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Avodah Zarah 19b

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Avodah Zarah 19b

Avodah Zarah 19b. The full printed text of this folio side — 16 numbered segments, about 446 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

דְּלָא לִיפַּלּוּג לִישָּׁנֵי. ״עַל פַּלְגֵי מַיִם״. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם בַּר חֲנִילַאי: לְעוֹלָם יְשַׁלֵּשׁ אָדָם שְׁנוֹתָיו — שְׁלִישׁ בַּמִּקְרָא, שְׁלִישׁ בַּמִּשְׁנָה, שְׁלִישׁ בַּתַּלְמוּד.

he will not become confused by the different versions of the same statements he hears from each teacher, as he will have no clear authoritative version from one source. The Gemara continues discussing the verse cited above: “By streams [ palgei ] of water” (Psalms 1:3). Rabbi Tanḥum bar Ḥanilai says: Since the root peh , lamed , gimmel can also refer to dividing, the verse is interpreted as follows: A person should always divide his years into thirds, as follows: One third for Bible, one third for Mishna and one third for Talmud.

Segment 2

מִי יָדַע אִינִישׁ כַּמָּה חָיֵי? כִּי קָאָמְרִינַן — בְּיוֹמֵי.

The Gemara asks: How can one divide his life this way? Does a person know the length of his life, that he can calculate how much a third will be? The Gemara answers: When we said that a one should divide his time into thirds, the intention was with regard to his days, i.e., he should devote one third of each day to Bible, Mishna, and Talmud, respectively.

Segment 3

״אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ״, אָמַר רָבָא: אִם ״פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ״ — ״וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל״, וְאִם לָאו — עַל הַלּוֹמֵד וְעַל הַמְלַמֵּד עֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״לֹא כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים כִּי אִם וְגוֹ׳״.

The Gemara discusses the continuation of the verse cited above: “That brings forth its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3). Rava says: If one brings forth fruit in its season, i.e., if he acts in accordance with the precepts of Torah that he learns, then his leaf will not wither, as the Torah will sustain him. But if one does not learn with the intention that his studies should lead to action, then with regard to both the one who is taught and with regard to the one who teaches, the verse states about them: “Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff that the wind drives away” (Psalms 1:4).

Segment 4

אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי רַבִּים חֲלָלִים הִפִּילָה״ — זֶה תַּלְמִיד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה וּמוֹרֶה, ״וַעֲצֻמִים כׇּל הֲרוּגֶיהָ״ — זֶה תַּלְמִיד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה וְאֵינוֹ מוֹרֶה.

Rabbi Abba says that Rav Huna says that Rav says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “For she has cast down [ hippila ] many wounded and a mighty host are all her slain” (Proverbs 7:26)? This is referring to a student who has not yet reached the level where he can render legal decisions, but nevertheless he already issues decisions. He is like a fetus that emerged from the womb before its time, as the word hippila also means to miscarry. “And a mighty host are all her slain”; this is referring to a student who has reached the level where he can render legal decisions, referred to here as “a mighty host,” but he does not issue decisions, and by refraining from teaching what he knows prevents the masses from learning Torah properly.

Segment 5

וְעַד כַּמָּה? עַד אַרְבְּעִין שְׁנִין. וְהָא רָבָא אוֹרִי! הָתָם בְּשָׁוִין.

And until when is a scholar considered too immature to render legal decisions? He is considered immature until the age of forty years. The Gemara asks: But didn’t Rava issue legal decisions before that age? The Gemara answers: There it is permitted, as in Rava’s case they are equal, i.e., if one has achieved a level of knowledge that is equivalent to that of the foremost scholar in his city, he is permitted to render decisions even before reaching the age of forty.

Segment 6

״וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל״, אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר אַדָּא אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב הַמְנוּנָא אָמַר רַב: שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ שִׂיחַת חוּלִּין שֶׁל תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים צְרִיכָה תַּלְמוּד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל״.

The Gemara cites another discussion with regard to the aforementioned verse: “And whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3). Rav Aḥa bar Adda says that Rav says, and some say that it was Rav Aḥa bar Abba who says that Rav Hamnuna says that Rav says: One should know that even the ordinary conversation of Torah scholars require analysis, as it is stated: “And whose leaf does not wither.” This teaches that even the ordinary conversation of a Torah scholar, which is comparable to the leaves of a tree, has great significance like the actual fruit of the tree.

Segment 7

״וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ״, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: דָּבָר זֶה כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה, וְשָׁנוּי בַּנְּבִיאִים, וּמְשׁוּלָּשׁ בַּכְּתוּבִים — כׇּל הָעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה נְכָסָיו מַצְלִיחִין לוֹ. כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה — דִּכְתִיב: ״וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית הַזֹּאת וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם לְמַעַן תַּשְׂכִּילוּ אֵת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּן״.

The verse continues: “And in whatsoever he does he shall prosper.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: This matter is written in the Torah, and repeated in the Prophets, and stated a third time in the Writings: Concerning anyone who engages in Torah study, his property dealings will be successful. It is written in the Torah, as it is written: “Observe therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may make all that you do to prosper” (Deuteronomy 29:8).

Segment 8

שָׁנוּי בַּנְּבִיאִים — דִּכְתִיב: ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה [הַזֶּה] מִפִּיךָ וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה לְמַעַן תִּשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכׇל הַכָּתוּב בּוֹ כִּי אָז תַּצְלִיחַ אֶת דְּרָכֶיךָ וְאָז תַּשְׂכִּיל״. מְשׁוּלָּשׁ בַּכְּתוּבִים — דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת ה׳ חֶפְצוֹ וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ״.

It is repeated in the Prophets, as it is written: “This book of the Torah shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your ways prosperous, and then you shall have good success” (Joshua 1:8). It is stated a third time in the Writings, as it is written: “But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord; and in His Torah he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither; and in whatsoever he does he shall prosper” (Psalms 1:2–3).

Segment 9

מַכְרִיז רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי: מַאן בָּעֵי חַיֵּי? מַאן בָּעֵי חַיֵּי? (כנוף) [אִיכְּנוּף] וַאֲתוֹ כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לְגַבֵּיהּ, אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: הַב לַן חַיֵּי! אֲמַר לְהוּ: ״מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים וְגוֹ׳ נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנְךָ מֵרָע וְגוֹ׳״.

The Gemara relates that Rabbi Alexandri would proclaim in public, in the manner of a merchant selling wares: Who desires life? Who desires life? Everyone gathered around him to buy from him, saying to him: Give us life! He stated the following verse to them: “Who is the man that desires life, and loves days, that he may see good in them? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile” (Psalms 34:13–14).

Segment 10

״סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב וְגוֹ׳״, שֶׁמָּא יֹאמַר: נָצַרְתִּי לְשׁוֹנִי מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתַי מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה, אֵלֵךְ וְאֶתְגָּרֶה בְּשֵׁינָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב״, ואין ״טוֹב״ אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי לֶקַח טוֹב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם תּוֹרָתִי אַל תַּעֲזֹבוּ״.

The psalm continues: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15). The Gemara explains: Lest one say: I have kept my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile, I will therefore go and indulge in sleep. To counter this possibility, the verse states: “Depart from evil, and do good,” i.e., it is not enough to avoid evil, but one must actively do good. And the word good means nothing other than Torah, as it is stated: “For I have given you a good portion; My Torah, do not abandon it” (Proverbs 4:2).

Segment 11

הִגִּיעַ לַכִּיפָּה מָקוֹם שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין בָּהּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אִם בָּנָה — שְׂכָרוֹ מוּתָּר. פְּשִׁיטָא! מְשַׁמְּשֵׁי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הֵן, וּמְשַׁמְּשֵׁי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, בֵּין לְרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֵּין לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, אֵינָן אֲסוּרִין עַד שִׁיעְבְּדוּ.

§ The mishna teaches: One may build with gentiles small platforms and bathhouses, but once he reaches the arched chamber in the bath where the gentiles put up objects of idol worship, it is prohibited for a Jew to continue building it. Rabbi Elazar says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: If he did continue to build the arched chamber, his wages are permitted. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? After all, such arched chambers are only accessories of idol worship, and with regard to accessories of idol worship, both according to Rabbi Yishmael and according to Rabbi Akiva, who disagree with regard to deriving benefit from an actual object of idol worship (51b), deriving benefit from accessories of idol worship is not prohibited until they are worshipped.

Segment 12

אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה עַצְמָהּ. הָנִיחָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר: עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲסוּרָה מִיָּד, וְשֶׁל גּוֹי עַד שֶׁתֵּעָבֵד — שַׁפִּיר, אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר: שֶׁל גּוֹי אֲסוּרָה מִיָּד, מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?

Rabbi Yirmeya says: Rabbi Elazar’s statement is necessary only to permit the wages of a Jew who built an object of idol worship itself. The Gemara asks: This works out well according to the one who says that an object of idol worship of a Jew is forbidden immediately once it is built, but it is not prohibited to derive benefit from an object of idol worship of a gentile until it is actually worshipped. In this case the idol was built for a gentile, and therefore the laborer may receive payment for his work, as the idol was never worshipped. But according to the one who says that an object of idol worship of a gentile is also forbidden immediately, what can be said?

Segment 13

אֶלָּא אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר עוּלָּא: לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא בְּמַכּוֹשׁ אַחֲרוֹן. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מַאן קָא גָרֵים לַהּ? גְּמַר מְלָאכָה, וְאֵימַת הָוְיָא גְּמַר מְלָאכָה? בְּמַכּוֹשׁ אַחֲרוֹן. מַכּוֹשׁ אַחֲרוֹן לֵית בֵּיהּ שָׁוֶה פְּרוּטָה.

Rather, Rabba bar Ulla says: Rabbi Elazar’s statement that the worker’s wages are permitted is necessary only with regard to the final stroke with which the laborer completes his work. In the case of an object of idol worship, what causes it to be used for idol worship? It is the completion of labor, and when is the completion of labor achieved? It is achieved with the final stroke of the laborer. The final stroke alone does not have the value of one peruta , and therefore the wages he receives are due when each act of labor is performed during the entire process, not when the final stroke completes the work.

Segment 14

אַלְמָא קָסָבַר, יֶשְׁנָהּ לִשְׂכִירוּת מִתְּחִלָּה וְעַד סוֹף.

Evidently, Rabbi Elazar holds that the obligation to pay a wage is incurred continuously from the beginning of the period he was hired to its end, not merely upon completion of the work. Since the worker has rights to his wages at every stage of labor performed during the entire period of work, the wages are not considered a benefit that he receives from idol worship, as the object is classified as an object of idol worship only at the very end.

Segment 15

מַתְנִי׳ וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין תַּכְשִׁיטִין לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, קַטְלָאוֹת וּנְזָמִים וְטַבָּעוֹת. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בְּשָׂכָר מוּתָּר. אֵין מוֹכְרִין לָהֶם בִּמְחוּבָּר לַקַּרְקַע, אֲבָל מוֹכֵר הוּא מִשֶּׁיִּקָּצֵץ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מוֹכֵר הוּא עַל מְנָת לָקוֹץ.

MISHNA: And one may not fashion jewelry for an object of idol worship, and this applies to jewelry such as necklaces [ katla’ot ], nose rings, and rings. Rabbi Eliezer says: If one fashions them in exchange for payment, it is permitted. The mishna returns to the issue of selling items to gentiles: One may not sell to a gentile any item that is attached to the ground, but one may sell such an item once it is severed from the ground. Rabbi Yehuda says: It is not necessary to sever the item from the ground; rather, one may sell it on the condition that it be severed.

Segment 16

גְּמָ׳ מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא:

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: From where is this matter, that it is prohibited to sell to a gentile anything that is attached to the ground, derived? Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina says:

Avodah Zarah 19b

Avodah Zarah 19b

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Ben Yehoyada

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