Avodah Zarah 6a

עבודה זרה ו׳ ע״א

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Topic

Excluding a טריפה from the ark; how to count the three days before the gentiles' holidays; the reason for the ban on doing business with them

Overview

This amud finishes the discussion of how a טריפה is kept out of נח's ark, according to the view that a טריפה can give birth. For that view the גמרא learns it from the word 'אתך' ('with you'): the animals had to be like נח. It then shows that נח himself was whole, because otherwise הקב"ה would have told him to bring only defective animals. The words 'לחיות זרע' still teach that the animals had to be able to reproduce, which rules out old or castrated ones. Next the גמרא asks whether the משנה's 'three days' before the gentiles' holidays include the holiday itself. Proofs from רבי ישמעאל, שמואל and רבינא are pushed off or limited. רב אשי's proof from the word 'before' in the משנה is accepted: the three days do not include the holiday. Finally the גמרא asks whether the ban exists because of the gentile's profit or because of לפני עור. It begins to challenge the practical difference using a ברייתא of רבי נתן, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ChallengeWhat about the view that a טריפה can give birth?
2. ResolutionThe word 'with you' means animals like נח
3. ChallengeMaybe נח himself was a טריפה
4. Resolutionנח is called 'complete'
5. ChallengeMaybe 'complete' describes his ways
6. Resolution'Righteous' already covers his ways
7. ChallengeMaybe the two words describe two kinds of goodness
8. ResolutionLogic proves נח was whole
9. QuestionWhy do we still need 'to keep seed alive'?
10. Response'Seed' excludes animals that cannot have offspring
11. QuestionDoes the holiday count as one of the three days?
12. ProofProof from רבי ישמעאל's three days before and after
13. RejectionHe said 'three after' only to match 'three before'
14. ProofProof from שמואל: with נוצרים it is always forbidden
15. RejectionThe question was only about the רבנן
16. Proofרבינא's proof from the eight-day holiday of קלנדא
17. RejectionAll of קלנדא counts as one day
18. Proofרב אשי's proof from the wording 'before their holidays'
19. ProofBlocking a way out of רב אשי's proof
20. ConclusionConclusion: the three days do not include the holiday
21. QuestionWhy is business before their holiday forbidden?
22. ResponseThe practical difference: a gentile who already owns an animal
23. ChallengeDoes owning an animal really avoid לפני עור?