  Dealings with Idolaters—Idolatrous Feasts—Things Not to be Sold to Idolaters—Labor with Idolaters—The Letting Out of Houses and Fields—Precautions—Things Forbidden and Things Allowed—Idols and Fragments of Idols—Hills and Groves—Houses Joined to an Idol Temple—Idolatrous Trees—Image of Mercury—Annulling Idolatry—Pagan Argument for Idolatry—Answer—Treading—Pressing—Baking—Wine of Libation—Culinary Utensils. Chapter I1. Three days before the feasts of the idolaters it is forbidden to deal with them, to lend articles to them, or to take a loan of articles from them; to make a loan of money to them, or to borrow money from them; to repay them, or to take payment from them. Rabbi Judah said, “it is allowed to take payment from them, since it is unsatisfactory to the idolater.” The (Sages) answered him, “though it is unpleasant to him now, he rejoices afterward.” 2. R. Ishmael said, “three days before and three days after their feasts it is forbidden.” But the Sages say, “before their feasts it is forbidden, after their feasts it is allowed.” 3. “And these are the feasts of the idolaters—the Kalends, and the Saturnalia, and the Quartesima, and the coronation day of their kings, and the day of their birth, and the day of their death.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “every death anniversary in which there is burning of incense,439 there is in it the worship of idols. But if there be no burning of incense there is no worship of idols.” “The day of shaving his beard and cutting his hair, the day of his disembarking from the sea, and the day of his release from prison, and the day when the heathen makes a feast for his son?” “It is not forbidden to deal with them save on this day of his feast, and with this man who keeps the feast only.” [pg 187]4. “The city in which there exists idolatry outside the city?” “It is allowed to deal with the idolaters.” “If the idolatry be outside?” “Inside it is allowed.” “How is it with going there?” “When the road directly leads to the place itself, it is forbidden; but if it be possible to go by it to another place, it is allowed.” 5. “If in the city in which there exists idolatry there be shops, some decorated with idolatrous crowns, and some without decoration?” This was the case in Bethshan; and the Sages say, “the decorated ones are forbidden for dealing, and those not decorated are allowed.” 6. These things are forbidden to be sold to idolaters—fir-cones, and the best figs, with their clusters, and incense, and the white cock. R. Judah said, “it is allowable to sell a white cock among many others. But when a man has only one, he must cut its claw before he sell it, since the heathen do not offer that which is blemished in idol worship.” And all other things for ordinary uses are allowed—but if they be declared to be for idolatry, they are forbidden. R. Meier said, “even the fine dates, and the date sap,440 and the Jericho dates, are forbidden for sale to idolaters.” 7. Where they are accustomed to sell small cattle to idolaters, they may sell them. Where they are unaccustomed to sell them, they must not sell them. And everywhere they must not sell to them the large cattle, calves, ass foals, unblemished or blemished. R. Judah allowed the broken-boned; and Benbethira allowed even horses. 8. Men must not sell to them bears or lions, or anything in which there is peril to the multitude. They must not build with them royal halls,441 judgment-seats, and stadiums,442 and bemas.443 But men may build with them altars and baths. When they reach to the arching in which they place their idol, it is forbidden to build farther. 9. And Israelites must not make decorations for idols, necklaces, and nose-rings, and rings. R. Eleazar said, “for pay it is allowed.” Men must not sell to them what is fastened to the ground. But one may sell it after it is cut down. R. Judah [pg 188] 10. “Men must not let to them buildings444 in the Land of Israel, and it is needless to say fields. But in Syria they may let to them buildings, but not fields. But out of the Land they may sell to them buildings, and may rent to them fields.” The words of R. Meier. R. JosÉ said, “in the Land of Israel men may let to them buildings, but not fields. But in Syria they may sell buildings and rent fields to them, and out of the Land they may sell both.” However, where they said to let, they did not say a dwelling-house; since a heathen can bring inside of it an idol, as it is said, “Thou shalt not bring in abomination into thy house.”445 And everywhere a man must not hire to a heathen his bath, because it is called by his name. Chapter II1. Israelites must not put cattle in the stables of idolaters, because of their evil habits. And a woman must not be alone with them, because of their evil habits. And no man should be alone with them, because they are apt to shed blood. 