Avodah Zarah 43b

עבודה זרה מ״ג ע״ב

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Topic

Forbidden images (human face, heavenly bodies), רבן גמליאל's moon diagrams, respectable vs. disgraceful vessels, and how to destroy an idol

Overview

The גמרא works out which images a person may not make, based on the פסוקים 'לא תעשון אתי' and 'אשר בשמים'. The human face is forbidden through the reading 'לא תעשון אותי'. אביי tries to limit the ban to the beings of the highest heaven, but a ברייתא forbids making even the sun, moon and stars. The גמרא then defends רבן גמליאל's moon diagrams in several ways: others made them, he was the נשיא and always among the public, they were in pieces, or they were made in order to learn and teach. Along the way it explains the concern of חשדא with raised and sunken ring seals, and why a public place like the shul in נהרדעא is different. It then defines the 'respectable' and 'disgraceful' vessels of רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, with רב and שמואל disagreeing and a ברייתא supporting שמואל. Finally, a new משנה brings רבי יוסי's way of destroying an idol and the objection of the חכמים, and the גמרא begins רבי יוסי's answer from a פסוק, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. StatementOnly the full four-faced figure is forbidden
2. ChallengeWhy is a human face alone forbidden?
3. ResolutionThe human face has its own source: 'Do not make Me'
4. ChallengeBut a ברייתא forbids figures of the heavenly attendants
5. ResolutionOnly the attendants in the highest heaven are forbidden
6. ChallengeA ברייתא includes the sun, moon and stars
7. ResolutionThat ברייתא is about worshipping them
8. ChallengeFor worship, even a tiny worm should be listed
9. ResolutionThe tiny worm comes from the end of the same פסוק
10. ChallengeSimply making images of the heavenly bodies is also forbidden
11. Resolutionרבן גמליאל's diagrams were made by others
12. Challengeרב יהודה's ring was made by others, yet שמואל had it ruined
13. Resolutionרב יהודה's seal was raised, which looks suspicious
14. ProofA ברייתא about raised and sunken ring seals
15. ChallengeDo we really worry about suspicion? The shul in נהרדעא
16. ResolutionA public place is different
17. ChallengeBut רבן גמליאל was one private person
18. ResolutionAs נשיא, the public was always with him
19. ResolutionThe diagrams were in pieces
20. ResolutionMaking images in order to learn is allowed
21. QuestionWhat counts as respectable or disgraceful vessels?
22. Responseרב: it depends on where the image sits
23. Responseשמואל: it depends on the type of item
24. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל
25. Statementרבי יוסי: grind the idol and scatter it
26. ChallengeThe Rabbis object: the dust becomes fertilizer
27. Proofרבי יוסי begins answering with a פסוק