Avodah Zarah 34b

עבודה זרה ל״ד ע״ב

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Topic

Gentile wine items, fish brine, the cheese of בית אונייקי, and the dung of forbidden animals

Overview

This amud first finishes a list of gentile wine items, such as canteens, grape pits and dark jugs, that become permitted after twelve months. Next the גמרא discusses מורייס, a fish brine that gentiles sometimes mixed with wine. Brine made by a professional is permitted, but only for the first two batches, because after that wine is added to make up for the missing fish oil. A story about רבי אבא guarding a boat of brine in עכו shows that the worry exists only where adding wine makes money. Then ריש לקיש explains that the cheese of בית אונייקי is forbidden because most calves there are slaughtered for עבודה זרה. The גמרא works out why 'most' is needed: a minority of a minority does not worry even רבי מאיר. ריש לקיש then defends his ruling against a charge that he contradicts himself. Finally, רב rules that קידושין with the dung of a שור הנסקל works, but with the dung of idolatrous calves it does not. The גמרא supports this with logic and with a פסוק, and רבא begins to show that the משנה hints at both rulings, a proof that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementArab canteens are permitted after twelve months
2. StatementAramean grape pits are permitted after twelve months
3. StatementBrown and black jugs are permitted after twelve months
4. StatementFish brine made by a professional is permitted
5. StatementA professional's חילק is also permitted
6. StatementOnly the first two batches are permitted
7. QuestionWhy is the third batch different?
8. ResponseLess fish oil means wine may be added
9. Statementרבי אבא places guards on a boat of fish brine
10. ChallengeWho guarded it until now?
11. ResolutionBefore now, wine was too expensive to add
12. ChallengeMaybe the boat passed through צור
13. ResolutionThe צור route was blocked
14. StatementWhy the cheese of בית אונייקי is forbidden
15. ChallengeWhy mention a majority if a minority is enough?
16. ResolutionA majority of calves is a minority of all animals
17. ResolutionA minority of calves is a minority of a minority
18. Challengeרבי שמעון בר אליקים challenges ריש לקיש
19. StatementThe source: רבי יוחנן forbids an animal slaughtered with intent for a later idolatrous act
20. Proofריש לקיש permits the animal, so he seems to contradict himself
21. Resolutionריש לקיש: in בית אונייקי the slaughter itself is the act of worship
22. Statementרב's ruling on betrothing with the dung of a stoned ox or of idolatrous calves
23. ProofThe logical reason: the idol worshipper values the animal's bulk
24. ProofThe verse-based source: 'nothing shall cling' versus 'its flesh'
25. Proofרבא: both rulings are hinted in the משנה's back-and-forth