Chapter 7

אהָאוֹכֵל כְּזַיִת חֵלֶב בְּמֵזִיד חַיָּב כָּרֵת. בְּשׁוֹגֵג מֵבִיא חַטָּאת קְבוּעָה. וּבְפֵרוּשׁ אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינֵי בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה בִּלְבַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ז כג) "כָּל חֵלֶב שׁוֹר וְכֶשֶׂב וָעֵז לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ" בֵּין שֶׁאָכַל מֵחֵלֶב שְׁחוּטָה בֵּין שֶׁאָכַל מֵחֵלֶב נְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה שֶׁלָּהֶן. אֲבָל שְׁאָר בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה בֵּין טְמֵאָה בֵּין טְהוֹרָה חֶלְבָּהּ כִּבְשָׂרָהּ. וְכֵן נֵפֶל שֶׁל שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינֵי בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה חֶלְבּוֹ כִּבְשָׂרוֹ וְהָאוֹכֵל מֵחֶלְבּוֹ כְּזַיִת לוֹקֶה מִשּׁוּם אוֹכֵל נְבֵלָה:

1When a person willfully eats an olive-sized portion of forbidden fat,¹ he is liable for kerat. If he partakes of it inadvertently, he must bring a fixed sin-offering.
It is explicitly stated in the Torah that he is liable for partaking² [of the fat] of the three species of kosher domesticated animals alone, as [Leviticus 7:23] states: "Do not partake of any fat from an ox, lamb, or goat."³ [This applies] whether one partakes of fat from an animal that is ritually slaughtered or one partakes of fat from a nevelah or a trefe [from a kosher species].⁴ With regard to other domesticated animals and wild beasts, whether non-kosher or kosher, their fat is comparable to their meat.⁵ Similarly, the fat of a stillborn fetus of the three species of kosher animals is comparable to its flesh. When one partakes of an olive-sized portion of it, one is liable for lashes for partaking of a nevelah.⁶

בהָאוֹכֵל מֵחֵלֶב נְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה חַיָּב מִשּׁוּם אוֹכֵל חֵלֶב וּמִשּׁוּם אוֹכֵל נְבֵלָה וּטְרֵפָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁנּוֹסָף הָאִסּוּר בִּבְשָׂרָהּ שֶׁהָיָה מֻתָּר נוֹסָף עַל הַחֵלֶב וּלְפִיכָךְ לוֹקֶה שְׁתַּיִם:

2When a person partakes of the fat of a nevelah or a trefe, he is liable for partaking of fat and for partaking of a nevelah or a trefe. [The rationale]⁷ is that since a prohibition is added to its meat - for it was permitted beforehand - it is also added to its fat.⁸ Hence one is liable for two sets of lashes.

גהַשּׁוֹחֵט בְּהֵמָה וּמָצָא בָּהּ שָׁלִיל כָּל חֶלְבּוֹ מֻתָּר וַאֲפִלּוּ מְצָאוֹ חַי מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא כְּאֵיבָר מִמֶּנָּה. וְאִם שָׁלְמוּ לוֹ חֳדָשָׁיו וּמְצָאוֹ חַי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִפְרִיס עַל הַקַּרְקַע וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ שְׁחִיטָה חֶלְבּוֹ אָסוּר וְחַיָּבִין עָלָיו כָּרֵת. וּמוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנּוּ כָּל הַחוּטִין וְהַקְּרוּמוֹת הָאֲסוּרִין כִּשְׁאָר הַבְּהֵמוֹת:

3When a person slaughters an animal and finds a fetus in its womb, all of its fat is permitted.⁹ [This applies] even if the fetus is alive, because it is considered as a limb of [the mother]. If it was carried for the full period of gestation and discovered to be alive, its fat is forbidden and one is liable for kerat for partaking of it. [This applies] even if [the fetus] never stepped on the ground and does not require ritual slaughter.¹⁰ [Instead,] we must remove all the forbidden strands of tissue and membranes from it as [is required] with regard to other animals.

