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With regard to a slave whose master castrates his testicles, what is the halakha?
Is that considered an exposed blemish that is sufficient to emancipate him or not? An answer to their dilemma was not available to Rav Hamnuna. They said to him: What is your name? He said to them: Hamnuna.
They said to him in jest: You should not be called Hamnuna, a good hot fish; rather, your name should be Karnuna, a cold fish that is no longer tasty.
The tips of the fingers and the toes, the tips of the ears, nose and male member, the tips of a woman’s breasts. Rabbi Yehudah says: Even the tips of a man’s breasts.
A braisa was taught regarding this Mishna: The tips of these limbs can set a slave free. Rebbe said: Even castration. Ben Azzai said: Even the tongue.
The question whether or not the testicles are extremities, whether they were fully or partially severed, whether they can be compared to the tongue, are discussed.
We explore the history of emasculation in the slave trade as recent as 1900!