Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Helen Danczak in loving memory of her mother, Lucille Fliegler on her 29th yahrzeit. “The years fly past and still it’s as if it’s been only yesterday since I had a chance to visit. Mommele, may your neshama have an aliya.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Petra, Tova & Orli in honor of their mother, Wendy Proskin. “Happy Mother’s Day!”
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Summary
When Rabbi Zeira heard that Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Asi were eating meat slaughtered by a Cuti, he assumed they must have been aware of a prior decree permitting it. He reasoned that had it been forbidden, they would have inadvertently consumed non-kosher meat – a mistake God would not allow to befall the righteous. This principle is derived from the story where God protected the animal of a righteous person from sin; how much more so would He protect the righteous individuals themselves! From this incident, the Gemara concludes that Rabbi Zeira eventually conceded to Rabbi Yaakov that the shechita of a Cuti had been forbidden by the decree of Rabban Gamliel, even if a Jew was present to supervise the process.
The Gemara explains that although Rabban Gamliel and his court originally decreed that the shechita of Cutim was unacceptable, the restriction expanded over time. A story is told of Rabbi Meir, who forbade their wine after discovering that a minority of the Cutim worshipped idols. Later, a subsequent generation of Amoraim in Israel – Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi – were informed that the Cutim had ceased to be “Torah worshippers” entirely. Consequently, they accorded them the status of gentiles regarding all halakhic matters. The Gemara clarifies that while their shechita and wine had been forbidden by Rabbi Meir and Rabban Gamliel previously, the ruling was only universally accepted and finalized in the time of Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi.
The Gemara presents two other instances where the concept of God protecting the righteous from accidental transgression is applied. The first involves Rabbi Zeira regarding the laws of demai (produce from an am haaretz which tithes may not have been separated). When produce purchased from an am haaretz is mixed with other ingredients, its status is debated. Seeing Rav Asi eating such a mixture without tithing it, Rabbi Zeira inferred that it must be permitted, as God would not allow a righteous person to eat untithed food.
The Gemara challenges this conclusion based on a braita that appears to forbid such mixtures. However, the Gemara resolves this in two possible ways by explaining that the case in the braita involved a unique type of “mixture.” While the initial difficulty was raised from the second half of the braita, the Gemara also questions the first part, which permits returning food to a neighbor who is an am haaretz without re-tithing it (as we do not suspect the neighbor of swapping the food). Although three other Tannaitic sources suggest we should fear a swap, the Gemara distinguishes each case as unique.
A third situation is mentioned where Rabbi Zeira applied the principle of divine protection. It concerns Rabbi Yehuda haNasi in the footsteps of Rabbi Meir permitting produce in Beit Shean to be eaten without tithing, on the basis that Beit Shean was not considered to be within the halakhic borders of the Land of Israel.
Today’s daily daf tools:
Masechet Chullin is sponsored by Judi Felber in honor of the Hadran Community. “During my first cycle of Daf Yomi, just as we began Masechet Chullin, my son was injured while serving in the IDF. Throughout those two and a half months of difficulty and uncertainty, my fellow learners never left my side. With profound gratitude to the community that held me, encouraged me, and ensured I could keep up with the Daf during those trying times.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Helen Danczak in loving memory of her mother, Lucille Fliegler on her 29th yahrzeit. “The years fly past and still it’s as if it’s been only yesterday since I had a chance to visit. Mommele, may your neshama have an aliya.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Petra, Tova & Orli in honor of their mother, Wendy Proskin. “Happy Mother’s Day!”
Today’s daf is sponsored for the refuah shlema of Yona bat Bracha Tzivia.
Chullin 6
וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּיךְ לָא קַבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ, לִישַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ: כָּאן כְּשֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבָּיו, כָּאן כְּשֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבָּיו? אֶלָּא לָאו שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ קַבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.
And if it enters your mind that Rabbi Zeira did not accept from Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi that Rabban Gamliel prohibited eating from the slaughter of a Samaritan even when a Jew was standing over him, let Rabbi Zeira resolve the matter for himself in a different manner: Here, where Rabbi Yoḥanan ate from the slaughter of a Samaritan, it was when a Jew was standing over him; there, where Rabban Gamliel prohibited eating from the slaughter of a Samaritan, it was when a Jew was not standing over him. Rather, must one not conclude from it that Rabbi Zeira accepted the response from Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi. The Gemara affirms: Indeed, learn this from it.
וּמַאי טַעְמָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן? כִּי הָא דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר, שַׁדְּרֵיהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר לְאֵתוֹיֵי חַמְרָא מִבֵּי כוּתָאֵי, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ הָהוּא סָבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״, הָלַךְ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְגָזַר עֲלֵיהֶן.
§ The Gemara asks: And what is the reason that the Sages, Rabban Gamliel and his court, issued a decree rendering it prohibited to eat from the slaughter of Samaritans? The Gemara answers: It is like that case involving Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar, in which Rabbi Meir dispatched him to bring wine from the area of the Samaritans. A certain elder found him and said to him: “And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:2),as a warning to distance himself from them and not to drink their wine, because they were not reliable. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar went and related those matters before Rabbi Meir, and Rabbi Meir issued a decree against them.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: דְּמוּת יוֹנָה מָצְאוּ לָהֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הַר גְּרִיזִים, שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִין אוֹתָהּ. וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּחָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, וְגָזַר רוּבָּא אַטּוּ מִיעוּטָא. וְרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל וּבֵית דִּינוֹ נָמֵי כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר סְבִירָא לְהוּ.
