Avodah Zarah 15a

עבודה זרה ט״ו ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 15a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Selling animals to a גוי: the worry of רביעה, and the ban on selling large animals because of work on שבת (renting, lending and testing)

Overview

The amud opens with רבי אלעזר: even where it is forbidden to leave an animal alone with a גוי, selling one to him is allowed, because a גוי protects his own animal so it will not become sterile. The גמרא adds that רב also changed his mind and agreed. It then explains the משנה's rule that large animals may never be sold to a גוי. The reason is not רביעה but the worry that the animal will be worked on שבת. The first answer is a גזירה because of lending and renting, but that is challenged on the grounds that a renter or borrower also 'acquires' the animal. רמי בריה דרב ייבא offers a new reason, 'testing': a Jew selling near sunset on ערב שבת might drive his own animal with his voice on שבת. Two אמוראים then question whether renting gives ownership, and the case of a כהן renting a cow proves that it does not. So the ban rests on all three concerns: renting, lending and testing. The amud ends with practical cases: רב אדא allows selling a donkey through a middleman, and רב הונא sells a cow, saying the buyer may want it for slaughter.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. Statementרבי אלעזר permits selling an animal even where leaving it alone is forbidden
2. QuestionWhat is the reason for רבי אלעזר's ruling?
3. ResponseA gentile protects his own animal from becoming sterile
4. Statementרב also changed his mind and agreed
5. QuestionWhy may large animals never be sold?
6. ResponseThe worry is that the animal will be made to work
7. ChallengeOnce he bought it, it is his, so let him work it
8. ResolutionA rabbinic decree because of lending and renting
9. ChallengeA borrower and a renter also acquire the animal
10. ResolutionA new reason: the animal might be tested on שבת
11. ChallengeDoes renting really give ownership? A proof from renting a house
12. Rejectionעבודה זרה is a special, stricter case
13. ChallengeA second challenge: a rented cow and תרומה feed
14. ProofThe rented cow proves that renting does not give ownership
15. ConclusionThe ban rests on renting, lending, and testing
16. Statementרב אדא allows selling a donkey through a middleman
17. Questionרב חסדא asks why רב הונא sold a cow to a גוי
18. Responseרב הונא: the buyer may want it for slaughter