1) BUYING EGGS FROM NOCHRIM

(a) (Beraisa): In any place, we may buy eggs from Nochrim; we are not concerned that they came from a Nevelah or Treifah.
(b) Question: Why aren’t we concerned that they are from a Tamei species?
(c) Answer: (Shmuel’s father): The case is, the Nochri said they are from a particular Tahor species.
(d) Question: Why must he specify the species?
(e) Answer: If he would just say that they are Tahor, he could lie without fear of being caught.
(f) Question: Why do we rely on his words – we should inspect the eggs!
1. (Beraisa): Simanim (of Tahor eggs) are just like Simanim of Tahor fish.
2. Objection: This cannot be – scales are the Siman of Tahor fish!
3. Correction: Rather, the Simanim of Tahor bird eggs are just like Simanim of Tahor fish eggs.
4. (Beraisa): The Simanim of Tahor eggs – one end is round, the other end is pointed;
i. If both ends are round, or both pointed, they are Tamei.
ii. If the egg white is on the outside, and the yolk is on the inside, they are Tahor; if it is vice-versa, they are Tamei;
iii. If the white and yolk are mixed together, they are eggs of a Sheretz.
(g) Answer #1: The case is, the eggs are cut, we do not know their full shape.
(h) Objection: We can check the yolk and white!
(i) Answer #2 (to both questions): The case is, the yolk and white are beaten together in a bowl.
(j) Objection: We may not buy such eggs from a Nochri!
1. (Beraisa): We may not sell eggs of a Treifah to a Nochri, unless they are beaten in a bowl; therefore, we may not buy beaten eggs from a Nochri (lest they are Treifah.)
(k) Answer #3 (R. Zeira): The Simanim to distinguish Tamei eggs from Tahor are not mid’Oraisa, so we do not rely on them.
1. Support: If the Simanim were mid’Oraisa, we would be able to resolve the eight doubtful species (62B) by inspecting their eggs!
(l) Question: Since we may not rely on the Simanim, why were they taught?
(m) Answer: If both ends are the same (round or pointed), the yolk is outside (and the white inside), they are certainly Tamei;
1. If one end is round, the other is pointed, the yolk is inside, we may trust the seller (even a Nochri) if he says that they are a particular Tahor species.
i. We may not rely on the Simanim alone, for raven eggs resemble dove eggs (and perhaps other Tamei eggs resemble Tahor eggs.)
2) EGGS OF “SHERATZIM”
(a) (Beraisa): If the white and yolk are mixed together, they are surely eggs of a Sheretz.
(b) Question: What difference does it make? Whether they are of a Sheretz or a Tamei bird, we may not eat them!
(c) Answer #1 (Rav Ukva bar Chama): If a baby Sheretz started forming (and died), and there was a hole in the shell, one who touches the egg becomes Tamei.
(d) Rejection (Ravina): Perhaps they are snake eggs (which resemble Sheretz eggs, but are Tehorim! Indeed, it is important to know that they are *Safek* Teme’im – but the Beraisa says that they are *surely* Sheretz eggs!)
(e) Answer #2 (Rava): If a baby started forming and one (was warned and) ate it, he is lashed for eating a Sheretz.
(f) Question: One is lashed for eating a developing bird egg, even if it is Tahor!
1. (Beraisa): “Every Sheretz that swarms on the ground” – this includes chicks that did not yet open their eyes.
64b—————————————64b

(g) Answer: That prohibition is only mid’Rabanan, one is not lashed for it mid’Oraisa.
(h) (Beraisa): Gi’ulei Beitzim (Rashi – eggs that were cooked with (and absorbed tastes of) Tamei eggs; Tosfos – eggs that left the bird prematurely) are permitted;
(i) One who is not particular may eat unfertilized eggs that a hen sat on;
(j) If a drop of blood is found, the blood is discarded, the egg is permitted.
1. (R. Yirmeyah): This is only if the blood is found on the knot (of the egg white.)
2. (Dostoy, father of R. Aftoriki): This is only if the blood is found on (the knot of) the egg white; if it is found on the yolk, the entire egg is forbidden.
i. This is because the blood spread throughout the egg.
(k) (Rav Gavihah): This law was said before Abaye, but reversed (the law of blood found on the white and yolk); Abaye corrected it to our version.
3) “TAMEI” EGGS ARE FORBIDDEN
(a) (Chizkiyah): “*Bas* ha’Ya’anah” forbids eggs of a Tamei bird;
1. We cannot say that only the young females are forbidden – rather, it refers to eggs of a Tamei bird.
(b) Question: Perhaps ‘Bas ha’Ya’anah’ is the name of the bird, we may not expound it!
(c) Answer: No, the name is Ye’enim – “Ka’Yenim ba’Midbar”.
(d) Question: But it says “V’Evel ki’Vnos Ya’anah”!
(e) Answer: It means, like an ostrich that mourns over its young.
(f) Question: “Will dwell there Benos Ya’anah”.
(g) Answer: It means, like an ostrich that dwells with its young.
(h) Question: “Will honor Me…u’Vnos Ya’anah”!
1. This cannot mean eggs, for they cannot praise Hash-m!
(i) Answer: The Torah sometimes writes “ha’Ya’anah”, and sometimes “Bas ha’Ya’anah”;
1. The Chumash writes “Bas ha’Ya’anah “as two words, so it refers to two things (the eggs and the birds.)
(j) Question: Kadar La’omer (Melech Eilam) is also written as two words!
(k) Answer: His name is written as two words, but they must be on the same line; “Bas ha’Ya’anah” may be written on two lines.