Commentary for Challah 1:8
עִסַּת הַכְּלָבִים, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָרוֹעִים אוֹכְלִין מִמֶּנָּה, חַיֶּבֶת בַּחַלָּה, וּמְעָרְבִין בָּהּ, וּמִשְׁתַּתְּפִין בָּהּ, וּמְבָרְכִין עָלֶיהָ, וּמְזַמְּנִין עָלֶיהָ, וְנַעֲשֵׂית בְּיוֹם טוֹב, וְיוֹצֵא בָהּ אָדָם יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בְּפֶסַח. אִם אֵין הָרוֹעִים אוֹכְלִין מִמֶּנָּה, אֵינָהּ חַיֶּבֶת בַּחַלָּה, וְאֵין מְעָרְבִין בָּהּ, וְאֵין מִשְׁתַּתְּפִין בָּהּ, וְאֵין מְבָרְכִין עָלֶיהָ, וְאֵין מְזַמְּנִין עָלֶיהָ, וְאֵינָהּ נַעֲשֵׂית בְּיוֹם טוֹב, וְאֵין אָדָם יוֹצֵא בָהּ יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בְּפֶסַח. בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ, מִטַּמְּאָה טֻמְאַת אֳכָלִין:
Dough for dogs, as long as shepherds would eat from it, is obligated in <i>Challah</i>. And one may make an <i>Eruv</i> [enclosure of shared space via shared food to permit carrying on Shabbat] from it. And one may enter into a <i>Shittuf</i> [a partnership of space for the sake of carrying on Shabbat] with it, and one recites the blessings [before and after eating] over it, and one may invite to <i>Zimmun</i> [calling those who have eaten together, minimally three, to join together for the after-meal blessing] over it, and one may cook it on a Festival, and a person may use this dough to fulfill their obligation on Passover [of eating <i>Matsah,</i>]. If the shepherds would not eat from it, it is not obligated in <i>Challah</i>, one may not use it for an <i>Eruv</i> or enter into a <i>Shittuf</i> with it, and one does not say the blessing over it, and one does not one say the <i>Zimmun</i> over it, and it may not be cooked on a Festival, nor does one fulfill his obligation with it on Passover. In either case, the dough is subject to <i>Tumat Okhalin</i> [the ritual impurity affecting food].
Bartenura on Mishnah Challah
English Explanation of Mishnah Challah
Bartenura on Mishnah Challah
English Explanation of Mishnah Challah
If shepherds eat it: it is subject to hallah, and one may use it to make an eruv or a shittuf; and one should say the blessings over it, and one should make an invitation for birkat hamazon over it; and it may be made on a festival; and one fulfills his obligation with it on Pesah. If this dough was prepared well so that the shepherds could also eat it, then it is treated as human food, even though it was made mostly for animals. This has implications in five areas of halakhah: a) it is subject to hallah: Only human food is subject to hallah. b) and one may use it to make an eruv, or a shittuf: An eruv or a shittuf is a common meal which allows one to carry from a house into a courtyard or from a courtyard into the adjoining alleyway on Shabbat. An eruv can also allow one to travel further than the Shabbat limit, which is 2000 cubits from the border of the city (see the introduction to Eruvin for more information). If this dough is eaten by shepherds then it counts as potential human food and can be used to make an eruv or shittuf. c) and one should say the blessings over it, and one should make an invitation for birkat hamazon over it: Before eating this dough one would say “hamotzi” and afterwards “birkat hamazon.” In addition, if eating in a group of at least three, the invitation to recite birkat hamazon would be recited. d) and it may be made on a festival: only human food can be made on Yom Tov, a festival. e) and one fulfills his obligation with it on Pesah: if it was not leavened, then one could use it for matzah on Pesah.