Avodah Zarah 33a

עבודה זרה ל״ג ע״א

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Topic

Business with those going to or from idol festivals and fairs, and making gentile wine containers usable

Overview

The amud opens by explaining that a Jew coming back from an idol festival (תרפות) is a problem because he has become attached to it and will go again. רב אשי limits a ברייתא that forbids him even on the way there to a מומר, who will surely go. A second ברייתא about a fair (יריד) permits business with a גוי both ways, but forbids it with a Jew on the way back, because his trip shows he went to sell idol items. ריש לקיש then limits the משנה's permission for those returning from a festival to people who are not traveling as a group. The גמרא turns to gentile wineskins: רב פפא and רב זביד each explain a ברייתא about a גוי tarring them, and רב אשי rejects רב פפי's extension to wine thrown into salt. A story about רב יצחק בר יוסף teaches that wineskins can be made usable by soaking them in water for three days, changing the water every twenty-four hours. This method works for ours and theirs, and for wineskins and jugs alike. A final ברייתא sums up the rules for gentile jugs, and a new question is opened that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementWhy a Jew coming back from an idol festival is a problem
2. ChallengeA ברייתא forbids business with a Jew even on the way there
3. Resolutionרב אשי: the ברייתא is about a מומר
4. StatementA ברייתא about going to a fair
5. QuestionWhy is the Jew forbidden on the way back?
6. ResponseHe probably sold idol items
7. ChallengeWhy not say the same about the גוי?
8. ResolutionA gentile probably sold ordinary goods
9. ChallengeWhy not assume the same about the Jew?
10. ResolutionA Jew could have sold ordinary goods at home
11. StatementThose coming back are permitted only if not traveling together
12. StatementA ברייתא about gentile wineskins
13. ChallengeWhat does the watching Jew help?
14. Resolutionרב פפא: A Jew put the wine in
15. ChallengeWhy need a second Jew if a Jew pours the wine?
16. ResolutionThe pourer may be too busy to notice
17. Resolutionרב זביד: the גוי pours, but it is like splashing water into mud
18. Statementרב פפי: wine a גוי throws into a Jew's salt is permitted
19. Rejectionרב אשי: the cases are not alike
20. StatementA גוי seizes רב יצחק בר יוסף's wineskins
21. ResponseFill them with water for three days
22. Statementרבא: change the water every twenty-four hours
23. StatementFirst assumption: the water method only works for our wineskins
24. Rejectionרבין reports: the method works for both ours and theirs
25. Statementרב אחא suggests the method only works for leather wineskins
26. Rejectionרב אשי: wineskins and jugs are the same
27. StatementA ברייתא on gentile jugs: new, old, and how to use them
28. QuestionThe גמרא opens a new question