקְרַע רֻבָּהּ:

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 following rules apply if] a circular or oblong portion of this flesh was cut.10 If it was larger than a sela,11 i.e., large enough to fit tightly three date seeds next to each other, [the animal] is trefe. For when this size cut will be extended, it will be a handbreadth in length.12

ו

נִקְדַּר הַבָּשָׂר הַזֶּה בְּעִגּוּל אוֹ בְּאֹרֶךְ אִם הָיָה יָתֵר מִכְּסֶלַע וְהוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס בּוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ גַּרְעִינֵי תְּמָרָה זוֹ בְּצַד זוֹ בְּדֹחַק הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. שֶׁאִם יִמָּתַח קֶרַע זֶה יַעֲמֹד עַל טֶפַח:

7

When the skin of an animal was removed from it entirely - whether it was torn off by hand or [decomposed due to] sickness - the animal is trefe. This is called geludah. If a [portion of] skin as wide as a sela remained on the entire backbone, one as wide as a sela remained on the navel, and one as wide as a sela remained on the tips of the limbs, [the animal] is permitted.13

If [a portion] as wide as a sela was removed from the entire backbone, from the navel, or from the tips of the limbs, but the remainder of the skin remained intact, there is a doubt [concerning the ruling].14 It appears to me that we permit [the animal].15

ז

בְּהֵמָה שֶׁנִּפְשַׁט הָעוֹר שֶׁעָלֶיהָ כֻּלּוֹ בֵּין שֶׁנִּקְרַע בַּיָּד אוֹ בְּחלִי וְנִמְצָא בָּשָׂר בְּלֹא עוֹר הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. וְזוֹ הִיא שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת גְּלוּדָה. וְאִם נִשְׁאַר מִן הָעוֹר רֹחַב סֶלַע עַל פְּנֵי כָּל הַשִּׁדְרָה וְרֹחַב סֶלַע עַל הַטַּבּוּר וְרֹחַב סֶלַע עַל רָאשֵׁי אֵיבָרֶיהָ הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. וְאִם נִטַּל כְּרֹחַב סֶלַע מֵעַל כָּל פְּנֵי הַשִּׁדְרָה אוֹ מֵעַל הַטַּבּוּר אוֹ מֵעַל רָאשֵׁי אֵיבָרֶיהָ וּשְׁאָר כָּל הָעוֹר קַיָּם הֲרֵי זוֹ סָפֵק. וְיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁמַּתִּירִין אוֹתָהּ:

8

What is meant by the term nefulah?16 When an animal fell from a high place - at least ten handbreadths high17 - and one of its organs was crushed, it is trefe.

To what extent must it be crushed? It must be smashed and become ailing because of the fall to the extent that its form and appearance have been destroyed. Even though [the organ] is not perforated, cracked, or broken, [the animal] is trefe. Similarly, if one struck it with a stone or a staff and crushed one of its organs, it is trefe.18

To which organs are we referring? To those in the body's inner cavity.19

ח

נְפוּלָה כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁנָּפְלָה הַבְּהֵמָה מִמָּקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁגָּבְהוֹ עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים אוֹ יֶתֶר וְנִתְרַסֵּק אֵיבָר מֵאֵיבָרֶיהָ הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. וְכֵיצַד הוּא הָרִסּוּק. שֶׁיִּתְרוֹצֵץ הָאֵיבָר וְיֶחֱלֶה מֵחֲמַת הַנְּפִילָה עַד שֶׁתִּפָּסֵד צוּרָתוֹ וְתָאֳרוֹ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִקַּב וְלֹא נִסְדַּק וְלֹא נִשְׁבַּר הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. וְכֵן אִם הִכָּה אוֹתָהּ בְּאֶבֶן אוֹ בְּמַטֶּה וְרִצֵּץ אֵיבָר מֵאֵיבָרֶיהָ טְרֵפָה. בְּאֵי זֶה אֵיבָרִים אָמְרוּ בְּאֵיבָרִים שֶׁבַּחֲלַל הַגּוּף:

9

If an animal walks after falling from a roof, we do not suspect [that it became trefe].20 If it stood, but did not walk, we harbor such suspicions.21 If it jumped [from the roof] on its own [initiative], we do not harbor suspicions.22 If [a person] left his animal on the roof and found it on the ground, we do not suspect that it fell.23

ט

בְּהֵמָה שֶׁנָּפְלָה מִן הַגַּג אִם הָלְכָה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. וְאִם עָמְדָה וְלֹא הָלְכָה חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. קָפְצָה מֵחֲמַת עַצְמָהּ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. הִנִּיחָהּ לְמַעְלָה וּמְצָאָהּ לְמַטָּה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ שֶׁמָּא נָפְלָה:

10

When bulls butt each other, we do not harbor suspicions.24 If one falls to the ground, we do harbor suspicions.25 Similarly, [if we see] an animal dragging its feet, we do not suspect that its organs were crushed or that its backbone was severed.26

י

זְכָרִים הַמְנַגְּחִין זֶה אֶת זֶה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן. נָפְלוּ לָאָרֶץ חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן. וְכֵן בְּהֵמָה שֶׁהָיְתָה מְגָרֶרֶת רַגְלֶיהָ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ שֶׁמָּא נִתְרַסְּקוּ אֵיבָרֶיהָ אוֹ שֶׁמָּא נִפְסַק הַחוּט שֶׁל שִׁדְרָה:

11

When thieves steal lambs and throw them outside the corral, we do not suspect that their organs were crushed, because they throw them only with the intent that they will not be broken.27 If they returned them and threw them back to the corral because of fear,28 we suspect that they [may have become trefe].29 If they returned them out of a desire to repent, we do not harbor suspicions about [the lambs], because [the thieves] have the intent of returning them intact and therefore they will be careful when throwing them back.

