Avodah Zarah 59b

עבודה זרה נ״ט ע״ב

Learn Avodah Zarah 59b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Avodah Zarah 59b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Wine and a גוי's touch: bringing grapes, the אתרוג in the barrel, payment for wine a גוי deliberately made forbidden, and a גוי plugging a leaking barrel

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a debate between רב כהנא and רב יימר about letting a גוי bring grapes to the winepress. A ברייתא permits grapes a גוי brought, but רב כהנא answers that he was talking about לכתחילה, not after the fact. Next, an אתרוג falls into a barrel of wine. רב אשי tells the people to hold the גוי's hand still so he doesn't stir the wine, and to pour the wine off. רב אשי then rules that if a גוי deliberately makes a Jew's wine into יין נסך, the wine may not be sold, but the Jew may collect its value from that גוי, as if the גוי had burned it. He proves this from a ברייתא: he follows the תנא קמא that the wine is forbidden, and draws on the idea that the גוי acted against the owner's will. Finally, a גוי plugs a leaking barrel with his hand, and רב פפא rules that the wine next to the opening is forbidden. His ruling continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (7)

1. ChallengeEnd of the ברייתא: grapes in small barrels are permitted
2. Resolutionרב כהנא answers: I was talking about לכתחילה
3. StatementThe אתרוג that fell into a barrel of wine
4. StatementA Jew may collect payment from a גוי who deliberately made his wine יין נסך
5. Proofרב אשי brings his source: a ברייתא about a גוי who poured a Jew's wine
6. ProofThe two reasons: no offering without an idol, and 'you can't forbid my wine against my will'
7. StatementA gentile plugs a leaking barrel with his hand