Avodah Zarah 7a

עבודה זרה ז׳ ע״א

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Topic

רב יוסף's objection to רב הונא's ruling like רבי יהודה, and other rulings like רבי יהושע בן קרחה

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the dispute between רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה about a dyer who dyed wool differently than the owner asked. רב יוסף turns his face away from רב הונא, who had ruled like רבי יהושע בן קרחה and like רבי יהודה. The גמרא explains why: the ruling like רבי יהושע בן קרחה was needed, but the ruling like רבי יהודה seems obvious. The rule is that a מחלוקת followed by a later סתם משנה is decided like the סתם, and בבא מציעא has a סתם matching רבי יהודה. רב הונא answers that the order of the משנה cannot be trusted between two מסכתות. רב יוסף holds that all of נזיקין is one מסכת, or that the ruling is stated as a fixed הלכה. The גמרא then brings more rulings like רבי יהושע בן קרחה: one may hint to a friend on שבת about working together that evening. And when two equal חכמים disagree, one is strict in Torah law and lenient in rabbinic law. Last, a ברייתא asks whether people who lost their trusted status are accepted back after they repent, and a second version of רבי יהודה's view continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. Statementרבי מאיר and רבי יהודה on the dyer who changed the job
2. Challengeרב יוסף turns away, though the first ruling makes sense
3. ChallengeWhy say the halacha follows רבי יהודה? It is obvious
4. ProofThe dispute is in בבא קמא, the unattributed ruling in בבא מציעא
5. ResolutionDefending רב הונא: the משנה is not in order
6. ChallengeThen every case should be 'no order'
7. Resolution'No order' only applies between two מסכתות
8. Resolutionרב יוסף: all of נזיקין is one מסכת
9. ResolutionAnother reason: the ruling sits among fixed הלכות
10. StatementHinting to a friend about working together tonight
11. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רבי יהושע בן קרחה
12. StatementOnce a Sage rules strictly, you may not shop for another Sage
13. StatementWhen two Sages disagree: follow the greater one, otherwise be strict
14. Statementרבי יהושע בן קרחה: strict in Torah law, lenient in rabbinic law
15. Conclusionרב יוסף rules like רבי יהושע בן קרחה
16. Statementרבי מאיר: people who lost their trust are never accepted back
17. Statementרבי יהודה: private repentance is not accepted, public repentance is
18. StatementAnother version: if they sinned in private, they are accepted