What is the reason that the Samaritans are deemed unreliable? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: At the peak of Mount Gerizim they found the image of a dove, which the Samaritan residents of Mount Gerizim would worship; and Rabbi Meir issued the decree according to his line of reasoning that he takes the minority into consideration, and therefore, despite the fact that the majority of Samaritans did not live on Mount Gerizim, he issued a decree rendering meat slaughtered by the majority forbidden due to the minority that worshipped that idol. And Rabban Gamliel and his court also hold in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir.
פְּשָׁטֵיהּ דִּקְרָא בְּמַאי כְּתִיב? בְּתַלְמִיד הַיּוֹשֵׁב לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ, דְּתָנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּיא: ״כִּי תֵשֵׁב לִלְחוֹם אֶת מוֹשֵׁל בִּין תָּבִין אֶת אֲשֶׁר לְפָנֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״.
The Gemara asks: As to the plain meaning of that verse: “And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite,” with regard to what matter is it written? The Gemara answers: It is written with regard to a student who is sitting before his teacher, as he must consider his words carefully. As Rabbi Ḥiyya teaches a baraita interpreting the verses: “When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider well [bin tavin] him that is before you; and put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:1–2).
אִם יוֹדֵעַ תַּלְמִיד בְּרַבּוֹ שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְהַחֲזִיר לוֹ טַעַם – ״בִּין״, וְאִם לָאו – ״תָּבִין אֶת אֲשֶׁר לְפָנֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ״, ״אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״ – פְּרוֹשׁ הֵימֶנּוּ.
The tanna explains the verse: If a student knows about his teacher that he knows to respond to him with a reasoned answer, seek wisdom [bin] from him. And if the student believes that the teacher is not capable of doing so, understand [tavin] who is sitting before you, and put a knife to your throat and refrain from embarrassing him with questions that he cannot answer. And if you are a man given to appetite and you seek an answer to your question, distance yourself from him.
רַבִּי יִצְחָק בֶּן יוֹסֵף שַׁדְּרֵיהּ רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ לְאֵתוֹיֵי חַמְרָא מִבֵּי כוּתָאֵי, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ הָהוּא סָבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֵית כָּאן שׁוֹמְרֵי תוֹרָה. הָלַךְ רַבִּי יִצְחָק וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, וְהָלַךְ רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי, וְלֹא זָזוּ מִשָּׁם עַד שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּם גּוֹיִם גְּמוּרִין.
Rabbi Abbahu dispatched Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Yosef to bring wine from the area of the Samaritans. A certain elder found him and said to him: The people here are not keepers of the Torah. Rabbi Yitzḥak went and related the matters before Rabbi Abbahu, and Rabbi Abbahu went and related the matters before Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi, and they did not move from there until they rendered the Samaritans full-fledged gentiles.
לְמַאי? אִי לִשְׁחִיטָה וְיֵין נֶסֶךְ, מֵהָתָם גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן! אִינְהוּ גְּזוּר וְלָא קַבִּלוּ מִינַּיְיהוּ, אֲתוֹ רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי גְּזַרוּ וְקַבִּלוּ מִינַּיְיהוּ.
The Gemara asks: For what matters did those Sages render them full-fledged gentiles? If it was to prohibit eating from their slaughter and to render their wine as wine used for a libation in idol worship, these prohibitions were issued previously. From there, from the generations of Rabbi Meir and Rabban Gamliel, the Sages issued a decree prohibiting them. The Gemara answers: They issued a decree, and the people did not accept it from them. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi came and issued a decree, and the people accepted it from them.
מַאי גּוֹיִם גְּמוּרִין? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: לְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְלִיתֵּן רְשׁוּת.
The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of full-fledged gentiles? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: It means that the halakhic status of a Samaritan is like that of a gentile with regard to renouncing his domain in a jointly-owned courtyard on Shabbat and to transferring his domain in the courtyard to residents of that courtyard.
וְכִדְתַנְיָא: יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשׁוּמָּד מְשַׁמֵּר שַׁבַּתּוֹ בַּשּׁוּק, מְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְנוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת, וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּר שַׁבַּתּוֹ בַּשּׁוּק, אֵינוֹ מְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְנוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת.
And this is as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to a Jewish transgressor who nevertheless observes his Shabbat in the marketplace, i.e., in public, if he failed to establish a joining of houses in a courtyard before Shabbat, his halakhic status is that of an observant Jew, and he may renounce his domain in the courtyard and transfer his domain in the courtyard. But a transgressor who does not observe his Shabbat in the marketplace may neither renounce his domain in the courtyard nor transfer his domain in the courtyard.
מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ: יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת וּמְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת, וּבְגוֹי עַד שֶׁיִּשְׂכּוֹר.
This is because the Sages said: Only a Jew may verbally transfer rights in his domain or renounce his rights in his domain, but with regard to a gentile, the other residents cannot establish a joining of courtyards unless the residents of the courtyard lease his domain from him. The halakhic status of one who publicly desecrates Shabbat is that of a gentile.