2. A daughter of Israel must not attend an idolatrous woman, because she helps the birth of a child for idolatry. But an idolatress may attend a daughter of Israel. A daughter of Israel must not suckle a child of an idolatress; but an idolatress may suckle a child of a daughter of Israel, under her observation. 3. “Israelites may take from them medicine to cure property; but not to cure persons. And they are not to be shaved by them anywhere.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “under public observation it is allowed, but not entirely alone.” 4. These things of the idolaters are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden; wine, and vinegar of the heathen which was at first wine, and Hadrian's mixture446 with its fragments, and hides of animals with their hearts447 (torn [pg 189] 5. These things of the idolaters are forbidden, but every [pg 190] 6. These things are allowed for eating—milk which an idolater milked, and an Israelite saw, and honey and honeycomb, even if they are dropping, as they do not contain the effect of liquor,450 and gravy into which they are not wont to put wine and vinegar, and shred thunny fish, and sauce in which there is the fish chalbith, and the leaf of the assafoetida, and olives crushed into round cakes. R. JosÉ said, “the kernels detached from the olives are forbidden.” The locusts which they bring from their baskets451 are forbidden; but those brought from their magazines are allowed. And even so is the decision for their heave-offerings. Chapter III1. “All images are forbidden, because they are worshipped once a year.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “only those are forbidden which have in their hand a staff, or bird, or ball.” R. Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “all images which have in their hand anything whatever.” 2. “If one find the broken pieces of images?” “They are allowed (for useful purposes).” “If one find the figure of a hand, or the figure of a foot?” “They are forbidden, because such as they are worshipped.” 3. “(If one find) vessels on which is the form of the sun-disk, the form of the moon, the form of a dragon?” “They are to be carried into the Salt Sea.”452 R. Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “when such forms are on precious (vessels) they are forbidden, when they are on insignificant (ones) they are allowed.” [pg 191]4. R. JosÉ said, “one must grind the image to powder and scatter it to the wind, or cast it into the sea.” The Sages said to him, “then it will make dung,” and it is said, “And there shall not cleave to thy hand aught of the accursed thing.”453 5. Proclus, the son of a philosopher, asked R. Gamaliel, in Acho,454 as he was bathing in the bath of Venus, and said to him, “it is written in thy law, ‘and there shall not cleave to thy hand aught of the accursed thing’; why dost thou bathe in the bath of Venus?” He said to him, “men do not give replies in the bath”; and when he came out he said to him, “I came not within its district; it came into my district.” They did not say, “let us make a bath to the honor of Venus, but they said, let us make Venus an honor to the bath.” Another thing: “if they gave thee money wouldst thou enter naked before thy idol, or wouldst thou do aught disgraceful in its presence? yet if it stands on a canal everyone dishonors it.” It is not said, save for their heathen gods, “that which is customary from its being a god, is forbidden, that which is not customary from its being a god, is allowed.” 6. Though idolaters worship the mountains and the hills, the mountains and the hills are allowed, but what is upon them is forbidden; as is said, “Thou shalt not covet the silver and the gold upon them to take them.”455 R. JosÉ, the Galilean, said, “their gods of the mountains, but not the mountains their gods; their gods of the hills, but not the hills their gods.” “But why are the groves forbidden?” “Because they are prepared by man's hands, and every object of idolatry which is prepared by man's hands is forbidden.” Said R. Akiba, “I will consider and decide before thee; every place in which you find a high mountain, and an elevated hill, and a flourishing tree, know that there is idolatry.” 7. “He who had a house joined to an idol, and it fell down?” “It is forbidden to rebuild it.” “What shall he do?” “He must first reduce the size of the house by four cubits, and then rebuild it.” “If the house be in common between him and the idol?” “It is decided to leave the four cubits unoccupied, as its stones, wood, and dust cause defilement like a worm, ‘Thou shalt utterly detest it.’ ”456 [pg 192]8. There are three sorts of buildings. The house originally built for idolatry is forbidden. “If the idolater whitewashed, and painted, and repaired it for the idol?” “He must take down his repairs.” “If he brought in and afterward took out the idol?” “It is allowed.” 9. There are three sorts of stones. The stone originally hewn for a pedestal to the idol is forbidden. “If the idolater whitewashed, and painted, and repaired it to honor an idol?” “He must take down his repairs.” “If he placed his idol upon it, and afterward took it away?” “It is allowed.” 10. There are three sorts of groves. The tree originally planted to honor an idol is forbidden. “If the idolater cut it, and hewed it, and made changes to honor an idol?” “He must take down his changes.” “If he placed an idol beneath it and abused it?” “It is allowed.” 11. “What is a grove?” “That in which there is an idol.” R. Simon said, “everything that is worshipped, as it happened in Zidon at the tree where they worshipped, and they found beneath it a heap. Said R. Simon to them, ‘examine this heap.’ And they examined it and found in it an image. He said to them, ‘as the object of service is the image, we shall allow the tree to you.’ ” 12. One must not sit in the shadow of an idolatrous grove, and though he sit, he is legally clean. And one must not pass underneath it; even if one pass he is defiled. “If it occupy the public thoroughfare and one pass beneath it?” “He is clean.” 13. One may sow underneath it vegetables in winter, but not in summer. But lettuce457 must not be sown either in summer or winter. R. JosÉ said, “not even vegetables in winter, since the leaves would fall upon them and serve them for dung.” 14. “Has one taken wood from it?” “Its wood is forbidden for every use.” “Has one heated an oven with it?” “If the oven be new it must be broken down, and if old it must be cooled down.” “Has one baked bread in it?” “The use of the bread is forbidden.” “Are the loaves mixed with other loaves, and these again with others?” “The use of all the loaves is forbidden.” R. Eliezer said, “its value is to be [pg 193] 15. “How is the tree to be desecrated?” “Has the idolater broken off dry bark, or green boughs; has he taken from it a staff, or a twig, or even a leaf—it is desecrated.” “Has he trimmed it for the sake of the tree?” “It is forbidden.” “Has he trimmed it, but not for the sake of the tree?” “It is allowed.” Chapter IV1. Rabbi Ishmael said, “three stones458 beside each other at the side of the image of Mercury are forbidden, but two are allowed.” But the Sages say, “when they are within his view they are forbidden, but when they are not within his view they are allowed.” 2. “Has one found money on his head, a garment, or implements which are not offerings?” “They are allowed.” Festoons of grapes, wreaths of ears of corn, and wines, and oils, and fine flour, and everything similar offered on his altar are forbidden. 3. A garden or a bath for idolatry is permitted for use when it is gratuitous. But neither is to be used if a present for the worship of the idol be expected. If it be in partnership with others that are not so employed, either can be used, whether it be with the expectation of a present or gratuitous. The idol of idolaters is at once forbidden, but the idol of Israel is not forbidden until it be served. 4. An idolater may desecrate his own idol, or the idol of his companion. But Israel must not desecrate the idol of an idolater. In desecrating the idol he desecrates what appertains [pg 194] 5. “How is it to be desecrated?” “He cuts off the lobe of its ear, the tip of its nose, the end of its finger—he deforms even though he does not diminish it—it is desecrated.” “He spits before it, he drags it, and throws dirt upon it?” “It is not desecrated.” “Has he sold it or pledged it?” Rabbi says, “it is desecrated.” But the Sages say, “it is not desecrated.” 6. The idol, the service of which is abandoned in the time of peace, is allowed. “But if its service be abandoned in time of war?” “It is forbidden.”459 The royal pedestals460 are forbidden, because they are erected at the time when kings are travelling. 7. The elders were asked in Rome, “If God has no pleasure in idolatry, why does He not destroy it?” They replied to the Romans, “If the idolaters were serving a thing which was not necessary to the world, He would destroy it, but they serve the sun-disk, and the moon, and the stars, and the signs of the zodiac. Shall he destroy his world on account of the fools?” They replied to them, “If so He can destroy the object which is not wanted for the world, and leave that which the world wants.” They replied to them, “even we should be strengthening the hands of the worshippers of such objects; they would say, there is a proof that they are gods, because they are not destroyed.” 