Uncategorized – Page 18 – 2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day.

Avodah Zarah 57

Today’s daf asks if we can derive benefit from wine a gentile touched of it’s certain that they did not touch it for the purposes of offering it to an idol. And it gets feisty! Gemara relates: There was a certain incident in Meḥoza in which a gentile came and entered the store of a Jew. The gentile said to the owners: Do youContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 57”

Avodah Zarah 56

A shock on the daf!!! The rabbis don’t know the law and so they ask…. a 6 year old boy!! , There was a certain outstanding child who learned the tractate of Avoda Zara when he was six years old. People raised a dilemma to him: What is the halakha? Is it permitted to tread on grapes in the winepress together with the gentile? The child said to them: One may tread on grapes in the winepress together with theContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 56”

Avodah Zarah 55

There is a Church here in Miami, El Rey Jesús. It’s a mega-church and they do faith healings. People will approach the stage and share their maladies and some will walk, dance, many will faint. Apparently, this is nothing new. On the daf we read: Zunin said to Rabbi Akiva: Both my heart and your heart knowContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 55”

Avodah Zarah 54

We don’t always here from those who challenge Jewish thought and believe on the daf, but today we do! A certain philosopher asked Rabban Gamliel: It is written in your Torah with regard to the prohibition against idol worship: “For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). For whatContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 54”

Avodah Zarah 53

In the 80s, if you called someone a “nimrod” you were basically calling them an idiot. But, Nimrod, is a biblical figure. Great-grandson of Noah, son of Cush, and leader of the people after the flood. According to Legend, the man who commissioned the building of the Tower of Babel. On our daf today, itContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 53”

Avodah Zarah 52

Is this chapter really about idol worship? Bowing down to idols? Or maybe something a little more common . . . like corruption? Reish Lakish says: Anyone who appoints over the community a judge who is unfit for the position, due to his lack of knowledge or wickedness, is considered as though he plants anContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 52”

Avodah Zarah 51

Want to visit Turkish baths or Japanese gardens on vacation, but scared you’re supporting idol worship? Well, today’s daf should help you. MISHNA: In the case of an object of idol worship that had a garden or a bathhouse, one may derive benefit from them when it is not to the advantage of the idolContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 51”

Avodah Zarah 50

It’s not everyday the Talmud has me thinking about Jesus. It’s not everyday the rabbis of the Talmud use their slang. But today, the rabbis’ slang has me thinking about Jesus. Exhibit a: a rabbi is so scrupulous they refer to him as “The son of holy ones” The Gemara relates: The house of KingContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 50”

Avodah Zarah 49

While I was in rabbinical school, I was dual enrolled in the Jewish Educator program. In the program we were taught that kids who are actively being brought up both Jewish and another faith were being damaged by their parents. We talked about the “hypothetical” situation of a child who goes to CCD (Catholic CommunionContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 49”

Avodah Zarah 48

For some reson this image is really staying in my mind after reading the daf. Which tree is assumed to be an ashera, even without specific knowledge that it was worshipped? Rav says: Any tree that gentile priests sit beneath and do not taste of its fruits, as they apparently consider the fruits consecrated toContinue reading “Avodah Zarah 48”