Mesechtas Chulin

Masechet Chulin includes twelve chapters and 141 pages. It is called this because it is the only masechet in Seder Kodashim that does not deal with the laws of holy things, but rather with the laws of ordinary meat (chulin).

This masechet deals with the laws of slaughtering animals, birds, and domesticated animals for ordinary use, as well as the laws of removing forbidden veins (nikur), salting meat, the sciatic nerve (gid hanashe), and all laws of kosher meat.

Explanation from the Baal Shem Tov

In Chulin 48b it states: It was said regarding a needle found in the lung, Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Chanina declare it kosher, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Mani bar Patish, and Rabbi Shimon ben Elyakim declare it treif. The Baal Shem Tov said that the three who declared it kosher, their souls are from the side of the attribute of Chesed, and the three who declared it treif, the root of their souls is from the attribute of Gevurah, and the roots of souls are hinted at in names. Therefore, the three names of those who declare it kosher hint to Chesed: Rabbi Yochanan - Yud Chanan, Rabbi Elazar - El Azar, Rabbi Chanina - Lamed Chaninah, and similarly for the three who declare it treif.

The Rebbe's Explanations

Slaughtering of Animals in Yosef's House for the Tribes

In the masechet it is brought that Yosef HaTzaddik told his house steward to cut the animal's throat in the presence of the tribes, but Rashi in his commentary on the Torah does not hint that this was a kosher slaughter. The Rebbe explains that apparently this person was a non-Jew, as it is not mentioned that it was Menashe, and if so, the slaughter of a non-Jew is inherently invalid.

However, this matter depends on the well-known investigation whether the forefathers and tribes had the status of Noahides or the status of Jews. Simply put, they could not exempt themselves from the stringencies of being a Noahide, but could only be stringent according to Jewish law as an additional stringency, while still retaining their Noahide status. If so, before the giving of the Torah, the invalidation of slaughter by a non-Jew would not apply. If this is the case, the question returns as to why Rashi does not hint to the matter of slaughter.

But it is difficult to say that the non-Jew was expert in all the laws of slaughter, especially according to the authorities who hold that the invalidation of slaughter by a non-Jew is because he is an idolater and not because he is a Noahide and not a Jew. If so, this invalidation was relevant even before the giving of the Torah. Since the Egyptians were idolaters, it would have been forbidden for the tribes to eat from their slaughter. Furthermore, the tribes could not eat from the slaughter of a non-Jew, since they did not know that Yosef was Jewish and commanded a kosher slaughter. Since they could not eat from it anyway, and it would also be forbidden for Yosef to offer it to them because of "you shall not put a stumbling block before the blind" therefore there was no point in performing a kosher slaughter.

In practice, it appears from the verse that the tribes did eat, and it is possible, with difficulty, to say that they ate out of fear of the kingdom. But the Rebbe is precise that the verse does not actually state that they ate, but only "and they drank and became intoxicated."

But in conclusion, the Rebbe innovates that it can be said that the tribes themselves did not observe the entire Torah before it was given, and this is not mentioned anywhere except specifically regarding the forefathers. One can say that the tribes also observed the Torah only when they were in Jacob's house and in proximity.

Additional Explanations

• 5b. Tosafot "Al pi hadibur." That he relied on Divine communication that he was not bringing from a non-Jew. Sichot Kodesh 5740 Part 1, p. 20 (p. 63)
• 78b. "His father without his mother, his mother without his father, from where?" Likutei Sichot Part 18, p. 117 (p. 108)
• 83a. "In four periods, etc., and on the eve of Yom Tov." Likutei Sichot Part 33, p. 64 (p. 76)
• 91a. "He cut its throat, and said 'Take the sciatic nerve in their presence.'" Likutei Sichot p. 181 (p. 195)
• 133a. "This Kohen who grabs the priestly gifts, is he showing love for the mitzvah or is he showing disrespect for the mitzvah?" Likutei Sichot Part 33, p. 154 (p. 165)
• 142a. In connection with the Gemara's statement at the end of the masechet, "That it may be well with you and you may live long" - a talk on the reward for mitzvot - now or in the future? Likutei Sichot Vol. 4, p. 1114.