דהוֹשִׁיט יָדוֹ לִמְעֵי בְּהֵמָה וְחָתַךְ מֵחֵלֶב הָעֻבָּר שֶׁכָּלוּ לוֹ חֳדָשָׁיו וְהוֹצִיאוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב עָלָיו כְּאִלּוּ חֲתָכוֹ מֵחֵלֶב הָאֵם עַצְמָהּ. שֶׁהֶחֳדָשִׁים הֵן הַגּוֹרְמִין לְאִסּוּר הַחֵלֶב:

4When a person inserts his hand into an animal's womb and cuts off and takes out the fat of a fetus that has undergone a full period of gestation, he is liable¹¹ for it in the same way as if he cut off the fat of the animal itself. [The rationale is that the fulfillment of the gestation period] is what causes the prohibition against fat.¹²

השְׁלֹשָׁה חֲלָבִים הֵן שֶׁחַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶן כָּרֵת. חֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַקֶּרֶב וְשֶׁעַל שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיוֹת וְשֶׁעַל הַכְּסָלִים. אֲבָל הָאַלְיָה מֻתֶּרֶת בַּאֲכִילָה. לֹא נִקְרֵאת חֵלֶב אֶלָּא לְעִנְיַן קָרְבָּן בִּלְבַד כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ חֲלָבִים כְּלָיוֹת וְיוֹתֶרֶת הַכָּבֵד לְעִנְיַן קָרְבָּן. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר (בראשית מה יח) "חֵלֶב הָאָרֶץ" וְ(דברים לב יד) "חֵלֶב כִּלְיוֹת חִטָּה" שֶׁהוּא טוּבָם. וּלְפִי שֶׁמְּרִימִין דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ מִן הַקָּרְבָּן לִשְׂרֵפָה לַשֵּׁם נִקְרְאוּ חֵלֶב. שֶׁאֵין שֵׁם דָּבָר טוֹב אֶלָּא הַמּוּרָם לַשֵּׁם. וּלְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בִּתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר (במדבר יח ל לב) "בַּהֲרִימְכֶם אֶת חֶלְבּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ":

5There are three types of forbidden fat for which one is liable for kerat: the fat on the digestive organs, on both kidneys, and on the flanks. The fat-tail, by contrast, is permitted to be eaten.¹³ It is called fat only with regard to the sacrifices, just as the kidneys and the large lobe of the liver are referred to as "fat" with regard to the sacrifices.¹⁴ Similarly, we find the expressions¹⁵ "the fat of the land," and "wheat as fat as kidneys" [where the intent is not "fat,"] but "choice."
Since these entities are being raised up from the sacrifice to be consumed with fire for God, they are called "the fat," i.e., the choice portion, for there is nothing more choice than the portion consumed with fire for God. For this reason, with regard to terumat ma'aser¹⁶ [Numbers 18:30] states: "When you raise up its fat from it."¹⁷

וחֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הֶמְסֵס וְשֶׁעַל בֵּית הַכּוֹסוֹת הוּא הַחֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַקֶּרֶב. וְחֵלֶב שֶׁבְּעִקְּרֵי הַיְרֵכוֹת מִבִּפְנִים חַיָּבִין עָלָיו כָּרֵת וְהוּא הַחֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַכְּסָלִים. וְיֵשׁ שָׁם חֵלֶב עַל הַקֵּבָה עָקֹם כְּמוֹ קֶשֶׁת וְהוּא הָאָסוּר וְחוּט מָשׁוּךְ כְּמוֹ יֶתֶר וְהוּא מֻתָּר. חוּטִין שֶׁבַּחֵלֶב אֲסוּרִין וְאֵין חַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶן כָּרֵת:

6The fat on the abdomen¹⁸ and on the gut is what is meant by the term "the fat on the digestive organs." One is liable for the fat at the joints of the thighs on the inside. This is what is meant by the term "the fat on the flanks." There is also fat on the maw which is bent like an arch; it is forbidden. There is a ligament that extends like a lobe; it is permitted. The strands [stemming from] the fat are forbidden, but one is not liable for kerat for them.

