Chapter 4b - TEREFAH cont'd

n) If the uterus is punctured, but not if it is removed (45:1).

o) If the bladder is punctured or removed (45:2).

p) If the intestines are punctured (unless the puncture is covered in certain ways; 46:1,3,5) or twisted (46:2) or blocked (46:6), or (in an animal) if they have extra branches (see 47:1-2,5).

q) If any of the stomachs of an animal is punctured (unless the puncture is covered or joins two of the stomachs; see 48:1-2,7), or if the flesh covering the stomach is significantly torn or removed or decayed or discolored (48:3-5), or if the stomach of a bird is punctured and the puncture is not covered (49:1-2). On duplications in the stomachs of an animal and on branches joining them see 47:3-4.

r) If an animal or bird falls into a fire and its internal organs (except for the lungs, or the liver of certain species of birds) become even partially discolored in places where puncture or removal would be TEREFAH, even if the discoloration appears only after the organs are cooked, but not if it disappears when they are cooked (52:1-7).

s) If an animal's foreleg or a bird's wing is dislocated or broken close to where it joins the body; see 53:1-4.

t) If most of the large ribs are broken (closer to the spine than to their ends), or half of a segment of the spine that has a large rib is removed, or an entire segment of the spine is removed; but not if there are extra or missing ribs or segments, or if the spine or small ribs are broken, or if the spine has missing or extra segments, even if they have large ribs, as long as the spinal cord is intact (32:2;54:1-5).

u) If a (hind) leg is cut off or missing or dislocated or broken anywhere in its upper or middle joint (55:1-4), unless the break was never (mostly) exposed and has returned to its place and healed (55:5-12).

v) If the major tendons in the middle joint of a hind leg are removed or cut (56:1-2,6-8), or if the bone was broken near them even if it heals (56:10). On their extent see 56:3-5,9.

w) If an animal or bird is attacked by a relatively large predator (57:1-5) which deliberately strikes it with its claws (for an animal predator: its foreclaws) and withdraws them (57:6-8). On cases of doubt see 57:9-17,19,21.

x) If it falls from a height of ten handsbreadths (but not if it jumps deliberately or can slow its fall), or if it is thrown or crushed against a hard surface or struck by a hard object, unless it is able to walk normally afterwards (58:1-6,8-11; see also 58:7,12;32:6-8;60:3).

y) If it loses significant parts of its skin, or a bird loses all its feathers; see 59:1-2.

If puncture of an organ causes TEREFAH so does its absence or removal or decay or discoloration or duplication, except for the spleen [and uterus]; and if absence of an organ causes TEREFAH so does its removal and vice versa [except for the ribs; see 54:3] (40:5;50:2-3). If removal [or absence] of an organ causes TEREFAH so does its duplication (see 33:5; 41:10;42:4-7;43:5;44:1,7;47:1,4;53:1;54:3;55:4). Punctures do not cause TEREFAH if there are grounds for assuming that they occurred after slaughter (36:5;50:1). On sharp objects or parasites or blood spots found inside the body see 31:3;33:9;34:9;36:16-17;40:2-3,6;41:4,6-7,9;42:9;46:4;48:6,8-11; 49:3-5;51:1-4.

If it is uncertain whether an animal or bird has become a TEREFAH, and it lives for 12 months, or becomes pregnant and gives birth, or lays eggs that it was not carrying when the doubt arose, we may assume that it is not TEREFAH; but keeping it for 12 months should be avoided because its doubtful status may be forgotten (57:18,20;86:9).

Shulchan Aruch, Copyright (c) 1999 Project Genesis, Inc.