Rabbinic JudaismJerusalem Talmud Avodah Zarah 2.3HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
The Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem Talmud Avodah Zarah 2.3

The Jerusalem Talmud

Jerusalem Talmud Avodah Zarah 2.3

1
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

MISHNAH: The following Gentile properties are forbidden and the prohibition is of usufruct: Wine, and vinegar which originally was wine, and Hadrianic pottery, and heart-removed skins. Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel says, if the tear is circular they are forbidden, oblong permitted. Meat brought into a pagan Temple is permitted but what leaves is forbidden because it is sacrifice to the dead, the words of Rebbi Aqiba. It is forbidden to trade with those who go to ugliness.

2
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

HALAKHAH: “The following Gentile properties are forbidden,” etc. Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: Bitter, sweet, and hot are not under the rules of being uncovered. Rebbi Simon in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: The hot, the bitter, and the sweet are not under the rules of being uncovered or under those of libation wine. Rebbi Simon explains: The hot, spice wine. The bitter, vermouth wine. And the sweet, cooked wine. Rebbi Joshua ben Zeidal had cooked wine which was left unsupervised in the custudy of a Gentile. He asked Rebbi Yannai ben Rebbi Ismael who said to him, so says Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: The sweet is not under the rules of being uncovered or under those of libation wine. Rebbi Yannai ben Rebbi Ismael fell ill. Rebbi Ze`ira, Rebbi (Joshua) [Hoshaia], Rebbi Abun bar Cahana, and Rebbi Ḥanianiah the colleague of the rabbis, went to visit him. They saw Rebbi Joshua ben Zeidal sitting there. They said, there is the master of the decision and the person of the happening, let us ask him. He said to them, so says Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish, the sweet is not under the rules of being uncovered or under those of libation wine. One said to him, maybe that of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish is for argument’s sake? He told them, it is for action and you can rely on it. When (they got up) [returned], Rebbi Ila was standing with Rebbi Abun bar Cahana and told him, if you did not prefer decisions, is this not a baraita? As Rebbi Ḥiyya stated, “why is cooked wine of Gentiles forbidden? Because it started out as wine.” Rebbi Yose said, the Mishnah says so, “wine and vinegar which originally was wine.”

3
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Immi had guests. He said to them, if my cooked wine had not been left uncovered, would I not have served you? Rebbi Vivian said, bring it and we shall drink. He answered, he who wants to die should go and die in his own house.

4
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Bar Yudani had uncovered spice wine. He went and asked the rabbis who forbade it. But did not Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman say in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: The hot, the bitter, and the sweet, are not under the rules of being uncovered. The rabbis of Caesarea in the name of Rebbi Judah bar Titus: About one which consists of one to three parts ground [spices].

5
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

They asked before Rebbi Abbahu, what is the rule for uncovered cooked [wine]? He told them, Rebbi Joḥanan had a problem with carenum and you are asking me this? They asked Rebbi Isaac and he forbade it to them. Then Rebbi Abbahu remembered that Rebbi Joḥanan had said, it is forbidden.

6
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

(Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa, Rebbi Immi, in the name of Rebbi Eleazar.) The barrel of Ben Neṭoza became uncovered. He went and asked Rebbi Abba bar Mamal, who told him, it is permitted. Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa, Rebbi Immi, in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: if he was sleeping it is permitted. Rebbi Ḥanina and Rebbi Joshua ben Levi, one said, if he was sleeping it is permitted; the other said, if he was sleeping it is forbidden. In is reasonable [to infer] that Rebbi Ḥanina said, if he was sleeping it is permitted, since Rebbi Eleazar everywhere relies on Rebbi Ḥanina.

7
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Yose ben Shaul understands it from the following occurrence. It happened that a woman loved to do good deeds but her husband hated good deeds. There came a poor man and she gave him to eat. While he was eating she noticed her husband; she made him climb and hid him in the upper floor. She returned to her husband who ate and fell asleep. There came a snake and ate from what was before him; her husband awoke from his sleep and wanted to eat. The one in the upper floor started to talk. That means if he was sleeping it is permitted. It was used to it. But is it not forbidden because of being alone? For they committed adultery, blood is on their hands. Since he is not suspected of one he is not suspected of the other.

8
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

A pious person happened to be insistent in the matter of uncovered [drinks]; he was smitten with a fever. They saw him preaching on the Day of Atonement with a flask of water in his hand.

9
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

It happened that a butcher in Sepphoris sold Jews carcasses and torn meats. Once on the eve of the day of Atonement before nightfall he drank a great deal of wine and became drunk. He went to the roof, fell down, and died. The dogs started to lick his blood; people came to ask Rebbi Ḥanina how to remove him from before them. He told them, it is written, holy people you shall be to Me; torn meat on the fields you shall not eat, you must throw it to the dogs. This one robbed the dogs and fed the Jews carcasses and torn meat. Let them alone, they are eating from their own.

10
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

A person’s amphora of wine became uncovered on the eve of the Great Fast. He went to pour it out; another person said to him, bring it and I shall drink it. He told him, it was uncovered. He answered, does not the Master of the Day exist? He had not finished tasting when he started shaking.

11
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Jeremiah in the name of Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: All poisons cause scab but the poison of a snake kills. Rebbi Ḥiyya said, one is not asked about uncovered [drinks]. Rebbi Jeremiah asked before Rebbi Ze`ira; as master of the ruling he asked him.

