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Avodah Zarah 35a

עבודה זרה ל״ה ע״א

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Topic

Why gentile cheese is forbidden: lessons from the משנה's dialogue, why the reason was kept hidden, and the reasons given by רבי יהושע בן לוי, רבי חנינא and שמואל

Overview

This amud continues the גמרא's discussion of the משנה where רבי ישמעאל asks רבי יהושע why gentile cheese is forbidden. First the גמרא learns two rules from their talk. The stomach contents of animals forbidden for benefit are permitted, but the stomach contents of עבודה זרה animals are forbidden. It then asks why רבי יהושע did not answer that the forbidden part is not noticeable, as with מורייס. The answer is that rennet, which makes the cheese set, counts as if it is really there. Next the גמרא explains the פסוק 'כי טובים דודיך מיין' and why רבי יהושע used it as a hint to stop asking: the ban was a new גזירה, and its reason was kept quiet for a year. רבי יהושע בן לוי says the real reason was ניקור (snake venom), and רבי ירמיה attacks this. רבי חנינא and שמואל then give other reasons. The גמרא challenges שמואל from his own words about a נבילה's stomach, and it begins to resolve this at the end of the amud.

Opening lines

מִכְּלָל דְּאִיסּוּרֵי הֲנָאָה

We learn by inference that animals forbidden for benefit

שָׁרוּ פִּרְשַׁיְיהוּ.

their stomach contents are permitted.

וּמִדְּקָאָמַר לֵיהּ

And from the fact that he said to him

מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין אוֹתָהּ

because they curdle it

The steps (22)

  1. ConclusionStomach contents of animals forbidden for benefit are permitted
  2. ConclusionStomach contents of idolatrous animals are forbidden
  3. ChallengeWhy didn't רבי יהושע say the forbidden part isn't noticeable?
  4. ProofProof from fish brine (מורייס)
  5. ResolutionRennet that firms the cheese counts as a real forbidden item
  6. QuestionWhat does the verse 'For your love is better than wine' mean?
  7. ResponseThe words of the חכמים are sweeter than the wine of the תורה
  8. QuestionWhy did רבי יהושע pick this particular verse?
  9. ResponseThe start of the verse hints: keep your lips closed
  10. QuestionWhy did רבי ישמעאל have to stop asking?
  11. ResponseIt was a new decree, so people should not pick at it
  12. QuestionWhat was the real reason for the decree?
  13. ResponseThe reason was the fear of snake venom (ניקור)
  14. ChallengeWhy not just tell him the reason?
  15. ResolutionNew decrees were not explained for a year
  16. Challengeרבי ירמיה attacks the snake-venom reason
  17. Statementרבי חנינא: drops of milk remain
  18. Statementשמואל: curdled in a נבילה's stomach skin
  19. ChallengeDoes שמואל really permit the stomach contents?
  20. QuestionRecalling an old question: isn't a גוי's slaughter already a נבילה?
  21. Challengeשמואל himself said the stomach contents are forbidden
  22. ResolutionThe גמרא says the contradiction is not difficult