We now move on to Mishnah 3 in Chapter 3 of Tractate Bechorot, where we will discuss the restrictions that apply to a bechor - specifically the prohibitions against shearing and working. 'Shearing' refers to shearing the wool, and 'working' refers to performing labor with the animal. Our Mishnah deals with the issue of shearing.
The Prohibition of Shearing a Bechor:
Shearing with an instrument: Taking an instrument, such as scissors, and cutting the wool from the sheep, is prohibited by Torah law.
Plucking by hand: Plucking the wool with one's fingers is technically permitted by Torah law, but the Sages prohibited it rabbinically. The reason is clear: this is a classic decree, lest one come to shear the animal with an instrument in the normal manner.
Nevertheless, our Mishnah teaches that there are situations where they permitted plucking the hair by hand on a bechor, as will be explained.
The Text of the Mishnah:
"Rabbi Yosei ben Meshullam omer: hashochet et habechor" - Rabbi Yosei ben Meshullam says: One who slaughters a bechor. This refers to a bechor that developed a blemish, making its slaughter permitted.
"Oseh makom bekofitz mikan umikan" - he makes room with a cleaver on this side and that side. A kofitz is a butcher's cleaver. It is not an ideal tool for slaughtering animals, as it is much heavier and intended for chopping bones and the like, and it is also not sufficiently sharp, whereas a slaughterer requires a clean cut. Therefore, he must clear the hair out of the way, and he is permitted to make a clear space on the animal's neck, with no hair interfering but only skin, so that he can perform a valid slaughter with the cleaver.
A Close Reading of the Mishnah:
The Mishnah's phrasing "makes room with a cleaver" implies as if he is clearing the space on the animal's neck using the cleaver itself. However, this is not the case, since it is forbidden to use a cleaver or any other instrument to cut the animal's hair, due to the prohibition of shearing. Therefore, the Gemara explains that the intention is "for the cleaver," meaning: it should be read as if it said "for a cleaver" - he prepares a place for the cleaver, so that it can serve as a knife and make a smooth cut. And since his intention is to slaughter the animal with a cleaver, he is permitted to clear a space within the hair or wool for this purpose.
"Mikan umikan, betolesh se'ar" - on this side and that side, by plucking hair. He plucks the interfering hair with his hands.
"Uvilvad shelo yazizennu mimmekomo" - provided that he does not move it from its place. He should not take the plucked hair and place it by itself, like wool resting on the ground separate from the animal, as this would look like a different act, as if he is inflicting a blemish upon it. Therefore, he plucks the wool from the sheep's neck and leaves it tangled within the rest of the wool, and thereby a clear space is created on the neck where he can make a clean cut even with a cleaver and slaughter it properly.
"Vechen tolesh se'ar lir'ot mekom hamum" - and similarly, he plucks hair to see the place of a blemish. We have before us a bechor animal that developed a blemish, and it is not known whether it is a temporary blemish or a permanent blemish (the details of blemishes will be explained later in the tractate). The examiner is required to observe the blemish closely, and he cannot do so because of the interfering wool. Therefore, they permitted him to pull the wool aside and pluck it from the lamb's neck, provided that he leaves it tangled within the rest of the wool, so that it does not appear as though he is separating it and inflicting a blemish. For the purpose of examining the blemish, so that he can see it properly, plucking by hand is permitted for him.
In summary: We learned that shearing a bechor with an instrument is prohibited by Torah law, whereas plucking by hand is prohibited only rabbinically, a decree lest one come to shear with an instrument. In our Mishnah there are two cases where plucking by hand was permitted: for the purpose of clearing a space on the neck for a clean slaughter with a cleaver, and for the purpose of examining the place of a blemish. In both cases, the condition is one and the same - "provided that he does not move it from its place," that the plucked hair must remain tangled in the animal's wool and he will not appear like one who is inflicting a blemish upon it.