12
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Ze`ira was dozing; he was sitting and eating in the evening. The light went out; he put his hand on the toman. They lit the light and found a snakelet like a hair curled around it. He said to it, evil one, was I not careful about you?

13
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Immi said, one has to be careful with what the creatures are careful with: It is forbidden to put coins in one’s mouth, a bread under the armpit, a dish under one’s bed, and to stick a knife in an etrog, or a knife into a radish. Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Bun said, all sweat that exudes from a human is deadly poison except the sweat of the face.

14
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Yannai said, if you bit something off, you bit off soot. If you lose, you lose a pearl. If anybody asked Rebbi Jonathan he told him: Am I the guarantor of your life? Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, if you sold yourself for the games, you would sell yourself for an excessive price; but here for a very cheap price.

15
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Assi, Rebbi Joḥanan in the name of Ben Bathyra: If libation wine fell into a cistern, it should be sold entirely to a Gentile except the value of the libation wine contained in it. Rebbi Assi in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Undetermined wine of a Gentile is forbidden but does not make impure. If he deposited it with him it is forbidden for drinking but permitted for usufruct. Rebbi Ze‘ira asked before Rebbi Yasa, how? If he segregated it? He told him, if he deposited it. Rebbi Abbahu came in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: There are three kinds of wine. If he saw the Gentile pouring a libation, it is certainly pagan worship and induces severe impurity like a reptile.Gentiles’ undetermined wine is forbidden but does not cause impurity. If he deposited with him with one seal it is forbidden to drink and permitted for usufruct. Rebbi Jeremiah said before Rebbi Ze‘ira: See what he said! He only said with a seal. Therefore without a seal it is forbidden for drinking and usufruct. Rebbi Eleazar instructed: if it was segregated; Rebbi Ze‘ira enjoyed it.

16
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

There, we have stated: “With a Gentile, it is like his produce. Rebbi Simeon says, it is demay.” Rebbi Ḥananiah asked before Rebbi Mani: Does it mean, really like his produce? Freeing what would be ṭevel at another place? He said to him, for all that is in it. Rebbi Ḥanina was uselessly opposing him.

17
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

If he deposited with him with a seal. Rebbi Ḥananiah and Rebbi Mana, one says, prohibited, and one says, permitted. Where do they disagree? For usufruct. But for drinking it is forbidden.

18
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rav said, ḥbyt is forbidden, ḥmpg is permitted. A piece of fish without distinguishing mark, meat, wine, and dark blue color, are forbidden with a single seal; assa foetida, fish sauce, bread, and cheese, are permitted with a single seal. Rebbi Yudan said, the reason of Rav is that anything which is forbidden in itself is forbidden with a single seal, if because of admixture it is permitted with a single seal. Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa, Rebbi Simeon bar Abba, Rebbi Eleazar in the name of Rebbi Ḥanina; Rebbi Abba, Rebbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan; Rebbi Ze‘ira in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: Everything is permitted with a single seal except wine.

19
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“And Hadrianic pottery.” Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rebbi Jeremiah: does practice follow Rebbi Meïr? As it was stated, “Hadrianic pottery is prohibited and its prohibition is of usufruct, the words of Rebbi Meïr, but the Sages say, its prohibition is not of usufruct.” Rebbi Jeremiah asked before Rebbi Ze‘ira: what is the status of the cloth about which we stated here? He was offended by this and told him, even for him who permits there, here it is forbidden. There, the prohibition is not visible, here the prohibition is visible. May one use it to support the legs of a couch? Rebbi Eleazar says it is permitted, Rebbi Joḥanan says it is forbidden.

20
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“And heart-removed skins.” Rebbi Jeremiah in the name of Rav: Practice follows Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel.

21
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

How does he do it? He tears its heart out from the living animal for pagan worship. How does one know? Rebbi Ḥuna said, if it is torn out from the living animal it rebounds and becomes circular; after slaughter it becomes stretched. Rebbi Yose said, one can infer from this that if he slaughtered one sign, even though one says that nothing living can become prohibited, here it becomes prohibited.

22
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“Meat brought into a pagan Temple is permitted.” Rebbi Abba, Rebbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan said, to exclude the statement of Rebbi Eliezer, since Rebbi Eliezer says that the thoughts of a Non-Jew are about pagan worship.

23
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“But what leaves is forbidden.” Rebbi Abinna in the name of Rav Jeremiah: When he introduced it inside the lattice railing. But if he did not introduce it inside the lattice railing it is permitted. That is about a pagan Temple which has a lattice railing. But if a pagan Temple has no lattice railing, the entire building is considered lattice railing.

24
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“Those who go in ugliness.” Rebbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan, θόρυβος. One brings a large idol to a small idol. Some state תרפות. He who says תרפות, idols. He who says תרבות, θόρυβος.

25
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“But those who return are permitted.” Rebbi Abinnas in the name of Rav Jeremiah: If their returning is not like their going. But if their returning is like their going, also those returning are forbidden.

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Jerusalem Talmud Avodah Zarah 2.3English
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The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

Hebrew/Aramaic text: The Jerusalem Talmud, edition by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015), via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

English translation: The Jerusalem Talmud, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015); commentary notes omitted, via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

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