Avodah Zarah 25b

עבודה זרה כ״ה ע״ב

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Topic

Being alone (יחוד) with גוים: the concern of עריות for a woman, and safety rules against שפיכות דמים for a man traveling with a גוי

Overview

This amud first settles which case the משנה means when it forbids a woman from being alone with גוים. It is a case of three גוים where the man's wife is also there, because a Jew's wife guards him but a גוי's wife does not. The גמרא then asks why the משנה gives עריות as the reason and not the danger of שפיכות דמים. רבי ירמיה answers that she is an important woman whom they are afraid to kill. רב אידי answers that a woman's being a woman protects her from being killed. The גמרא shows where these two answers differ, and brings a ברייתא that supports רב אידי. Next it turns to a man alone with גוים and gives safety rules for traveling with one: which side to keep him on, staying higher on a slope, and naming a farther destination. That last rule is learned from יעקב and עשו and shown in a story about רבי עקיבא's students. A new story about רב מנשה begins at the end and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. ResolutionThe משנה is talking about three גוים
2. ChallengeEven with Jews of loose morals, three would not be allowed
3. ResolutionThe case is when his wife is with him
4. ChallengeWhy not forbid it because of murder?
5. Resolutionרבי ירמיה: an important woman they fear to kill
6. Resolutionרב אידי: a woman carries her own protection
7. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two answers?
8. ResponseAn important woman who is not attractive
9. ProofA ברייתא supports רב אידי
10. StatementKeep a traveling companion on your right side
11. StatementIt depends on what weapon he carries
12. StatementStay higher on a slope and don't bend down
13. StatementName a farther destination
14. Proofיעקב did this with עשו
15. Proofיעקב actually went to סוכות, not שעיר
16. ProofThe students of רבי עקיבא fool the bandits
17. StatementA new story about רב מנשה begins