זחֵלֶב שֶׁהַבָּשָׂר חוֹפֶה אוֹתוֹ מֻתָּר. שֶׁעַל הַכְּסָלִים אָסַר הַכָּתוּב לֹא שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַכְּסָלִים. וְכֵן חֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַכְּלָיוֹת נֶאֱסַר וְלֹא שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַכְּלָיוֹת. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵּן נוֹטֵל אָדָם לֹבֶן שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַכּוּלְיָא וְאַחַר כָּךְ אוֹכֵל אוֹתָהּ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְחַטֵּט אַחֲרָיו:

7Fat which is covered by meat is permitted. Scripture forbids "fat on the flanks," but not within the flanks. Similarly, "fat on the kidneys" is forbidden, but not fat within the kidneys. Nevertheless, a person should remove the white matter within the kidney and only then, partake of it. It is not necessary, however, to remove all traces of it.¹⁹

חיֵשׁ כְּמוֹ שְׁתֵּי פְּתִילוֹת שֶׁל חֵלֶב בְּעִקְּרֵי הַמָּתְנַיִם סָמוּךְ לְרֹאשׁ הַיָּרֵךְ. כְּשֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה חַיָּה חֵלֶב זֶה נִרְאֶה בַּמֵּעַיִם. וּכְשֶׁתָּמוּת יִדְבַּק בָּשָׂר בְּבָשָׂר וְיִתְכַּסֶּה חֵלֶב זֶה וְאֵינוֹ נִרְאֶה עַד שֶׁיִּתְפָּרֵק הַבָּשָׂר מִן הַבָּשָׂר. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר. שֶׁאֵין זֶה חֵלֶב שֶׁהַבָּשָׂר חוֹפֶה אוֹתוֹ. וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁתִּמְצָא בּוֹ הַחֵלֶב תַּחַת הַבָּשָׂר וְהַבָּשָׂר מַקִּיף אוֹתוֹ מִכָּל סְבִיבָיו וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה עַד שֶׁיִּקָּרַע הַבָּשָׂר הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר:

8There are two cords of fat in the primary loin area, near the top of the thigh. While an animal is alive, this fat can be seen on the intestines.²⁰ When, however, it dies, one portion of meat will cling to another and cover this fat. It will not be visible until the portions of meat will be separated from each other. Nevertheless, it is forbidden, because this is not fat that is covered by meat.²¹
[In contrast,] wherever you find fat under meat, with the meat covering it and surrounding it in its entirety [so that] it will not be seen until the meat is cut away, it is permitted.

טחֵלֶב הַלֵּב וְחֵלֶב הַמֵּעַיִם וְהֵן הַדַּקִּין הַמְלֻפָּפִין כֻּלָּן מֻתָּרִין וַהֲרֵי הֵם כְּשֻׁמָּן שֶׁהוּא מֻתָּר. חוּץ מֵרֹאשׁ הַמְּעִי שֶׁסָּמוּךְ לַקֵּבָה שֶׁהוּא תְּחִלַּת בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִגְרֹר הַחֵלֶב שֶׁעָלָיו וְזֶהוּ חֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַדַּקִּין שֶׁאָסוּר. וְיֵשׁ מִן הַגְּאוֹנִים שֶׁאוֹמֵר שֶׁרֹאשׁ הַמְּעִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְגָרְרוֹ הוּא הַמְּעִי שֶׁיֵּצֵא בּוֹ הָרְעִי שֶׁהוּא סוֹף הַמֵּעַיִם:

9The fat of the heart and the fat of all of the small intestines are permitted. They are considered like shuman which is permitted fat with the exception of the top of the intestine that is next to the maw and is the beginning of the small intestines. The fat must be scraped off it.²² This is the fat of the small intestines that is forbidden. There are some of the Geonim who say that the top of the intestine from which the fat must be scraped off is the large intestine,²³ i.e., the colon from which feces are excreted which is the last of the digestive organs.

