Commentary for Oktzin 3:9
חֵלֶב בְּהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה, אֵינוֹ מִטַּמֵּא טֻמְאַת נְבֵלוֹת, לְפִיכָךְ הוּא צָרִיךְ הֶכְשֵׁר. חֵלֶב בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה, מִטַּמֵּא טֻמְאַת נְבֵלוֹת, לְפִיכָךְ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ הֶכְשֵׁר. דָּגִים טְמֵאִים וַחֲגָבִים טְמֵאִים, צְרִיכִין מַחֲשָׁבָה בַּכְּפָרִים:
The [forbidden] fat of a pure [i.e. kosher] beast cannot be rendered impure with the impurity of foods; therefore, it requires being primed [for impurity, by becoming damp]. The fat of an impure [i.e. non-kosher] beast can be rendered impure with the impurity of carrion; therefore it does not require being primed [for impurity]. Impure fish and impure locusts [before they can be rendered impure] require intentional thought [designating them for human consumption] in villages.
Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
חלב בהמה טהורה – that became ritually forbidden by unskillful slaughtering,
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English Explanation of Mishnah Oktzin
Introduction
Today's mishnah returns to the topic of whether a food needs to first be made susceptible to impurity or whether it needs "intention" in order to be considered food.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
is pure from the defilement of carrion, as it is written (Leviticus 7:24): “Fat from animals that died or were torn by beasts may be put to any use, [but you must not eat it],” which implies even Holy Service.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Oktzin
The fat [of the carcass] of a clean beast is not regarded as unclean with carrion uncleanness; for this reason it must first be made susceptible. "Helev," a certain type of fat, from a clean animal, cow, goat or sheep, that died without being properly slaughtered, is not impure. Only the "helev" of an unclean animal (camel, rabbit, pig, etc.) is impure (as is the whole animal, after it has died). So if one has "helev" from an clean animal it must first come into contact with water to be even susceptible to impurity. We should note that such fat is forbidden to eat, even if the animal was properly slaughtered.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
לפיכך הוא צריך הכשר – and since that it will not ultimately become a heavy defilement, for this, we hold in the first chapter of [Tractate] Taharot [Mishnah 3), for everything that ultimately doesn’t defile in a grave manner, that is to defile a person and vessels, requires preparation.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Oktzin
The fat of an unclean beast, however, is regarded as unclean with carrion uncleanness; for this reason it need not be made at first susceptible. As stated above, "helev" from an unclean animal is already impure. Indeed, the entire animal is impure (see mishnah three). Therefore, even the helev need not come into contact with water for it to be impure.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
חלב בהמה טומאת נבלות – for the Torah did not purify other than the fat of a ritually pure animal that became forbidden by unskillful slaughtering, which excludes the fat of an unclean animal which lacks being torn apart [by a beast of prey], because its being torn and its slaughter are equivalent.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Oktzin
As for unclean fish and unclean locusts, intention is required in villages. In the villages people don't seem to eat unclean fish and locusts. Therefore, in such places, for the fish or locust to be susceptible to food impurity the person must have the intention to eat it. In contrast, in larger marketplaces people will eat such food. If this food is sold there, it will not require intention for it to be susceptible to impurity. In all places, the fish and locusts are not susceptible to impurity until they have had contact with liquids.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
ואין צריך הכשר – for defilement of food if he combined less than an olive’s bulk with less than an egg’s bulk, as explained above (Mishnah 3), but intention is certainly required, for something regarding meat requires intention as is taught in the Mishnah above (Mishnah 3).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Oktzin
וצריך מחשבה בכפרים - but not in the marketplaces [for unclean fish and locusts]. But preparation is required in every place.
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