Avodah Zarah 74b

עבודה זרה ע״ד ע״ב

Learn Avodah Zarah 74b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Making a גוי's winepress and wine vessels usable: ניגוב, קילוף, and vessels that store wine (קיום)

Overview

The משנה gives three rules for a winepress that a גוי coated with pitch. A stone press only needs cleansing (ניגוב). For a wooden press, רבי says cleansing is enough and חכמים require peeling the pitch off (קילוף). An earthenware press stays forbidden even after peeling. רבא's teaching on the משנה comes in two opposite versions about a press the גוי also trod grapes in. A story shows רב finding a hidden crack full of wine in a smooth press, so he required peeling. A ברייתא then teaches that רבי allows wiping a press, ladle and funnel, but agrees that jugs are forbidden because they hold wine for storage (קיום). The גמרא settles two clashes between the ברייתא and the משנה: one by whether the גוי trod in the press, and one by saying the end of the משנה follows חכמים. רבא rules that a wine tank must be scalded, and that anything storing wine even briefly falls under the decree. The amud ends by asking whether wiping is done with water or with ashes, and the answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementA stone winepress lined with pitch only needs cleansing
2. StatementA wooden winepress: cleansing or peeling?
3. StatementAn earthenware winepress stays forbidden
4. Statementרבא: only a press lined with pitch needs cleansing
5. ChallengeIsn't that obvious from the משנה?
6. ResolutionWithout רבא, we might think 'pitch' was just the usual case
7. StatementSecond version: if he also trod in it, cleansing is not enough
8. ChallengeAgain: isn't this obvious?
9. ResolutionOtherwise we'd think cleansing works even after treading
10. ProofA man asks רבי חייא for someone to purify his winepress
11. Statementרב first thinks cleansing is enough
12. ConclusionA hidden crack full of wine: peeling is needed
13. StatementA ברייתא: רבי permits a gentile's winepress tools by wiping, the חכמים forbid
14. Statementרבי agrees that gentiles' jugs are forbidden
15. QuestionWhy are jugs different from the press tools?
16. ResponseJugs hold wine for storage; the ladle and funnel do not
17. StatementWood and stone are wiped, but pitch-lined ones are forbidden
18. ChallengeChallenge: the משנה lets you wipe a pitch-lined stone press
19. ResolutionThe משנה is where he did not tread grapes; the ברייתא is where he did
20. StatementQuoting the ברייתא's dispute again
21. ChallengeChallenge: the משנה forbids an earthenware press even after peeling
22. Resolutionרבא: the end of the משנה follows the חכמים
23. Statementרבא: a wine tank must be scalded
24. Statementרבא sealed his empty kegs so no one could put wine in them
25. ConclusionAnything that holds wine for storage, even briefly, is under the decree
26. QuestionWhat material is used to wipe the vessels?
27. ResponseWater or ashes: two opinions
28. ChallengeDoes each one exclude the other material?