ייֵשׁ בְּגוּף הַבְּהֵמָה חוּטִין וּקְרוּמוֹת שֶׁהֵן אֲסוּרִין. מֵהֶם מִשּׁוּם חֵלֶב וּמֵהֶן מִשּׁוּם דָּם. וְכָל חוּט אוֹ קְרוּם שֶׁאָסוּר מִשּׁוּם (ויקרא ג יז) (ויקרא ז כו) "כָּל דָּם לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ" צָרִיךְ לְנָטְלוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִמְלַח וִיבַשֵּׁל הַבָּשָׂר כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ. וְאִם חֲתָכוֹ וּמְלָחוֹ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְנָטְלוֹ. וְכֵן לְצָלִי (אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְנָטְלוֹ). וְכָל חוּט אוֹ קְרוּם שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר מִשּׁוּם כָּל חֵלֶב בֵּין לְצָלִי בֵּין לְבִשּׁוּל צָרִיךְ לְנָטְלוֹ מִן הַבְּהֵמָה:

10In the body of an animal, there are strands of tissue and membranes that are forbidden. Some are forbidden because of the prohibition against partaking of fat and others because of that against blood.²⁴ Whenever a strand of tissue or a membrane is forbidden because of the prohibition [Leviticus 3:17]: "Do not partake of any blood," one must remove it, and only then salt the meat as we explained.²⁵ If one cut [the forbidden blood vessel], it does not have to be removed.²⁶ Similarly, if one roasts [the meat], it does not have to be removed.²⁷
Whenever a strand of tissue or membrane is forbidden because of the prohibition, "Do not partake of any fat," it must be removed from the animal whether one's intent is to cut it or roast it.²⁸

יאחֲמִשָּׁה חוּטִין יֵשׁ בַּכְּסָלִים. שְׁלֹשָׁה מִן הַיָּמִין וּשְׁנַיִם מִן הַשְּׂמֹאל. הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁמִּן הַיָּמִין מִתְפַּצֵּל כָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם לִשְׁנַיִם שְׁנַיִם. וְהַשְּׁנַיִם שֶׁמִּן הַשְּׂמֹאל מִתְפַּצְּלִין לִשְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁלֹשָׁה. וְכֻלָּן מִשּׁוּם חֵלֶב. וְחוּטֵי הַטְּחוֹל וְחוּטֵי הַכְּלָיוֹת מִשּׁוּם חֵלֶב. וְכֵן קְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַטְּחוֹל וּקְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַכְּסָלִים וּקְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַכְּלָיוֹת אֲסוּרִין מִשּׁוּם חֵלֶב. וּקְרוּם שֶׁעַל דַּד הַטְּחוֹל חַיָּבִין עָלָיו כָּרֵת. וּשְׁאָר הַקְּרוּם אָסוּר וְאֵין חַיָּבִין עָלָיו:

11There are five strands of tissue in the flanks:²⁹ three on the right and two on the left. Each of the three on the right splits into two and each of the two on the left splits into three. All are [forbidden] as fat.
The strands of tissue from the spleen and from the kidneys are forbidden as fat. Similarly, the membrane on the spleen, the membrane above the flanks, and the membrane on the kidneys are forbidden as fat. One is liable for kerat for the membrane on the thick side³⁰ of the spleen. The remainder of the membrane is forbidden, but one is not liable for it.

יבוּשְׁנֵי קְרוּמוֹת יֵשׁ לַכּוּלְיָא. הָעֶלְיוֹן חַיָּבִין עָלָיו כָּרֵת כַּחֵלֶב שֶׁעַל הַכּוּלְיָא. וְהַתַּחְתּוֹן הֲרֵי הוּא כִּשְׁאָר קְרוּמוֹת. וְחוּטִין שֶׁבָּהֶן אֲסוּרִין וְאֵין בָּהֶן כָּרֵת:

12The kidney has two membranes. One is liable for kerat for [partaking of] the upper one as one is for [partaking of] the fat of the kidney itself. The lower one is like other membranes.³¹ The strands of tissue in them are forbidden, but one is not liable for kerat for them.