כֵּיצַד? אָמַר לוֹ: ״רְשׁוּתִי קְנוּיָה לָךְ״ ״רְשׁוּתִי מְבוּטֶּלֶת לָךְ״ – קָנָה, וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִזְכּוֹת.
How does a Jew transfer or renounce his domain? If a Jew says to his neighbor: My domain is transferred to you or my domain is renounced to you, his neighbor has acquired his domain, and it is not necessary for him to grant it to his neighbor by means of one of the standard modes of acquisition.
רַבִּי זֵירָא וְרַב אַסִּי אִיקְּלַעוּ לְפוּנְדְּקָא דְּיָאֵי, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמַּיְיהוּ בֵּיצִים הַמְצוּמָּקוֹת בְּיַיִן. רַבִּי זֵירָא לָא אֲכַל, וְרַב אַסִּי אֲכַל. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְרַב אַסִּי: וְלָא חָיֵישׁ מָר לְתַעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָאו אַדַּעְתַּאי.
§ The Gemara revisits the statement that the righteous would not experience mishaps. Rabbi Zeira and Rav Asi happened to come to the inn of the town of Ya’ei. In the inn, they brought before these Sages eggs that shriveled after being cooked in wine. Rabbi Zeira did not eat the eggs, and Rav Asi ate them. Rabbi Zeira said to Rav Asi: And is the Master not concerned about the possibility that the dish is a mixture containing wine that is doubtfully tithed produce [demai]? Rav Asi said to him: It did not enter my mind.
אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֶפְשָׁר גָּזְרוּ עַל הַתַּעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי, וּמִסְתַּיְּיעָא מִילְּתָא דְּרַב אַסִּי לְמֵיכַל אִיסּוּרָא? הַשְׁתָּא בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא תַּקָּלָה עַל יָדָן, צַדִּיקִים עַצְמָן לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?
Rabbi Zeira said to himself: Is it possible that the Sages issued a decree on a mixture containing demai and the matter eventuated that Rav Asi ate forbidden food? Now, since even with regard to the animals of the righteous, the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not generate mishaps through them, is it not all the more so true that the righteous themselves would not experience mishaps?
נְפַק רַבִּי זֵירָא דַּק וְאַשְׁכַּח, דִּתְנַן: הַלּוֹקֵחַ יַיִן לָתֵת לְתוֹךְ הַמּוּרְיָיס אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הָאֲלוּנְתִּית, כַּרְשִׁינִין לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶן טְחִינִין, עֲדָשִׁים לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶן רְסִיסִין – חַיָּיב מִשּׁוּם דְּמַאי, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִשּׁוּם וַדַּאי.
Rabbi Zeira emerged, analyzed, and found that no mishap was generated through Rav Asi, as we learned in a baraita (Tosefta, Demai 1:24): In the case of one who purchases wine to place into fish gravy [hamorayes] or into aluntit, a beverage in which wine is mixed, or one who purchases vetch to prepare grist from it, or lentils to prepare groats from it, if it is uncertain whether what he purchased is tithed, e.g., he bought it from one who is unreliable with regard to tithes [am ha’aretz], one is obligated to tithe it, due to the fact that it is demai. And needless to say, if it is certain that what he purchased is not tithed, he is obligated to tithe it due to the fact that it is certain that it is untithed produce.
וְהֵן עַצְמָן מוּתָּרִין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן תַּעֲרוֹבֶת.
And they themselves, the gravy, aluntit, grist, and groats that one purchased from an am ha’aretz, are permitted, because they are a mixture. Since only one element of the mixture must be tithed, the food is permitted.
וְלֹא גָּזְרוּ עַל תַּעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי? וְהָתַנְיָא: הַנּוֹתֵן לִשְׁכֶנְתּוֹ עִיסָּה לֶאֱפוֹת, וּקְדֵירָה לְבַשֵּׁל – אֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ לִשְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין שֶׁבָּהּ, לֹא מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִיעִית וְלֹא מִשּׁוּם מַעֲשֵׂר.
The Gemara asks: And is it so that the Sages did not issue a decree on a mixture containing demai? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to one who gives his neighbor, who is an am ha’aretz, dough to bake and gives her leaven for the dough to rise, or gives her a pot of food and the spices to cook in it, he need not be concerned about the leaven and the spices that are in the dough and the pot respectively, that perhaps she replaced them with her own, neither with regard to the possibility that they are Sabbatical Year produce nor with regard to the possibility that tithe was not separated.
וְאִם אָמַר לָהּ: ״עֲשִׂי לִי מִשֶּׁלִּיכִי״, חוֹשֵׁשׁ לִשְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין שֶׁבָּהּ מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִיעִית וּמִשּׁוּם מַעֲשֵׂר.
And if he says to her: Prepare the dough or the food for me with your own leaven and spices, he must be concerned about the leaven and the spices that are in the dough and the pot respectively, with regard to the possibility that they are Sabbatical Year produce and with regard to the possibility that tithe was not separated, even though it is a mixture containing demai.
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּכֵיוָן דְּקָאָמַר לַהּ ״עֲשִׂי לִי מִשֶּׁלִּיכִי״, כְּמַאן דְּעָרֵיב בְּיָדַיִם דְּמֵי. רַפְרָם אָמַר: שָׁאנֵי שְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין, דִּלְטַעְמָא עֲבִיד, וְטַעְמָא לָא בָּטֵיל.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, as, since he said to her: Prepare the dough or the food for me from your own, it is like one who mixed it by direct action. Rafram said: Leaven and spices are different, as each of them is made for the purpose of adding taste to the mixture, and taste is not nullified in a mixture.
וּלְחַלּוֹפֵי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתְנַן: הַנּוֹתֵן לַחֲמוֹתוֹ – מְעַשֵּׂר אֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן לָהּ וְאֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֵל מִמֶּנָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲשׁוּדָהּ מַחְלֶפֶת הַמִּתְקַלְקֵל! הָתָם כִּדְתַנְיָא טַעְמָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: רוֹצֶה הִיא בְּתַקָּנַת בִּתָּהּ וּבוֹשָׁה מֵחֲתָנָהּ.
The Gemara asks: And are we not concerned about replacement of the ingredients that he gave his neighbor with her own? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 3:6): One who gives dough to his mother-in-law, who is suspect with regard to tithing, so that she will prepare it for him, must tithe everything that he gives her and everything that he takes back from her. This is because she is suspected of replacing an ingredient that spoils. The Gemara answers: There, the reason is like it is taught explicitly in that mishna, that Rabbi Yehuda said: The mother-in-law desires her daughter’s well-being and wants to ensure that she eats quality food, and is reticent to tell her son-in-law that she replaced the ingredients that spoiled.
וּלְעָלְמָא לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתְנַן: הַנּוֹתֵן לַפּוּנְדָּקִית שֶׁלּוֹ – מְעַשֵּׂר אֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן לָהּ וְאֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֵל הֵימֶנָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲשׁוּדָהּ מַחְלֶפֶת! הָתָם נָמֵי מוֹרְיָא וְאָמְרָה: בַּר בֵּי רַב לֵיכוֹל חַמִּימָא, וַאֲנָא אֵיכוֹל קָרִירָא.
The Gemara asks: And in general, in a case not involving one’s mother-in-law, are we not concerned about the possibility of replacement? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 3:5): One who gives dough or a pot of food to his innkeeper [pundakit] who is an am ha’aretz to bake or cook, tithes what he gives her and tithes what he takes back from her, due to the fact that she is suspected of replacing the ingredients? The Gemara answers: There too, her intentions are good, as the innkeeper rationalizes her deception and says: Let the student of Torah eat my hot food and I will eat his cold food.
וּלְחַלּוֹפֵי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתַנְיָא: אֵשֶׁת חָבֵר טוֹחֶנֶת עִם אֵשֶׁת עַם הָאָרֶץ בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה, אֲבָל לֹא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְהוֹרָה.
The Gemara asks: And are we not concerned about replacement of the ingredients? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: The wife of a ḥaver, one devoted to the meticulous observance of mitzvot, especially the halakhot of ritual purity, teruma, and tithes, grinds grain with the wife of an am ha’aretz when the wife of the ḥaver is ritually impure with the impurity of a menstruating woman. In that case, there is no concern that she will eat her counterpart’s untithed produce, as, since she is impure she will refrain from touching the grain so that she will not render it impure. But she may not do so when she is ritually pure, due to the concern that she will eat the untithed produce.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: אַף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה לֹא תִּטְחוֹן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲבֶירְתָּהּ נוֹתֶנֶת לָהּ וְאוֹכֶלֶת.
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Even when she is impure, the wife of the ḥaver may not grind grain together with the wife of the am ha’aretz, due to the fact that her counterpart gives her grain and she eats it without touching the rest of the grain.
הַשְׁתָּא מִיגְזָל גָּזְלָה, חַלּוֹפֵי מִיבַּעְיָא? אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: הָתָם נָמֵי מוֹרְיָא וְאָמְרָה ״תּוֹרָא מִדְּיָשֵׁיהּ קָאָכֵיל״.
The Gemara infers: Now that there is suspicion that the wife of the am ha’aretz steals from her husband’s grain and gives it to her counterparts, is it necessary to say that she is suspect with regard to replacing ingredients? Rav Yosef said: There too there are special circumstances, as the wife of the am ha’aretz rationalizes her behavior and says metaphorically: The ox eats from its threshing, and believes that the wife of the ḥaver is entitled to some of the grain that she is grinding.
הֵעִיד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן זֵרוּז, בֶּן חָמִיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, לִפְנֵי רַבִּי עַל רַבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁאָכַל עָלֶה שֶׁל יָרָק בְּבֵית שְׁאָן, וְהִתִּיר רַבִּי אֶת בֵּית שְׁאָן כּוּלָּהּ עַל יָדוֹ.
§ The Gemara resumes its discussion of the statement that the righteous would not experience mishaps. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz, son of the father-in-law of Rabbi Meir, testified before Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi about Rabbi Meir that he ate the leaf of a vegetable in Beit She’an without tithing or separating teruma, as he holds that Beit She’an is not part of Eretz Yisrael and therefore is not sacred with its sanctity. And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi permitted all the produce of Beit She’an on the basis of his testimony.
חָבְרוּ עָלָיו אֶחָיו וּבֵית אָבִיו, אָמְרוּ לוֹ: מָקוֹם שֶׁאֲבוֹתֶיךָ וַאֲבוֹת אֲבוֹתֶיךָ נָהֲגוּ בּוֹ אִיסּוּר, אַתָּה תִּנְהוֹג בּוֹ הֶיתֵּר?
His brothers and his father’s household united against him and said to him: In a place where your fathers and the fathers of your fathers treated untithed produce as forbidden, will you treat it as permitted?
דְּרַשׁ לָהֶן מִקְרָא זֶה: ״וְכִתַּת נְחַשׁ הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה כִּי עַד הַיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה הָיוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקַטְּרִים לוֹ וַיִּקְרָא לוֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּן״. אֶפְשָׁר בָּא אָסָא וְלֹא בִּיעֲרוֹ, בָּא יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְלֹא בִּיעֲרוֹ? וַהֲלֹא כׇּל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אָסָא וִיהוֹשָׁפָט בִּיעֲרוּם!
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi interpreted this verse to them: “And he broke in pieces the copper serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan” (II Kings 18:4). Is it possible that they burned incense to it and Asa, a righteous king, came and did not eradicate it, and Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, came and did not eradicate it, and it remained until the time of Hezekiah? But didn’t Asa and Jehoshaphat eradicate all objects of idol worship in the world?
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Blacksburg, United States
A beautiful world of Talmudic sages now fill my daily life with discussion and debate.
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Chullin 6
וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּיךְ לָא קַבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ, לִישַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ: כָּאן כְּשֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבָּיו, כָּאן כְּשֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבָּיו? אֶלָּא לָאו שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ קַבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.
And if it enters your mind that Rabbi Zeira did not accept from Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi that Rabban Gamliel prohibited eating from the slaughter of a Samaritan even when a Jew was standing over him, let Rabbi Zeira resolve the matter for himself in a different manner: Here, where Rabbi Yoḥanan ate from the slaughter of a Samaritan, it was when a Jew was standing over him; there, where Rabban Gamliel prohibited eating from the slaughter of a Samaritan, it was when a Jew was not standing over him. Rather, must one not conclude from it that Rabbi Zeira accepted the response from Rabbi Ya’akov bar Idi. The Gemara affirms: Indeed, learn this from it.
וּמַאי טַעְמָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן? כִּי הָא דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר, שַׁדְּרֵיהּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר לְאֵתוֹיֵי חַמְרָא מִבֵּי כוּתָאֵי, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ הָהוּא סָבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״, הָלַךְ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר, וְגָזַר עֲלֵיהֶן.
§ The Gemara asks: And what is the reason that the Sages, Rabban Gamliel and his court, issued a decree rendering it prohibited to eat from the slaughter of Samaritans? The Gemara answers: It is like that case involving Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar, in which Rabbi Meir dispatched him to bring wine from the area of the Samaritans. A certain elder found him and said to him: “And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:2),as a warning to distance himself from them and not to drink their wine, because they were not reliable. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar went and related those matters before Rabbi Meir, and Rabbi Meir issued a decree against them.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: דְּמוּת יוֹנָה מָצְאוּ לָהֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הַר גְּרִיזִים, שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִין אוֹתָהּ. וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר לְטַעְמֵיהּ, דְּחָיֵישׁ לְמִיעוּטָא, וְגָזַר רוּבָּא אַטּוּ מִיעוּטָא. וְרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל וּבֵית דִּינוֹ נָמֵי כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר סְבִירָא לְהוּ.
What is the reason that the Samaritans are deemed unreliable? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: At the peak of Mount Gerizim they found the image of a dove, which the Samaritan residents of Mount Gerizim would worship; and Rabbi Meir issued the decree according to his line of reasoning that he takes the minority into consideration, and therefore, despite the fact that the majority of Samaritans did not live on Mount Gerizim, he issued a decree rendering meat slaughtered by the majority forbidden due to the minority that worshipped that idol. And Rabban Gamliel and his court also hold in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir.
פְּשָׁטֵיהּ דִּקְרָא בְּמַאי כְּתִיב? בְּתַלְמִיד הַיּוֹשֵׁב לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ, דְּתָנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּיא: ״כִּי תֵשֵׁב לִלְחוֹם אֶת מוֹשֵׁל בִּין תָּבִין אֶת אֲשֶׁר לְפָנֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״.
The Gemara asks: As to the plain meaning of that verse: “And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite,” with regard to what matter is it written? The Gemara answers: It is written with regard to a student who is sitting before his teacher, as he must consider his words carefully. As Rabbi Ḥiyya teaches a baraita interpreting the verses: “When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider well [bin tavin] him that is before you; and put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:1–2).
אִם יוֹדֵעַ תַּלְמִיד בְּרַבּוֹ שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְהַחֲזִיר לוֹ טַעַם – ״בִּין״, וְאִם לָאו – ״תָּבִין אֶת אֲשֶׁר לְפָנֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתָּ סַכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ״, ״אִם בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה״ – פְּרוֹשׁ הֵימֶנּוּ.
The tanna explains the verse: If a student knows about his teacher that he knows to respond to him with a reasoned answer, seek wisdom [bin] from him. And if the student believes that the teacher is not capable of doing so, understand [tavin] who is sitting before you, and put a knife to your throat and refrain from embarrassing him with questions that he cannot answer. And if you are a man given to appetite and you seek an answer to your question, distance yourself from him.
רַבִּי יִצְחָק בֶּן יוֹסֵף שַׁדְּרֵיהּ רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ לְאֵתוֹיֵי חַמְרָא מִבֵּי כוּתָאֵי, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ הָהוּא סָבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֵית כָּאן שׁוֹמְרֵי תוֹרָה. הָלַךְ רַבִּי יִצְחָק וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, וְהָלַךְ רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ וְסִפֵּר דְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי, וְלֹא זָזוּ מִשָּׁם עַד שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּם גּוֹיִם גְּמוּרִין.
Rabbi Abbahu dispatched Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Yosef to bring wine from the area of the Samaritans. A certain elder found him and said to him: The people here are not keepers of the Torah. Rabbi Yitzḥak went and related the matters before Rabbi Abbahu, and Rabbi Abbahu went and related the matters before Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi, and they did not move from there until they rendered the Samaritans full-fledged gentiles.
לְמַאי? אִי לִשְׁחִיטָה וְיֵין נֶסֶךְ, מֵהָתָם גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן! אִינְהוּ גְּזוּר וְלָא קַבִּלוּ מִינַּיְיהוּ, אֲתוֹ רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי גְּזַרוּ וְקַבִּלוּ מִינַּיְיהוּ.
The Gemara asks: For what matters did those Sages render them full-fledged gentiles? If it was to prohibit eating from their slaughter and to render their wine as wine used for a libation in idol worship, these prohibitions were issued previously. From there, from the generations of Rabbi Meir and Rabban Gamliel, the Sages issued a decree prohibiting them. The Gemara answers: They issued a decree, and the people did not accept it from them. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi came and issued a decree, and the people accepted it from them.
מַאי גּוֹיִם גְּמוּרִין? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: לְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְלִיתֵּן רְשׁוּת.
The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of full-fledged gentiles? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: It means that the halakhic status of a Samaritan is like that of a gentile with regard to renouncing his domain in a jointly-owned courtyard on Shabbat and to transferring his domain in the courtyard to residents of that courtyard.
וְכִדְתַנְיָא: יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשׁוּמָּד מְשַׁמֵּר שַׁבַּתּוֹ בַּשּׁוּק, מְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְנוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת, וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּר שַׁבַּתּוֹ בַּשּׁוּק, אֵינוֹ מְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת וְנוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת.
And this is as it is taught in a baraita: With regard to a Jewish transgressor who nevertheless observes his Shabbat in the marketplace, i.e., in public, if he failed to establish a joining of houses in a courtyard before Shabbat, his halakhic status is that of an observant Jew, and he may renounce his domain in the courtyard and transfer his domain in the courtyard. But a transgressor who does not observe his Shabbat in the marketplace may neither renounce his domain in the courtyard nor transfer his domain in the courtyard.
מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ: יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹתֵן רְשׁוּת וּמְבַטֵּל רְשׁוּת, וּבְגוֹי עַד שֶׁיִּשְׂכּוֹר.
This is because the Sages said: Only a Jew may verbally transfer rights in his domain or renounce his rights in his domain, but with regard to a gentile, the other residents cannot establish a joining of courtyards unless the residents of the courtyard lease his domain from him. The halakhic status of one who publicly desecrates Shabbat is that of a gentile.
כֵּיצַד? אָמַר לוֹ: ״רְשׁוּתִי קְנוּיָה לָךְ״ ״רְשׁוּתִי מְבוּטֶּלֶת לָךְ״ – קָנָה, וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִזְכּוֹת.
How does a Jew transfer or renounce his domain? If a Jew says to his neighbor: My domain is transferred to you or my domain is renounced to you, his neighbor has acquired his domain, and it is not necessary for him to grant it to his neighbor by means of one of the standard modes of acquisition.
רַבִּי זֵירָא וְרַב אַסִּי אִיקְּלַעוּ לְפוּנְדְּקָא דְּיָאֵי, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמַּיְיהוּ בֵּיצִים הַמְצוּמָּקוֹת בְּיַיִן. רַבִּי זֵירָא לָא אֲכַל, וְרַב אַסִּי אֲכַל. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זֵירָא לְרַב אַסִּי: וְלָא חָיֵישׁ מָר לְתַעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָאו אַדַּעְתַּאי.
§ The Gemara revisits the statement that the righteous would not experience mishaps. Rabbi Zeira and Rav Asi happened to come to the inn of the town of Ya’ei. In the inn, they brought before these Sages eggs that shriveled after being cooked in wine. Rabbi Zeira did not eat the eggs, and Rav Asi ate them. Rabbi Zeira said to Rav Asi: And is the Master not concerned about the possibility that the dish is a mixture containing wine that is doubtfully tithed produce [demai]? Rav Asi said to him: It did not enter my mind.
אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: אֶפְשָׁר גָּזְרוּ עַל הַתַּעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי, וּמִסְתַּיְּיעָא מִילְּתָא דְּרַב אַסִּי לְמֵיכַל אִיסּוּרָא? הַשְׁתָּא בְּהֶמְתָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא תַּקָּלָה עַל יָדָן, צַדִּיקִים עַצְמָן לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?
Rabbi Zeira said to himself: Is it possible that the Sages issued a decree on a mixture containing demai and the matter eventuated that Rav Asi ate forbidden food? Now, since even with regard to the animals of the righteous, the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not generate mishaps through them, is it not all the more so true that the righteous themselves would not experience mishaps?
נְפַק רַבִּי זֵירָא דַּק וְאַשְׁכַּח, דִּתְנַן: הַלּוֹקֵחַ יַיִן לָתֵת לְתוֹךְ הַמּוּרְיָיס אוֹ לְתוֹךְ הָאֲלוּנְתִּית, כַּרְשִׁינִין לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶן טְחִינִין, עֲדָשִׁים לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶן רְסִיסִין – חַיָּיב מִשּׁוּם דְּמַאי, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר מִשּׁוּם וַדַּאי.
Rabbi Zeira emerged, analyzed, and found that no mishap was generated through Rav Asi, as we learned in a baraita (Tosefta, Demai 1:24): In the case of one who purchases wine to place into fish gravy [hamorayes] or into aluntit, a beverage in which wine is mixed, or one who purchases vetch to prepare grist from it, or lentils to prepare groats from it, if it is uncertain whether what he purchased is tithed, e.g., he bought it from one who is unreliable with regard to tithes [am ha’aretz], one is obligated to tithe it, due to the fact that it is demai. And needless to say, if it is certain that what he purchased is not tithed, he is obligated to tithe it due to the fact that it is certain that it is untithed produce.
וְהֵן עַצְמָן מוּתָּרִין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן תַּעֲרוֹבֶת.
And they themselves, the gravy, aluntit, grist, and groats that one purchased from an am ha’aretz, are permitted, because they are a mixture. Since only one element of the mixture must be tithed, the food is permitted.
וְלֹא גָּזְרוּ עַל תַּעֲרוֹבֶת דְּמַאי? וְהָתַנְיָא: הַנּוֹתֵן לִשְׁכֶנְתּוֹ עִיסָּה לֶאֱפוֹת, וּקְדֵירָה לְבַשֵּׁל – אֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ לִשְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין שֶׁבָּהּ, לֹא מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִיעִית וְלֹא מִשּׁוּם מַעֲשֵׂר.
The Gemara asks: And is it so that the Sages did not issue a decree on a mixture containing demai? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: With regard to one who gives his neighbor, who is an am ha’aretz, dough to bake and gives her leaven for the dough to rise, or gives her a pot of food and the spices to cook in it, he need not be concerned about the leaven and the spices that are in the dough and the pot respectively, that perhaps she replaced them with her own, neither with regard to the possibility that they are Sabbatical Year produce nor with regard to the possibility that tithe was not separated.
וְאִם אָמַר לָהּ: ״עֲשִׂי לִי מִשֶּׁלִּיכִי״, חוֹשֵׁשׁ לִשְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין שֶׁבָּהּ מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִיעִית וּמִשּׁוּם מַעֲשֵׂר.
And if he says to her: Prepare the dough or the food for me with your own leaven and spices, he must be concerned about the leaven and the spices that are in the dough and the pot respectively, with regard to the possibility that they are Sabbatical Year produce and with regard to the possibility that tithe was not separated, even though it is a mixture containing demai.
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּכֵיוָן דְּקָאָמַר לַהּ ״עֲשִׂי לִי מִשֶּׁלִּיכִי״, כְּמַאן דְּעָרֵיב בְּיָדַיִם דְּמֵי. רַפְרָם אָמַר: שָׁאנֵי שְׂאוֹר וְתַבְלִין, דִּלְטַעְמָא עֲבִיד, וְטַעְמָא לָא בָּטֵיל.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, as, since he said to her: Prepare the dough or the food for me from your own, it is like one who mixed it by direct action. Rafram said: Leaven and spices are different, as each of them is made for the purpose of adding taste to the mixture, and taste is not nullified in a mixture.
וּלְחַלּוֹפֵי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתְנַן: הַנּוֹתֵן לַחֲמוֹתוֹ – מְעַשֵּׂר אֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן לָהּ וְאֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֵל מִמֶּנָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲשׁוּדָהּ מַחְלֶפֶת הַמִּתְקַלְקֵל! הָתָם כִּדְתַנְיָא טַעְמָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה: רוֹצֶה הִיא בְּתַקָּנַת בִּתָּהּ וּבוֹשָׁה מֵחֲתָנָהּ.
The Gemara asks: And are we not concerned about replacement of the ingredients that he gave his neighbor with her own? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 3:6): One who gives dough to his mother-in-law, who is suspect with regard to tithing, so that she will prepare it for him, must tithe everything that he gives her and everything that he takes back from her. This is because she is suspected of replacing an ingredient that spoils. The Gemara answers: There, the reason is like it is taught explicitly in that mishna, that Rabbi Yehuda said: The mother-in-law desires her daughter’s well-being and wants to ensure that she eats quality food, and is reticent to tell her son-in-law that she replaced the ingredients that spoiled.
וּלְעָלְמָא לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתְנַן: הַנּוֹתֵן לַפּוּנְדָּקִית שֶׁלּוֹ – מְעַשֵּׂר אֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן לָהּ וְאֵת שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֵל הֵימֶנָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲשׁוּדָהּ מַחְלֶפֶת! הָתָם נָמֵי מוֹרְיָא וְאָמְרָה: בַּר בֵּי רַב לֵיכוֹל חַמִּימָא, וַאֲנָא אֵיכוֹל קָרִירָא.
The Gemara asks: And in general, in a case not involving one’s mother-in-law, are we not concerned about the possibility of replacement? But didn’t we learn in a mishna (Demai 3:5): One who gives dough or a pot of food to his innkeeper [pundakit] who is an am ha’aretz to bake or cook, tithes what he gives her and tithes what he takes back from her, due to the fact that she is suspected of replacing the ingredients? The Gemara answers: There too, her intentions are good, as the innkeeper rationalizes her deception and says: Let the student of Torah eat my hot food and I will eat his cold food.
וּלְחַלּוֹפֵי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן? וְהָתַנְיָא: אֵשֶׁת חָבֵר טוֹחֶנֶת עִם אֵשֶׁת עַם הָאָרֶץ בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה, אֲבָל לֹא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְהוֹרָה.
The Gemara asks: And are we not concerned about replacement of the ingredients? But isn’t it taught in a baraita: The wife of a ḥaver, one devoted to the meticulous observance of mitzvot, especially the halakhot of ritual purity, teruma, and tithes, grinds grain with the wife of an am ha’aretz when the wife of the ḥaver is ritually impure with the impurity of a menstruating woman. In that case, there is no concern that she will eat her counterpart’s untithed produce, as, since she is impure she will refrain from touching the grain so that she will not render it impure. But she may not do so when she is ritually pure, due to the concern that she will eat the untithed produce.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: אַף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא טְמֵאָה לֹא תִּטְחוֹן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲבֶירְתָּהּ נוֹתֶנֶת לָהּ וְאוֹכֶלֶת.
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Even when she is impure, the wife of the ḥaver may not grind grain together with the wife of the am ha’aretz, due to the fact that her counterpart gives her grain and she eats it without touching the rest of the grain.
הַשְׁתָּא מִיגְזָל גָּזְלָה, חַלּוֹפֵי מִיבַּעְיָא? אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: הָתָם נָמֵי מוֹרְיָא וְאָמְרָה ״תּוֹרָא מִדְּיָשֵׁיהּ קָאָכֵיל״.
The Gemara infers: Now that there is suspicion that the wife of the am ha’aretz steals from her husband’s grain and gives it to her counterparts, is it necessary to say that she is suspect with regard to replacing ingredients? Rav Yosef said: There too there are special circumstances, as the wife of the am ha’aretz rationalizes her behavior and says metaphorically: The ox eats from its threshing, and believes that the wife of the ḥaver is entitled to some of the grain that she is grinding.
הֵעִיד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן זֵרוּז, בֶּן חָמִיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, לִפְנֵי רַבִּי עַל רַבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁאָכַל עָלֶה שֶׁל יָרָק בְּבֵית שְׁאָן, וְהִתִּיר רַבִּי אֶת בֵּית שְׁאָן כּוּלָּהּ עַל יָדוֹ.
§ The Gemara resumes its discussion of the statement that the righteous would not experience mishaps. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Zeruz, son of the father-in-law of Rabbi Meir, testified before Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi about Rabbi Meir that he ate the leaf of a vegetable in Beit She’an without tithing or separating teruma, as he holds that Beit She’an is not part of Eretz Yisrael and therefore is not sacred with its sanctity. And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi permitted all the produce of Beit She’an on the basis of his testimony.
חָבְרוּ עָלָיו אֶחָיו וּבֵית אָבִיו, אָמְרוּ לוֹ: מָקוֹם שֶׁאֲבוֹתֶיךָ וַאֲבוֹת אֲבוֹתֶיךָ נָהֲגוּ בּוֹ אִיסּוּר, אַתָּה תִּנְהוֹג בּוֹ הֶיתֵּר?
His brothers and his father’s household united against him and said to him: In a place where your fathers and the fathers of your fathers treated untithed produce as forbidden, will you treat it as permitted?
דְּרַשׁ לָהֶן מִקְרָא זֶה: ״וְכִתַּת נְחַשׁ הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה כִּי עַד הַיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה הָיוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקַטְּרִים לוֹ וַיִּקְרָא לוֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּן״. אֶפְשָׁר בָּא אָסָא וְלֹא בִּיעֲרוֹ, בָּא יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְלֹא בִּיעֲרוֹ? וַהֲלֹא כׇּל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אָסָא וִיהוֹשָׁפָט בִּיעֲרוּם!
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi interpreted this verse to them: “And he broke in pieces the copper serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan” (II Kings 18:4). Is it possible that they burned incense to it and Asa, a righteous king, came and did not eradicate it, and Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, came and did not eradicate it, and it remained until the time of Hezekiah? But didn’t Asa and Jehoshaphat eradicate all objects of idol worship in the world?
