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Avodah Zarah 12b

עבודה זרה י״ב ע״ב

Learn Avodah Zarah 12b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Dangers in drinking water (leeches, hornets, שברירי at night), and the new משנה about decorated shops in a city with עבודה זרה

Overview

The גמרא explains that the ברייתא mentioned water-spouting פרצופות so it could add a related rule: don't drink straight from a pipe, because of danger. The danger is swallowing a leech (עלוקה), and a second ברייתא about drinking from rivers and ponds says the same. That backs up רבי חנינא, who allows heating water on שבת for someone who swallowed a leech, and a story with רבי נחמיה confirms it. While the water heats, the person should sip vinegar. רב אידי בר אבין adds that a swallowed hornet is deadly, but strong vinegar may buy time for final instructions. A ברייתא then warns against drinking water at night because of a spirit called שברירי, and gives remedies for a thirsty person. A new משנה rules that in a city with עבודה זרה, decorated shops are forbidden and plain ones permitted. ריש לקיש limits this to roses and myrtle, whose smell gives benefit, and starts bringing a פסוק as the source; the explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

פַּרְצוּפוֹת לְמָה לִי?

Why do I need the case of the faces?

מִשּׁוּם דְּקָבָעֵי לְמִיתְנֵי:

Because it wanted to teach:

כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ לֹא יַנִּיחַ פִּיו

Similarly, one should not place his mouth

עַל גַּבֵּי הַסִּילוֹן וְיִשְׁתֶּה,

on a pipe and drink,

The steps (19)

  1. QuestionWhy mention the water-spouting faces?
  2. ResponseIt leads into the rule about drinking from a pipe
  3. QuestionWhat is the danger?
  4. ResponseThe danger is a leech
  5. ProofA ברייתא about drinking from rivers and ponds
  6. ProofSupport for רבי חנינא: heating water on שבת
  7. ProofThe story with רבי נחמיה
  8. QuestionWhat should he do while waiting?
  9. ResponseDrink vinegar
  10. StatementSomeone who swallowed a hornet
  11. StatementDo not drink water at night
  12. QuestionWhat is the danger?
  13. ResponseThe danger of שברירי
  14. QuestionWhat if he is thirsty?
  15. ResponseWake a friend, or say a protective formula
  16. StatementNew משנה: decorated shops in a city with עבודה זרה
  17. Statementריש לקיש: only decorations of roses and myrtle
  18. QuestionWhy are fruit decorations permitted?
  19. ResponseThe פסוק: "nothing of the חרם shall stick to your hand"