Mouse in Beer

A certain mouse fell into a barrel of beer: Rav deemed that beer forbidden.

The Sages said before Rav Sheshet: "Shall we say that Rav maintains that even in a case where the forbidden substance imparts flavor to the detriment of the mixture, it is forbidden?"

Rav Sheshet said to them: "Rav generally maintains that in a case where the forbidden substance imparts flavor to the detriment of the mixture, it is permitted. But here, in the case of a mouse, it is a novelty that the Torah prohibits the flavor from a mouse at all, as it is repulsive and people distance themselves from consuming it, and even so the Merciful One prohibits it. Therefore, although it imparts flavor to the detriment of the mixture, it is still forbidden."

The Sages said to Rav Sheshet: "If that is so, should impart ritual impurity whether it is moist or dried out. Why was it taught: '...the carcass of a creeping animal, and an animal carcass, and semen, all transmit impurity when they are moist, but do not transmit impurity when they are dry' (mNiddah 7.1)?"

Rather, what have you to say?

With regard to the ritual impurity of semen, the Merciful One states: “The flow of seed” (Leviticus 15:16), meaning that the reference is to semen that is fit to fertilize.

Here too, with regard to the ritual impurity of a mouse, the verse states: “When they have died” (Leviticus 11:32). The Merciful One states that the carcasses of creeping animals impart impurity only when they are similar to their state at time of their death.

Rav Shimi of Neharde’a objects: "And is it repulsive? But isn’t it served at the table of kings?"

Rav Shimi of Neharde’a said: "There is no problem here: this instance is with regard to a field [mouse], whereas that statement is with regard to a city [mouse]."

Rava said: "The rule is that something that provides a disgusting flavor, it is permitted.

But I do not know what Rav's reasoning regarding the case of a mouse in beer is.

If it is because he opined that a prohibited food item that provides a disgusting flavor is forbidden, yet the rule is not like him.

If it is because he opined that a prohibited food item that provides a disgusting flavor is permissible, but then a mouse in beer improves the flavoring."

They asked them: If it fell into vinegar, what to do?

Rav Hillel said to Rav Ashi: "There was such an incident in the study hall of Rav Kahana, and Rav Kahana deemed it forbidden."

He said to him: "That one was dismembered."

Ravina opined that it should be calculated at 101, saying, "It's no worse than teruma, as it was taught, 'Teruma is nullified by 101' (Mishnah Terumot 4:7)."

Rav Taḥlifa bar Giza said to Ravina: "Perhaps, it's similar to spice of teruma in a pot, whose flavor is not nullified."

Rav Aḥai calculated vinegar at fifty.

Rav Shmuel, son of Rav Ika, calculated 60 for beer.

And the halakha is this and that, with sixty, and thus for all prohibitions in the Torah.