Commentary for Avodah Zarah 79:6
ההוא ארבא דצחנתא דאתי לסיכרא נפק רב הונא בר חיננא וחזא ביה קלפי ושרייה א"ל רבא ומי איכא דשרי כה"ג באתרא דשכיחי קלפי נפק שיפורי דרבא ואסר שיפורי דרב הונא בר חיננא ושרי
A boat-load of zahanta once came to Sikara. R. Huna b. Hinnena went to inspect it and, noticing scales [on the sides of the boat], declared the fish to be permitted. Rava said to him: Does anyone give permission in a place where scales are so common! Rava’s announcement prohibiting the fish went out, R. Huna b. Hinnena’s announcement went out that they were permitted.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
A boat-load of fish called “tzahanta” comes in to town, but it is unclear whether these fish are kosher. There are no identifiable signs of kashrut on the fish themselves (probably because they are minced), but they can see scales on the sides of the boat. R. Huna b. Hinnena declares the fish to be kosher, assuming that the scales on the sides of the boat come from the fish in the boat. But Rava notes that many fish have scales. How do we know that the scales come from these fish and not from others? Each amora issues declarations prohibiting or permitting the fish. What a conflict!
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy