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Avodah Zarah 53a

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Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Avodah Zarah 53a

Avodah Zarah 53a. The full printed text of this folio side — 16 numbered segments, about 370 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

דְּרַבִּי וָולֶס: לֹא נִצְרְכָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בָּהּ שׁוּתָּפוּת, וְקָא מַשְׁמַע לַן יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא דְּלָא מְבַטֵּל דְּנׇכְרִי, אֲבָל נׇכְרִי דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ מְבַטֵּל.

of Rabbi Volas: No, this halakha is necessary in a case where the gentile has partnership in the idol, and it teaches us that it is only a Jew who cannot revoke the status of a gentile’s object of idol worship. But a gentile can revoke the status of his own object of idol worship.

Segment 2

אִיכָּא דְּמַתְנֵי לַהּ אַבָּרַיְיתָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן מְנַסְיָא אוֹמֵר: עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין לָהּ בְּטִילָה עוֹלָמִית. מַאי ״עוֹלָמִית״? אָמַר רַבִּי הִילֵּל בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי וָולֶס: לֹא נִצְרְכָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לְגוֹי בָּהּ שׁוּתָּפוּת, וְקָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אַדַּעְתָּא דְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ פָּלַח.

There are those who teach Rabbi Hillel’s statement with regard to a baraita : Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya says: The status of a Jew’s object of idol worship can never be revoked. What is the reason for the additional emphasis of the term never? Rabbi Hillel, son of Rabbi Volas, says: The emphasis is necessary only for a case where the gentile has partnership in the idol, and it teaches us that the Jew worships the idol based on his own intentions, and therefore although the gentile revokes the status of his share, the Jew’s share remains forbidden.

Segment 3

מַתְנִי׳ כֵּיצַד מְבַטְּלָהּ? קָטַע רֹאשׁ אׇזְנָהּ, רֹאשׁ חוֹטְמָהּ, רֹאשׁ אֶצְבָּעָהּ, פְּחָסָהּ — אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא חִיסְּרָהּ — בִּיטְּלָהּ; רָק בְּפָנֶיהָ, הִשְׁתִּין בְּפָנֶיהָ, גֵּרְרָהּ, זָרַק בָּהּ אֶת הַצּוֹאָה — הֲרֵי זוֹ אֵינָהּ בְּטֵילָה; מְכָרָהּ אוֹ מִשְׁכְּנָהּ — רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: בִּיטֵּל, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: לֹא בִּיטֵּל.

MISHNA: How does a gentile revoke the status of an object of idol worship? If he cut off the tip of its ear, or the tip of its nose, or its fingertip; or if he crushed it, even though he did not remove any part of it, in all these cases he thereby revoked its status as an object of idol worship. If he spat before the idol, urinated before it, dragged it on the ground, or threw excrement at it, the status of this idol is not revoked, as this is only a temporary display of scorn, and afterward the gentile might continue to worship the idol. If the gentile sold it or mortgaged it, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: He thereby revoked its status. And the Rabbis say that he did not revoke its status.

Segment 4

גְּמָ׳ כִּי לֹא חִיסְּרָהּ, בְּמַאי בִּיטְּלָהּ? אָמַר רַב זֵירָא: שֶׁפְּחָסָהּ בְּפָנֶיהָ.

GEMARA: The mishna teaches that if the gentile crushed the idol without removing any part of it, the status of the idol is revoked. The Gemara asks: In a case where he did not remove any part of it, by what action did he revoke its status? Rav Zeira says: The mishna is referring to a case where he crushed its face with a hammer, destroying its form, even though none of its stone was removed.

Segment 5

רָקַק בְּפָנֶיהָ, וְהִשְׁתִּין בְּפָנֶיהָ. מְנָהָנֵי מִילֵּי?

§ The mishna teaches: If he spat before the idol or urinated before it, the status of this idol is not revoked, as this is only a temporary display of scorn. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived?

Segment 6

אָמַר חִזְקִיָּה, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״וְהָיָה כִי יִרְעַב וְהִתְקַצַּף וְקִלֵּל בְּמַלְכּוֹ וּבֵאלֹהָיו וּפָנָה לְמַעְלָה״, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ: ״וְאֶל אֶרֶץ יַבִּיט וְהִנֵּה צָרָה וַחֲשֵׁכָה וְגוֹ׳״, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּקִלֵּל מַלְכּוֹ וֵאלֹהָיו וּפָנָה לְמַעְלָה, אֶל אֶרֶץ יַבִּיט.

Ḥizkiyya says: This is derived from a verse, as the verse states: “And it shall come to pass that, when he shall be hungry, he shall fret, and curse his king and his god, and turn his face upward” (Isaiah 8:21). And it is written after this verse: “And he shall look to the earth, and behold distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and outspread thick darkness” (Isaiah 8:22). This indicates that even though he cursed his king and his idolatrous god, and he turned his face upward to God, nevertheless, he subsequently looks to the earth and beholds distress and darkness, since he returns to his idol worship.

Segment 7

מְכָרָהּ אוֹ מִשְׁכְּנָהּ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: בִּיטֵּל וְכוּ׳. זְעֵירִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב, חַד אָמַר: מַחְלוֹקֶת בְּצוֹרֵף גּוֹי, אֲבָל בְּצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל בִּיטֵּל, וְחַד אָמַר: בְּצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל מַחְלוֹקֶת.

§ The mishna teaches: If the gentile sold it or mortgaged it, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: He thereby revoked its status. And the Rabbis say that he did not revoke its status. The Gemara cites a dispute between that which Ze’eiri says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says, and that which Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba says that Rav says. One says: The dispute between Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and the Rabbis applies only when the gentile sold his idol to a gentile smith. But when he sold it to a Jewish smith everyone agrees that by selling the idol the gentile revoked its status, as he knows that the Jewish smith will certainly melt it down. And one says: The dispute applies to the case where he sold the idol to a Jewish smith.

Segment 8

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: בְּצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל מַחְלוֹקֶת, אֲבָל צוֹרֵף גּוֹי דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל לֹא בִּיטֵּל, אוֹ דִלְמָא בֵּין בָּזֶה וּבֵין בָּזֶה מַחְלוֹקֶת?

A dilemma was raised before the Sages: According to the second opinion, does the dispute apply only to the case where he sold the idol to a Jewish smith; but if he sold it to a gentile smith everyone agrees that he did not revoke its status by selling it? Or perhaps both in this case and in that case there is a dispute.

Segment 9

תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי: נִרְאִין דְּבָרַיי כְּשֶׁמְּכָרָהּ לְחַבְּלָהּ, וְדִבְרֵי חֲבֵירַיי שֶׁמְּכָרָהּ לְעוֹבְדָהּ.

The Gemara replies: Come and hear a baraita , as Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: My statement that by selling the idol the gentile revokes its status appears correct in a case where he sold it for the purpose of destruction, and the statement of my colleagues that its status is not revoked appears correct in a case where he sold it for the purpose of worship.

Segment 10

מַאי ״לְחַבְּלָהּ״ וּמַאי ״לְעוֹבְדָהּ״? אִילֵּימָא לְחַבְּלָהּ — לְחַבְּלָהּ מַמָּשׁ, לְעוֹבְדָהּ — לְעוֹבְדָהּ מַמָּשׁ, מַאי טַעְמָא דְּמַאן דְּאָמַר בִּיטֵּל, וּמַאי טַעְמָא דְּמַאן דְּאָמַר לֹא בִּיטֵּל?

The Gemara explains the baraita : What is the meaning of selling the idol for destruction, and what is the meaning of selling it for worship? If we say that selling it for destruction means literally that he knew that it was being bought for the purpose of destruction, and that selling it for worship means literally that it was bought for the purpose of worship, this is difficult. What is the reasoning of the one who says that the gentile revoked the idol’s status even though he knew that the buyer intended to worship it, and what is the reasoning of the one who says that he did not revoke its status even though he knew that the buyer intended to destroy it?

Segment 11

אֶלָּא לָאו לְחַבְּלָהּ — לְמִי שֶׁעָתִיד לְחַבְּלָהּ, וּמַנּוּ? צוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל. לְעוֹבְדָהּ — לְמִי שֶׁעָתִיד לְעוֹבְדָהּ, וּמַנּוּ? צוֹרֵף גּוֹי. וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: בֵּין בָּזֶה וּבֵין בָּזֶה מַחְלוֹקֶת.

Rather, is it not referring to a case where the buyer’s intentions were not known with certainty? And accordingly, selling the idol for destruction means selling it to one who will presumably destroy it in the future. And who is that buyer? This is referring to a Jewish smith. Similarly, selling the idol for worship means selling it to one who will presumably worship it in the future. And who is that buyer? This is referring to a gentile smith. Since Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi states that his opinion appears correct in the case of a Jewish smith and the opinion of his colleagues appears correct in the case of a gentile smith, one may conclude from the baraita that there is a dispute both in this case and in that case.

Segment 12

לָא, הָכִי קָאָמַר: אָמַר רַבִּי: נִרְאִין דְּבָרַיי לַחֲבֵירַיי כְּשֶׁמְּכָרָהּ לְחַבְּלָהּ. וּמַנּוּ? צוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁאַף חֲבֵירַיי לֹא נֶחְלְקוּ עָלַי אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁמְּכָרָהּ לְעוֹבְדָהּ, אֲבָל לְחַבְּלָהּ — מוֹדוּ לִי.

The Gemara rejects this suggestion: No, this is what the baraita is saying: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said: My statement that the idol’s status is revoked appears to my colleagues correct in a case where he sold it for the purpose of destruction. And who is it who buys the idol with the intent of destroying it? This is referring to a Jewish smith. This is because even my colleagues disagreed with me only in a case where he sold it for the purpose of worship; but when he sold it to a Jewish smith for the purpose of destruction, they concede to my opinion.

Segment 13

מֵיתִיבִי: הַלּוֹקֵחַ גְּרוּטָאוֹת מִן הַגּוֹיִם וּמָצָא בָּהֶן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן מָעוֹת מָשַׁךְ — יַחֲזִיר, אִם מִשֶּׁנָּתַן מָעוֹת מָשַׁךְ — יוֹלִיךְ לְיָם הַמֶּלַח.

The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita : With regard to one who buys broken vessels made from gold or silver from the gentiles and finds among them an object of idol worship, if he pulled the object of idol worship, thereby performing an act of acquisition, before he gave the money to the gentile, he may return the object of idol worship to the gentile. But if he pulled it after he gave the money to the gentile he may not return it. Since the idol’s status was not revoked, he must take it and cast it into the Dead Sea.

Segment 14

אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא בְּצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל מַחְלוֹקֶת, הָא מַנִּי? רַבָּנַן הִיא. אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ בְּצוֹרֵף גּוֹי מַחְלוֹקֶת, אֲבָל בְּצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל בִּיטֵּל, הָא מַנִּי?

The Gemara explains the objection: Granted, if you say that in the case of a gentile who sells an object of idol worship to a Jewish smith there is a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and the Rabbis, the baraita is not difficult. In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita ? It is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, who hold that when a gentile sells an idol to a Jewish smith he does not thereby revoke its status. But if you say that the dispute between Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and the Rabbis applies only when the idol is sold to a gentile smith, but in the case of a Jewish smith everyone agrees that the gentile revoked the idol’s status, then in accordance with whose opinion is this baraita ?

Segment 15

שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּאַדַּעְתָּא דִּגְרוּטָאוֹת זַבֵּין, אַדַּעְתָּא דַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לָא זַבֵּין.

The Gemara answers: It is different there, as the gentile sold the metal with the understanding that he was selling broken vessels, and he did not sell the metal with the understanding that he was selling an object of idol worship. He therefore had no intention of revoking its status.

Segment 16

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: לָוָה עָלֶיהָ, אוֹ שֶׁנָּפְלָה עָלֶיהָ מַפּוֹלֶת, אוֹ שֶׁגְּנָבוּהָ לִיסְטִין, אוֹ שֶׁהִנִּיחוּהָ הַבְּעָלִים וְהָלְכוּ לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם,

§ The Sages taught: If a gentile borrowed money against an object of idol worship, using it as collateral, or with regard to another case where a rockslide fell on it, or a case where robbers stole it, or a case where the owners abandoned it and went overseas, the following halakha applies:

Avodah Zarah 53a

Avodah Zarah 53a

Rashi

Tosafot

Rabbeinu Chananel

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Maharam

Gilyon HaShas

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