יא

גַּנָּבִים שֶׁגּוֹנְבִין הַטְּלָאִים וּמַשְׁלִיכִין אוֹתָן לַאֲחוֹרֵי הַדִּיר אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן מִשּׁוּם רִסּוּק אֵיבָרִים. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מַשְׁלִיכִין אוֹתָן אֶלָּא בְּכַוָּנָה שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ. וְאִם הֶחֱזִירוּם וְהִשְׁלִיכוּם לַדִּיר מֵחֲמַת יִרְאָה חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן. מֵחֲמַת תְּשׁוּבָה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמִּתְכַּוֵּן לְהַחֲזִירָם שְׁלֵמִים וְיִזָּהֲרוּ בְּהַשְׁלָכָתָן:

12

When an ox was forced to lie down for slaughter, we do not suspect [that its internal organs were crushed]. [This applies] even if it fell considerably to the extent that it made a great noise30 when it fell. [The rationale is that] it implants its hooves into it and strengthens itself until it falls to the ground.31

יב

שׁוֹר שֶׁהִרְבִּיצוּהוּ לִשְׁחִיטָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנָּפַל נְפִילָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ קוֹל בְּעֵת שֶׁמַּפִּילִין אוֹתוֹ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנּוֹעֵץ צִפָּרְנָיו וּמִתְחַזֵּק עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לָאָרֶץ:

13

If one struck an animal on its head and the blow extended toward its tail or [one hit it] on its tail and the blow extended toward its head - even if one struck it on the entire backbone - we do not suspect [that it became trefe]. If the staff had bulges at different points, we harbor suspicions [concerning the animal].32 If the head of the staff reached a portion of the backbone,33 we harbor suspicions. Similarly, we harbor suspicions if he struck the animal across the breadth of the backbone.34

יג

הִכָּה הַבְּהֵמָה עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וְהָלְכָה לָהּ הַמַּכָּה כְּלַפֵּי זְנָבָהּ אוֹ עַל זְנָבָהּ וְהָלְכָה לָהּ כְּלַפֵּי רֹאשָׁהּ וַאֲפִלּוּ הִכָּה אוֹתָהּ בַּמַּטֶּה עַל כָּל הַשִּׁדְרָה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. וְאִם יֵשׁ בַּמַּטֶּה חֻלְיוֹת חֻלְיוֹת חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. וְאִם הִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ הַמַּטֶּה לְמִקְצָת הַשִּׁדְרָה חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ. וְכֵן אִם הִכָּה לְרֹחַב הַשִּׁדְרָה חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ:

14

When a fowl is knocked against a firm article,35 e.g., a heap of grain, a mound of almonds, or the like, we suspect that its organs may have been crushed. If, by contrast, it is knocked against something soft, e.g., a folded garment, straw,36, ashes, or the like, we do not harbor such suspicions.

יד

עוֹף שֶׁנֶּחְבַּט עַל דָּבָר קָשֶׁה כְּגוֹן כְּרִי שֶׁל חִטִּים אוֹ קֻפָּה שֶׁל שְׁקֵדִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן חוֹשְׁשִׁין לְרִסּוּק אֵיבָרִים. וְאִם נֶחְבַּט עַל דָּבָר רַךְ כְּגוֹן כְּסוּת כְּפוּלָה וְהַתֶּבֶן וְהָאֵפֶר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ:

15

[The following rules apply when a fowl's] wings became stuck with glue37 when it was being captured and it received a blow. If only one wing became stuck, we do not suspect [that it became trefe].38 If both of its wings became stuck and it receive a blow on its body, we harbor suspicions.39

טו

נִדְבְּקוּ כְּנָפָיו בְּדֶבֶק בִּשְׁעַת צִידָה וְנִתְחַבֵּט. אִם בְּכָנָף אַחַת נֶאֱחַז אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ. וְאִם נֶאֱחַז בִּשְׁתֵּי כְּנָפָיו וְנִתְחַבֵּט בְּגוּפוֹ חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ:

16

[The following rules apply if] it is knocked against water.40 If it swam for its full height upriver, against the current, we do not suspect [that it became trefe].41 If, however, it swims downriver, with the current, we harbor suspicions, for perhaps the water is carrying it.42 If it advances toward straw or hay that is floating on the river, it is swimming on its own power and we do not harbor suspicions.

