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Avodah Zarah 3a

עבודה זרה ג׳ ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether non-Jews are rewarded for keeping the seven מצוות בני נח, and the nations' claim against ישראל before הקדוש ברוך הוא

Overview

This amud first finishes explaining what it means that הקדוש ברוך הוא 'released' the nations from the seven מצוות בני נח. The גמרא first says it means they get no reward for keeping them. רבי מאיר teaches that a גוי who learns תורה is like a כהן גדול, so the גמרא changes its answer: they get a smaller reward, like someone who is not commanded and does it anyway, as רבי חנינא teaches. Then the גמרא goes back to the story of the future judgment. The nations ask where ישראל actually kept the תורה. They reject God and heaven and earth as witnesses, until God brings witnesses from among the nations themselves. The nations then ask for the תורה again, and God gives them the easy מצוה of סוכה, even though this world is the only time for doing מצוות. They kick their סוכות away when the sun blazes, and the גמרא begins to explain on the next amud why that heat is not unfair.

Opening lines

לוֹמַר, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמְּקַיְּימִין אוֹתָן

To say that even though they fulfill them

אֵין מְקַבְּלִין עֲלֵיהֶם שָׂכָר.

they do not receive reward for them.

וְלָא? וְהָתַנְיָא:

And they don't? But isn't it taught:

הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Meir would say:

The steps (21)

  1. ResolutionThe release means no reward
  2. ChallengeChallenge from רבי מאיר: a non-Jew learning Torah is like a כהן גדול
  3. ResolutionThey get a smaller reward, like one not commanded
  4. ChallengeThe nations ask: Where did ישראל keep the Torah?
  5. ResolutionGod offers to testify for ישראל Himself
  6. ChallengeA father cannot testify for his son
  7. ResolutionHeaven and earth will testify
  8. ChallengeHeaven and earth have a personal stake
  9. ProofCreation depended on ישראל accepting the תורה
  10. ProofThe earth was afraid and then calm
  11. ResolutionWitnesses from among the nations themselves
  12. ResolutionMore witnesses from the nations testify for Israel
  13. QuestionThe nations ask for the Torah again
  14. ResponseGod says it is too late, but offers the easy מצוה of סוכה
  15. ChallengeChallenge: מצוות can only be done in this world
  16. ResolutionGod does not deal unfairly with His creations
  17. QuestionWhy is סוכה called an easy מצוה?
  18. Responseסוכה is easy because it costs no money
  19. StatementThe nations build סוכות but kick them away in the heat
  20. ChallengeIsn't heating the sun harsh treatment?
  21. ResolutionThe Jewish people also face such times