Avodah Zarah 69a

עבודה זרה ס״ט ע״א

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Topic

How much liquid cancels a forbidden mouse (the rule of sixty), and when wine left with a נכרי becomes forbidden.

Overview

The גמרא finishes its discussion of a mouse that fell into a drink. It asks about vinegar, and רב אשי rejects a proof from רב כהנא's ruling because that mouse had fallen apart. רבינא suggests that 101 times the mouse's size cancels it, like תרומה, but רב תחליפא בר גיזא compares it to strong-tasting spices. רב אחאי gives 50 for vinegar and רב שמואל בריה דרב איקא gives 60 for beer. The הלכה is 60 for both, and for all Torah prohibitions. Then a new משנה teaches when wine left with a נכרי becomes forbidden as יין נסך. The test in its cases is whether the נכרי expects the ישראל back at any moment, and how long an announced absence must be. The גמרא explains 'presumed to be watched' with a ברייתא about workers carrying pure items. It asks why the two halves of that ברייתא differ, and רבא's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. QuestionWhat if the mouse fell into vinegar?
2. ProofA story from רב כהנא's house
3. RejectionThat mouse had fallen apart
4. Statementרבינא measures at 101, like תרומה
5. RejectionMaybe it is like spices of תרומה
6. Statement50 for vinegar, 60 for beer
7. ConclusionThe הלכה: sixty for everything
8. StatementA נכרי carrying wine barrels together with a ישראל
9. StatementWine left on a wagon or ship while the owner takes a shortcut
10. StatementLeaving a non-Jew alone in a shop
11. StatementWine on the table versus wine on the side table
12. StatementOpen barrels versus sealed barrels
13. QuestionWhat does 'presumed to be watched' mean?
14. ResponseThe ברייתא about workers carrying pure items
15. ChallengeWhy do the two halves of the ברייתא differ?
16. Resolutionרב יצחק: the workers were purified for this job
17. ChallengeThen the second half should be pure too
18. ResolutionAn עם הארץ does not avoid others' touch
19. ChallengeThen the first half should be impure too
20. Resolutionרבא steps in to answer the challenge