Chullin 27 - May 27, 11 Sivan

The Mishna states that slaughtering (shechita) is performed by cutting the two simanim (the windpipe and gullet) or the majority of each of the two simanim for an animal, and one siman or the majority of one siman for a bird. The Gemara asks for the source in the Torah for slaughtering an animal at the neck, meaning by cutting the simanim. The Gemara brings five different answers to this question. Within the discussion of the fifth answer, the Gemara brings the verse in Vayikra 11:46, which compares animals to birds. Other explanations of this verse are brought, including one derivation that birds only require the slaughtering of one siman, while fish can be eaten without shechita at all. Another source is brought to prove this distinction based on the differing ways animals, birds, and fish were originally created. Rabbi Yitzchak ben Pinchas held that by Torah law, one is not required to perform shechita on birds at all. His source is derived from the verse requiring the covering of the blood (kisuy hadam) for birds and undomesticated animals (Vayikra 17:13)