Avodah Zarah 55b

עבודה זרה נ״ה ע״ב

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Topic

The end of the משנה on helping with wine and bread made in טומאה, and רב הונא's rule that flowing wine can become יין נסך, defended through the earlier and later versions of the law.

Overview

The משנה finishes its rules about helping with wine-making. You may not harvest grapes with a נכרי, and you may not tread or harvest with a Jew who makes his wine in טומאה. You may carry barrels to and from the press with that Jew. A baker who works in טומאה follows the same pattern: no kneading or shaping, but carrying the finished bread is allowed. The גמרא then brings רב הונא, who says that once wine starts to flow, a נכרי's touch can make it יין נסך. Two challenges from our משנה are answered by saying it is talking about a plugged, full press where nothing flows. A third challenge, that the wine outside the pit is permitted, cannot be answered that way. So רב הונא says our משנה follows an earlier ruling, while his rule follows the later one. A ברייתא proves this: at first the חכמים allowed treading with a נכרי, but later they forbade it because of רב הונא's concern.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. StatementNo harvesting grapes with a non-Jew
2. StatementA Jew who makes his wine in impurity
3. StatementA baker who makes his bread in impurity
4. StatementWine counts once it starts to flow
5. ChallengeChallenge from buying a trodden press
6. ResolutionThe press was plugged and full
7. ChallengeChallenge: not forbidden until it reaches the pit
8. ResolutionAgain, a plugged and full press
9. ChallengeThe משנה says the rest of the wine is permitted
10. ResolutionEarlier version versus later version
11. ProofThe earlier ruling: treading with a נכרי was allowed
12. ConclusionThe later ruling: treading with a נכרי was forbidden