Avodah Zarah 73b

עבודה זרה ע״ג ע״ב

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Topic

Mixtures of forbidden and permitted food: the order of falling in, the principle of רואין, and when the same kind forbids with any amount (טבל and יין נסך).

Overview

The גמרא brings a disagreement about a mixture of permitted wine, water, and forbidden wine. חזקיה says it depends on which wine fell in last, and רבי יוחנן says the mixture is permitted either way. רבי ירמיה suggests this matches the dispute between רבי אליעזר and the חכמים about two leavens in a dough. The גמרא rejects that suggestion using אביי's explanation of רבי אליעזר. Instead, it says the two disagree about רואין, whether we treat the permitted wine as if it isn't there. It then proves that רבי יוחנן finally ruled that we do. Next the גמרא turns to the משנה's rule: the same kind forbids with any amount, and a different kind forbids only by giving taste. רב and שמואל apply this rule to all Torah prohibitions, while רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש apply the strict same-kind rule only to טבל and יין נסך, and each side has a supporting ברייתא. Finally the גמרא explains why טבל is strict: just as one grain of תרומה permits a whole heap, a tiny bit of טבל forbids a mixture of its own kind.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. Statementחזקיה: it depends on which wine came last
2. Statementרבי יוחנן: permitted even if the forbidden wine came last
3. QuestionIs this the same argument as רבי אליעזר and the רבנן?
4. ProofThe משנה about two leavens that together made dough rise
5. ProofThe two opinions in the leaven משנה
6. Challengeאביי's reading leaves חזקיה matching no one
7. ResolutionThey really argue about רואין
8. ChallengeDoes רבי יוחנן really hold of רואין?
9. ResolutionAt first he didn't answer, but later he did
10. ProofA report proves רבי יוחנן ruled that we ignore the permitted wine
11. StatementThe משנה's rule: same kind with any amount, different kind with taste
12. Statementרב and שמואל apply this rule to all Torah prohibitions
13. QuestionWhat does 'this is the rule' come to add?
14. ResponseIt includes all Torah prohibitions
15. Statementרבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש: most prohibitions need taste, except two
16. ResponseFor רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש, 'this is the rule' adds טבל
17. StatementEach side has a supporting ברייתא
18. ProofThe ברייתא that matches רב and שמואל
19. ProofThe ברייתא that matches רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש
20. QuestionWhy is טבל an exception?
21. ResponseForbidding works the same way as permitting
22. ProofA ברייתא: טבל is strict only with its own kind