טז

נֶחְבַּט עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם אִם שָׁט מְלֹא קוֹמָתוֹ מִמַּטָּה לְמַעְלָה לְעֻמַּת הַמַּיִם אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ. אֲבָל אִם שָׁט מִמַּעְלָה לְמַטָּה עִם הִלּוּךְ הַמַּיִם חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ שֶׁמָּא הַמַּיִם הֵם הַמּוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ. וְאִם קָדַם לְתֶבֶן אוֹ קַשׁ שֶׁמְּהַלְּכִין עַל גַּבֵּי הַמַּיִם הֲרֵי זוֹ שָׁט מֵחֲמַת עַצְמוֹ וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לוֹ:

17

In all situations where we said: "We do not harbor suspicions," it is permitted to slaughter [the animal] immediately and it is not necessary to check whether an organ was crushed. In all situations where we said: "We harbor suspicions," if one slaughters the animal, one must check its entire internal category from the head to the hind-thigh.43 If any of the factors that render an animal trefe mentioned above were discovered or one of the inner organs was crushed to the extent that its form was destroyed, [the animal] is trefe. Even if one of the organs whose removal does not render the animal trefe,44 e.g., the spleen or the kidneys, is crushed, [the animal] is trefe. [There is] an exception, the uterus; if it is crushed, the animal is permitted.

יז

כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ מֻתָּר לִשְׁחֹט מִיָּד. וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק שֶׁמָּא נִתְרַסֵּק אֵיבָר. וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהּ אִם שְׁחָטָהּ צָרִיךְ לִבְדֹּק כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הֶחָלָל כֻּלּוֹ מִקָּדְקֹד הָרֹאשׁ עַד הַיָּרֵךְ. אִם מָצָא בָּהּ טְרֵפָה מִן הַטְּרֵפוֹת שֶׁמָּנִינוּ אוֹ שֶׁנִּתְרַסֵּק אֵיבָר מִן הָאֵיבָרִים שֶׁבִּפְנִים וְנִפְסְדָה צוּרָתוֹ הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. אֲפִלּוּ נִתְרַסֵּק אֵיבָר מִן הָאֵיבָרִים שֶׁאִם נִטְּלוּ כְּשֵׁרָה כְּגוֹן טְחוֹל וּכְלָיוֹת הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה חוּץ מִבֵּית הָרֶחֶם שֶׁאִם נִתְרַסֵּק הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת:

18

[The gullet and the windpipe] do not require examination in these situations, for a fall will not crush them.

יח

וְהַסִּימָנִין אֵינָן צְרִיכִין בְּדִיקָה בְּכָאן שֶׁאֵין הַנְּפִילָה מְמַעֶכֶת אוֹתָן:

19

When an animal fell from a roof and did not stand [afterwards],45 it is forbidden to slaughter it until one waits an entire day.46 If one slaughtered it during this time, it is trefe. When one slaughters it after a day has passed, an examination is required, as we explained.47

יט

נָפְלָה מִן הַגַּג וְלֹא עָמְדָה אָסוּר לִשְׁחֹט אוֹתָהּ עַד שֶׁתִּשְׁהֵא מֵעֵת לְעֵת. וְאִם שָׁחַט בְּתוֹךְ זְמַן זֶה הֲרֵי זוֹ טְרֵפָה. וּכְשֶׁשּׁוֹחֵט אוֹתָהּ אַחַר מֵעֵת לְעֵת צְרִיכָה בְּדִיקָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

20

Similarly, if a person treaded on a fowl48 with his feet, an animal trampled it, or it was crushed against a wall and it is in its death throes, we leave it alive for a day. Afterwards, we slaughter it and examine it,49 as we stated.

כ

וְכֵן מִי שֶׁדָּרַס בְּרַגְלוֹ עַל הָעוֹף אוֹ שֶׁדְּרָסַתּוּ בְּהֵמָה אוֹ שֶׁטְּרָפוֹ לַכֹּתֶל וַהֲרֵי הוּא מְפַרְכֵּס מַשְׁהִין אוֹתוֹ מֵעֵת לְעֵת וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ וּבוֹדְקִין אוֹתוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

21

When the majority of [the windpipe and the gullet were separated50 and] hang loosely, [the animal] is trefe. [This applies] even if [this condition occurs] due to reasons other than a fall.51 Similarly, if they became folded over,52 [the animal is unacceptable,] because they are no longer fit for ritual slaughter.53 If, by contrast, [even though] the majority54 of the throat55 was set loose from the jaw-bone, [the animal] is permitted, for the throat area is not fit for ritual slaughter, as we explained.56

כא

סִימָנִים שֶׁנִּדַּלְדְּלוּ רֻבָּן טְרֵפָה וַאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא מֵחֲמַת נְפִילָה. וְכֵן אִם נִתְקַפְּלוּ שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָן רְאוּיִין לִשְׁחִיטָה. אֲבָל אִם נִתְפָּרֵק רֹב תַּרְבַּץ הַוֵּשֶׁט מִן הַלֶּחִי הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת שֶׁאֵין הַתַּרְבַּץ רָאוּי לִשְׁחִיטָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ: