Do Fish Require Ritual Slaughter - Rabbi Haggai Corrects Jacob of Kefar Nibburayya

AND CONCERNING THE FISH (ibid., i.e., I Kings 5:13). Now is it possible to say so? Rather, Solomon said: For what reason do cattle, beast, and bird require slaughtering, while fish do not require slaughtering? Jacob, the man of the village of Nibburayya, ruled in Tyre concerning the fish, that they require slaughtering. Rabbi Haggai heard, sent and had him brought. He said to him: From where did you rule thus? He said to him: From here—"And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly" (Genesis 1:20). Just as fowl requires slaughtering, so too do the fish require slaughtering. He said: Lay him down that he be flogged. He said to him: A man who has spoken a word of Torah shall be flogged? He said to him: You did not rule well. He said to him: From where? He said to him: From here—"Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, that it suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, that it suffice them?" (Numbers 11:22). These require slaughtering, and those are taken by gathering. He said to him: Take your flogging, for it is good for him to receive lashes.