If an idol is worshipped with a stick, what acts that one would do with the stick would be considered worship? What would make that stick be considered a “tikrovet” – an offering? If one sacrifices to an idol when the typical method of worship is not sacrifice, is it forbidden? Items that are found next to the idol or on the idol, how does one determine if they are forbidden to derive benefit from them?
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If one finds rocks beside the idol Markolis (Mercury), in what case should one assume that the rocks came from the idol and would be forbidden to benefit from them? If roads are paved by non-Jews who took rocks from there, can we walk on those roads as the rocks were canceled out by the non-Jews who paved the roads with them or are these rocks considered “tikrovet avoda zara” – something used for worship which then can never be canceled? The criteria for what can be considered a tikrovet is discussed. The gemara goes off on a tangent about types of work in the field that can/can’t be done in the shemita year and on Chol Hamoed.
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Sponsored in memory of David ben Refael.
Rabbi Yosi and the rabbis debate in the mishna whether one needs to be concerned about the benefit gained from leaves falling from an ashera tree that will fertilize the crops. This is understood to be part of a broader debate about when something grows/is created from something forbidden and something permitted together, is the item created forbidden or permitted? The problem is that Rabbi Yosi’s opinion, as well as the rabbi’s opinion, doesn’t match their opinions in other situations regarding this same concept. The gemara tries to reconcile these varying sources. One cannot gain benefit from items created using wood from an ashera tree, but if one accidentally made something using this wood, could one redeem the item? How does “cancelling” out idols work? If an item breaks, do the pieces need cancelling also?
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Different aspects of the forbidden nature of the asheira tree are discussed.
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Can one benefit from a tree that was originally planted not for the purposes of idol worshipped but later used for idol worship? What about rocks that fall from a mountain – are they like the mountain and it is permitted to benefit from them or not? Items that are permitted – can one use them in the Beit Hamikdash?
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Rabbi Yosi and the rabbis debate whether or not one should (and can) crush the idol and scatter it to the wind or not? Is it considered benefitting from as it can fertilize the land? A braita is brought in which Rabbi Yosi and the rabbis debate the meaning of various verses in order to prove their opinion. Rabban Gamliel was questioned by a non-Jew why he was bathing in a bathhouse that had a statue to Aphrodite. He gave 3 answers. In the gemara it is suggested that his answer was not a real answer but a deception, however, it is then explained that it was a true answer. Four explanations are given to explain what the possible deception was and why it was actually a true answer. The next mishna discusses mountains and hills that are worshipped, what about them is forbidden to benefit from? How does an Asheira tree fit the rule? Verses from the book of Devarim are brought as proof texts for the various opinions and are explained in different ways.
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If it is forbidden to carve images in the shape of the sun and moon, how is it that Rabban Gamliel made images of the moon to use in questioning witnesses for the new moon?
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Rabbi Yochanan continues to bring several sources that seem to contradict Reish Lakish’s claim that broken pieces from an idol are permissible. Reish Lakish then brings one source to contradict Rabbi Yochanan. All the sources are resolved. The mishna discusses one who finds images with engravings of certain images. Depending on what the image is will affect whether or not one can benefit from the item – can one assume it was/was not used for idol worship? Rav Sheshet brings a braita related to the topic of the mishna and the gemara tries to figure out if the 3 cases discussed in his braita are referring to one who fashions the image or one who finds the image?
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Can one derive benefit from statues or are they forbidden as maybe they were worshipped by people? Does it depend on the type of/location/object being held by the statue? What about broken pieces of a statue? Would the same hold for broken pieces of an actual idol?
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The gemara continues to discuss the items mentioned in the mishna that come from non-Jews that cannot be eaten but it is not forbidden to benefit from them. The gemara explains what the issues surrounding each case are. Within this context, issues of who among Jews can be trusted/not trusted for kashrut and other issues (techelet – and concern over forgeries of techelet) and in what situations (to buy from/eat in their house) are discussed. The next mishna mentions items that Jews are even allowed to eat if they come from non-Jews.
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