יגחוּטֵי הַלֵּב וְחוּטֵי הַיָּד וְחוּטֵי הָעֹקֶץ וְחוּטֵי הַלְּחִי הַתַּחְתּוֹן שֶׁבְּצַד הַלָּשׁוֹן מִיכָּן וּמִיכָּן. וְכֵן הַחוּטִין הַדַּקִּין שֶׁהֵן בְּתוֹךְ חֵלֶב הַדַּקִּין כְּמוֹ בֵּית עַכָּבִישׁ מְסֻבָּכִין זֶה בָּזֶה. וּקְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַמֹּחַ שֶׁבַּקֹּדְקֹד. וּקְרוּם שֶׁעַל הַבֵּיצִים. הַכּל אֲסוּרִין מִשּׁוּם דָּם:

13The strands of tissue of the heart, of the foreleg, of the end of the spinal cord,³² of the lower jaw, those at either side of the tongue, and those within the fat of the small intestines which are interwoven like spiderwebs,³³ and the membrane above the brain in the cranium and the membrane on the testicles are all forbidden because [of the prohibition against partaking] of blood.³⁴

ידבֵּיצֵי גְּדִי אוֹ טָלֶה שֶׁלֹּא הִשְׁלִים שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם מֻתָּר לְבַשְּׁלָן בְּלֹא קְלִיפָה. לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם אִם נִרְאֶה בָּהֶן חוּטִין דַּקִּין אֲדֻמִּים בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהָלַךְ בָּהֶם הַדָּם וְלֹא יְבַשֵּׁל עַד שֶׁיִּקְלֹף אוֹ עַד שֶׁיֵּחָתֵךְ וְיִמָלַּח כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וְאִם עֲדַיִן לֹא נִרְאוּ בָּהֶן חוּטִין הָאֲדֻמִּים מֻתָּרִין:

14When a kid or a lamb³⁵ is less than 30 days old, it is permissible to cook its testicles without peeling [the membranes from them].³⁶ After 30 days, if thin red lines can be seen within them, it is recognizable that blood has circulated through them and one should not cook [the testicles] until their outer membrane has been removed or until they have been cut open and salted, as we explained.³⁷ If thin red lines have not yet been seen within them, they are permitted.

טווְכָל בְּנֵי מֵעַיִם שֶׁהַמַּאֲכָל סוֹבֵב בַּחֲלָלָן אֵין מַחֲזִיקִין בָּהֶן דָּם:

15We do not assume that there is blood in any of the digestive organs³⁸ through which the food passes.

טזיֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁכָּל אֵלּוּ הַחוּטִין וְהַקְּרוּמוֹת אִסּוּרָן מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים וְאִם תֹּאמַר שֶׁהֵן אֲסוּרִין מִן הַתּוֹרָה בִּכְלַל (ויקרא ג יז) "כָּל חֵלֶב וְכָל דָּם" אֵין לוֹקִין עֲלֵיהֶן אֶלָּא מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת וְיִהְיוּ כַּחֲצִי שִׁעוּר שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְאֵין לוֹקִין עָלָיו:

16It appears to me³⁹ that all of these strands of tissue and membranes are forbidden according to Rabbinic Law. [Even] if one would say that they are forbidden according to Scriptural Law,⁴⁰ and are included in the prohibitions against partaking against any fat or any blood, one is not liable for lashes for them, only stripes for rebellious conduct. [Partaking of] them is comparable to partaking of half the measure of a forbidden substance. This is forbidden by Scriptural Law, yet one is not liable for lashes for it.⁴¹

יזאֵין מוֹלְחִין חֲלָבִים עִם הַבָּשָׂר וְלֹא מְדִיחִין חֲלָבִים עִם בָּשָׂר. וְסַכִּין שֶׁחָתַךְ בָּהּ חֲלָבִים לֹא יַחְתֹּךְ בָּהּ בָּשָׂר. וּכְלִי שֶׁהֵדִיחַ בּוֹ חֲלָבִים לֹא יָדִיחַ בּוֹ בָּשָׂר. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ הַטַּבָּח לְהַתְקִין שָׁלֹשׁ סַכִּינִין. אַחַת שֶׁשּׁוֹחֵט בָּהּ. וְאַחַת שֶׁמְּחַתֵּךְ בָּהּ בָּשָׂר. וְאַחַת שֶׁמְּחַתֵּךְ בָּהּ חֲלָבִים:

17We do not salt⁴² or wash fat together with meat. One should not use a knife used to cut fat to cut meat, nor a container in which fats were washed to wash meat.⁴³
Therefore a butcher should prepare three knives: one with which to slaughter, one to cut the meat,⁴⁴ and one to cut fat.

