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Avodah Zarah 16b

עבודה זרה ט״ז ע״ב

Learn Avodah Zarah 16b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Selling large wild animals to non-Jews, tracing who first said the פירכוס rule, which basilicas may be built, and רבי אליעזר's arrest for מינות

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the rejection of a proof for רב חנן בר רבא, who allowed selling a large wild animal to non-Jews. One answer says the משנה's lion is a maimed lion, following רבי יהודה. רב אשי says instead that an ordinary lion counts as maimed for work. A ברייתא then refutes רב חנן בר רבא, and the גמרא retells the discussion as רבינא's contradiction between the משנה and that ברייתא. רב נחמן then objects: who says a lion even counts as a large wild animal? רב אשי's close reading of the משנה refutes רב חנן בר רבא anyway, and wild donkeys turning millstones show that large wild animals can really work. Next, רבי זירא tells how he traced the rule that a חיה גסה is like a בהמה דקה for פירכוס back through a full chain of names to רב. The גמרא then explains the משנה's ban on building a בסילקי, with two versions of רבא. Finally, a ברייתא tells how רבי אליעזר was arrested for מינות, acquitted, and stayed troubled; רבי עקיבא's suggestion to him continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה.

And this follows the view of רבי יהודה.

רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר:

רב אשי said:

סְתָם אֲרִי שָׁבוּר הוּא

An ordinary lion is maimed

אֵצֶל מְלָאכָה.

with regard to work.

The steps (33)

  1. RejectionThe proof fails: the lion in the משנה is maimed, following רבי יהודה
  2. Rejectionרב אשי: an ordinary lion counts as maimed for work
  3. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids selling large wild animals
  4. Conclusionרב חנן בר רבא is refuted
  5. Statementרבינא's version begins: he quotes the משנה
  6. StatementInference from the משנה: harmless animals may be sold
  7. ChallengeThe ברייתא contradicts the inference
  8. ResolutionResolution: the משנה speaks of a maimed lion, following רבי יהודה
  9. Resolutionרב אשי's alternative: any ordinary lion counts as maimed for work
  10. ChallengeIs a lion really a large wild animal?
  11. Statementרב אשי reads the משנה: no damage means selling is allowed
  12. ChallengeLions are allowed only because they can't work
  13. Conclusionרב חנן בר רבא is refuted
  14. QuestionWhat work can a large wild animal do?
  15. ResponseWild donkeys turning millstones
  16. Statementרב יהודה teaches a rule about large wild animals but forgets who said it
  17. ProofIn קורקוניא, the rule is heard in שמואל's name
  18. ProofIn סורא, the rule is heard in רב's name too
  19. StatementIn ארץ ישראל, רב אסי quotes the rule through רב חמא בר גוריא
  20. Challengeרבי זירא asks why רבה בר ירמיה is not mentioned
  21. Resolutionרב אסי answers: put our two reports together
  22. ConclusionThe full chain of names is stated
  23. StatementThree types of basilica
  24. StatementTwo types permitted, one forbidden
  25. StatementAnother version: all three permitted
  26. ChallengeThe משנה forbids basilicas
  27. ResolutionRead it as a basilica of a tribunal
  28. Statementרבי אליעזר brought to trial for heresy
  29. Response'The Judge is trustworthy to me'
  30. ConclusionThe officer acquits רבי אליעזר
  31. Statementרבי אליעזר refuses to be comforted
  32. Questionרבי עקיבא asks permission to speak
  33. Statementרבי עקיבא suggests heresy once came before him