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Avodah Zarah 31a

עבודה זרה ל״א ע״א

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Topic

Wine left in a gentile's care: deposits, seals, double seals, and sealed barrels of כותים

Overview

This amud continues a ברייתא about non-Jewish wine. Ordinary gentile wine (סתם יינם) is forbidden for any benefit. Wine a Jew left with a gentile is forbidden to drink but permitted for benefit. The גמרא tests that middle ruling from both sides. It first sets the case where the gentile set aside a special corner. Then it brings בר קפרא's ברייתא, taught to רבי יוחנן by רבי תנחום of פרוד, which permits even drinking. רבי זירא explains that the two sources reflect a מחלוקת between רבי אליעזר and רבנן about wine locked or sealed in a gentile's courtyard, and the הלכה follows רבי אליעזר. רבי אלעזר and רבי יוחנן then argue whether one seal, or a double seal, protects wine, and רבא shows what counts as a seal within a seal. Finally, a ברייתא tells how the חכמים came to permit sealed barrels of כותים wine. The amud ends as the גמרא begins to challenge that ruling, with the contradicting source coming on the next amud.

Opening lines

סְתָם יֵינָם —

Their ordinary wine (of gentiles)

אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה,

is forbidden for benefit,

וּמְטַמֵּא טוּמְאַת מַשְׁקִין בִּרְבִיעִית.

and it makes things impure with the impurity of liquids, when there is a quarter-log.

הַמַּפְקִיד יֵינוֹ אֵצֶל גּוֹי —

One who deposits his wine with a gentile:

The steps (20)

  1. StatementOrdinary gentile wine is forbidden for benefit and carries impurity
  2. StatementWine a Jew left with a gentile is forbidden to drink but allowed for benefit
  3. ChallengeA משנה treats deposited produce as the gentile's own
  4. ResolutionThe gentile set aside a special corner for the wine
  5. ChallengeIf so, drinking should be permitted too
  6. Proofבר קפרא's teaching permits drinking
  7. Statementרבי יוחנן praises the student with the פסוק of the fallen tree
  8. Resolutionרבי זירא: the two sources follow different תנאים
  9. ProofThe ברייתא about a house in a gentile's courtyard
  10. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי אליעזר
  11. StatementIs one seal enough to protect wine?
  12. Resolutionרבי אלעזר and רבי יוחנן follow the תנאים
  13. StatementA second version: the argument is about a double seal
  14. ResolutionBoth opinions follow רבנן
  15. QuestionWhat counts as a seal within a seal?
  16. Responseרבא's examples of a double seal
  17. StatementThe חכמים changed their ruling on wine from certain towns
  18. QuestionWhy did the ruling change?
  19. Responseכותים do guard their sealed barrels
  20. ChallengeAre sealed barrels really permitted?