יחוְאִם דֶּרֶךְ אוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּדִיחַ הַטַּבָּח הַבָּשָׂר בַּחֲנוּת. צָרִיךְ לְהַתְקִין לוֹ שְׁנֵי כֵּלִים שֶׁל מַיִם אֶחָד שֶׁמֵּדִיחַ בּוֹ בָּשָׂר וְאֶחָד שֶׁמֵּדִיחַ בּוֹ חֲלָבִים:

18If it is local custom for the butcher to wash the meat in his store, he should prepare two containers of water, one in which to wash meat and one in which to wash fat.⁴⁵

יטוְאָסוּר לַטַּבָּח לִפְרשֹׁ חֵלֶב הַכְּסָלִים עַל הַבָּשָׂר כְּדֵי לְנָאוֹתוֹ. שֶׁהַקְּרוּם שֶׁעַל הַחֵלֶב דַּק וְיִתְמַעֵךְ בְּיַד הַטַּבָּח וְיָזוּב הַחֵלֶב וְיִבָּלַע בַּבָּשָׂר. וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹתָן. וִאִם נַעֲשׂוּ לֹא נֵאֻסַר הַבָּשָׂר. וִאֵין מַכִּין אֶת הָעוֹשֶׂה אֶלָּא מְלַמְּדִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה:

19It is forbidden for a butcher to spread the fat of the flanks over the meat⁴⁶ to make it appear attractive. [The rationale is that] the membrane over the fat is thin. It may become crushed by the butcher's hand and the fat will ooze out and saturate through the meat.
[Although] it is forbidden to perform all of these acts, if they are performed, the meat is not forbidden.⁴⁷ Nor is the person who performs them given corporal punishment. Instead, he is taught not to act in this manner.

כוְכֵן אֵין מוֹלְחִין אֶת הַבָּשָׂר קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת הַקְּרוּמוֹת וְאֶת הַחוּטִין הָאֲסוּרִין. וְאִם מָלַח מְסִירָם אַחַר שֶׁנִּמְלְחוּ. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיָה בָּהֶן גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה מְסִירוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנִּמְלַח וּמְבַשֵּׁל:

20Meat should not be salted before the forbidden membranes and strands of tissue are removed.⁴⁸ If the meat was salted with them, they must be removed after the salting. Even if the gid hanesheh⁴⁹ was among them, one may remove them after salting and cook [the meat].⁵⁰

כאוְטַבָּח שֶׁדַּרְכּוֹ לְנַקּוֹת הַבָּשָׂר וְנִמְצָא אַחֲרָיו חוּט אוֹ קְרוּם מְלַמְּדִין אוֹתוֹ וּמַזְהִירִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יְזַלְזֵל בְּאִסּוּרִין. אֲבָל אִם נִמְצָא אַחֲרָיו חֵלֶב אִם הָיָה כִּשְׂעוֹרָה מַעֲבִירִין אוֹתוֹ. וְאִם נִמְצָא אַחֲרָיו כְּזַיִת חֵלֶב אֲפִלּוּ בִּמְקוֹמוֹת הַרְבֵּה מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת וּמַעֲבִירִין אוֹתוֹ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַטַּבָּח נֶאֱמָן עַל הַחֵלֶב:

21When a butcher follows the practice of cleaning meat [from forbidden strands of tissue and membranes and] such a strand or membrane is found after he [alleged to have cleaned the meat], we teach him and warn him not to act negligently with regard to prohibitions.⁵¹ [More stringent rules apply] if forbidden fat is found after he [alleged to have cleaned the meat]. If it is a barley corn in size, he is removed [from his position]. If an olive-sized portion of forbidden fat is found - even in several places - after he [alleged to have cleaned the meat], he is given stripes for rebellious conduct⁵² and he is removed from his position. The rationale is that a butcher's word is relied upon with regard to fat.⁵³

Sefaria: Torat Emet 363 · Public domain · sefaria.org

Sefaria: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007 · CC BY-NC · sefaria.org