I’m a big fan of Rav Hisda. I love his commitment to Torah study, his fabulous and highly educated daughter, his respect for women of all ages. He’s even had a rich modern afterlife, featuring in both Maggie Anton’s novel, Rav Hisda’s Daughter, and one of Talmud TikToker Miriam Anzovin’s first Daf Reactions videos. On today’s daf, we get yet another reason to appreciate Rav Hisda.
Rav Hisda says: Who is a Torah scholar? This is one who sees his own treifa.
And Rav Hisda says: Who is referred to by the verse: “He that hates gifts shall live” (Proverbs 15:27)? This is one who sees his own treifa.
Rashi explains that Rav Hisda is talking about a Torah scholar who owns an animal, and uncertainty arises about the kosher status of the animal during or after its slaughter. With good arguments to rule it kosher and good arguments to rule it a treifa, a true Torah scholar is one who takes the financial hit and prohibits its consumption by Jews. The Talmud pairs this with another of Rav Hisda’s teachings, which rejects the idea of benefiting from things that are not clearly your own — whether financially, or because of an uncertain kashrut status. While Rav Hisda’s ruling comes with a real cost for those who follow his teachings, it also comes with profound benefits.
Jewish Orthodox feminist Blu Greenberg famously wrote that “where there’s a rabbinic will, there’s a halakhic way.” The deeper our knowledge of the sea of Torah, the more we become aware of complexities and leniencies that could allow us to permit something which might at first be thought of as forbidden. But Rav Hisda does not allow rabbis to rule leniently purely for financial benefit. For the rabbinic system to be trusted, rabbis need to be seen as making tough halakhic decisions, even when — or perhaps especially when — those decisions result in a financial hit. The Gemara offers more voices that echo this sentiment.
Mar Zutra taught in the name of Rav Hisda: Anyone who reads the Torah and studies the Mishnah, and sees his own treifa, and has served Torah scholars, about him the verse states: “When you eat the labor of your hands, happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you” (Psalms 128:2).
Rav Zevid says: Such a person merits inheriting two worlds, this world and the World to Come. “Happy shall you be” — in this world, “And it shall be well with you” — in the World to Come.
Ruling stringently when it comes to your own animal brings both happiness in your own lifetime and spiritual rewards in whatever comes next. But how stringent do you actually have to be?
When they would send Rabbi Elazar some gifts from the house of the nasi he would not take them. And when they would invite him, he would not go. He said: Does the master not desire that I live? As it is written: “He that hates gifts shall live.” When they would send a gift to Rabbi Zeira, he would not take it, but when they would invite him he would go. He said: It is an honor for them to honor me.
Rabbi Elazar takes Proverbs 15:27 literally and rejects all gifts, including actual presents and hospitality. Rabbi Zeira reads the verse more literally, noting that some gifts financially benefit the recipient, but some gifts (like the gift of being hosted) are equally meant to benefit the giver. After all, hosting a prominent rabbi in your home is an honor.
Plus, hosting a Torah scholar comes with opportunities to learn Torah directly fromthat scholar.
While Torah knowledge should not be massaged or twisted to financially benefit the Torah scholar, self-abnegation is not the primary goal. There are real communal benefits to being in relationship with each other, and sometimes accepting hospitality is itself a gift.
Read all of Chullin 44 on Sefaria.
This piece originally appeared in a My Jewish Learning Daf Yomi email newsletter sent on June 13, 2026. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, sign up here.
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