8. One may buy a wine-press pressed by an idolater, even though he take grapes with his hand and lay them on the heap of grapes, as it is not made the wine of idolatrous libation till it runs into the vat. “Has it run into the vat?” “That which is in the vat is forbidden, but the remainder is allowed.” One may tread with an idolater in the wine-press, but one must not gather grapes with him. One must not tread or gather grapes with an Israelite who works in a state of defilement. But one may carry with him empty barrels to the press and bring them away with him from the press. One [pg 195] 9. “If an idolater be found standing by the side of a wine vat, and if he have any loan upon it?” “It is forbidden.” “If he have no loan on it?” “It is allowed.” “Has he fallen into the vat and come out again, or measured it with a cane; has he driven away a hornet with a cane; or has he given a slap to the fermentation on the top of the barrel?” All these things once happened, and the (Sages) decided, “Let it be sold.” But R. Simon “allowed it.” He took the barrel and flung it in a rage into the vat. This once happened, and the Sages allowed it. 10. “Has one made the wine of an idolater without legal defilement, and left it in his possession in a house open to public concourse—in a city in which there are idolaters and Israelites?” “It is allowed.” “In a city in which all are idolaters?” “It is forbidden till he leave a watchman, and it is not needful that the watchman sit and watch. Even though he goes in and out it is allowed.” R. Simon, the son of Eleazar, said, “all possession of wine by idolaters is alike.” “Has one made the wine of a heathen without legal defilement, and left it in his possession, and the idolater afterward wrote to him, I have received from you the money for the wine?” “It is allowed.” “But if the Israelite wish to withdraw it, and the idolater do not permit him, till he shall give him his money for it?” This once happened in Bethshan, and the Sages “forbade it.” Chapter V1. “Has an idolater hired an Israelite to make with him wine of idolatrous libation?” “His wages are forbidden.” “But if he hired him to do with him another work, even though he say to him, ‘carry for me a barrel of wine of libation from place to place?’ ” “His wages are allowed.” “Has one hired an ass to bring on him wine of idolatrous libation?” “The hire is not allowed.” “Has one hired out the ass for riding, even though the idolater put his wine flask upon him?” “The hire is allowed.” [pg 196]2. Wine of idolatrous libation which fell on grapes must be cleansed away, and they are allowed. But if the grapes be crushed, they are forbidden. “Has the idolatrous wine fallen on figs or on dates?” “If it convey to them a taste, they are forbidden.” It happened once with Baithus, son of Zonan, that he brought dried figs in a boat, and a barrel of wine of idolatrous libation was broken, and it fell upon them, and he consulted the Sages and they allowed them. This is the rule: In every use where the taste is conveyed, it is forbidden. But where in its use no taste is conveyed, it is allowed. It is like vinegar which has fallen on peas. 3. “An idolater who was carrying with an Israelite pitchers of wine from place to place?” “If it be certain that the idolater is watched, it is allowed.” “If the Israelite let him know that he is departing—if there be time to bore, to close, and to seal the pitcher?” R. Simon, son of Gamaliel, said, “it is not allowed if there be time to open, to cork, and to seal it again.” “And an Israelite put his wine into a carriage, or into a boat, and he has gone a near cut—he entered the city and washed?” “It is allowed.” “But if he let the idolater know that he is departing, if there be time to bore, and cork, and seal it again?” R. Simon, son of Gamaliel, said, “it is not allowed if there be time to open the barrel and cork and seal it again.” “If he leave the idolater in the wine-shop, even though he go in and out?” “It is allowed.” “But if he let the idolater know that he departs, if there be time to bore, and cork, and seal it again?” R. Simon ben Gamaliel said, “it is not allowed if there be time to open, and to cork, and to seal it again.” “Did he dine with the idolater at table, and he left a flask on the table, and a flask on the sideboard, and he left them and went out?” “That one which is on the table is forbidden, but that one on the sideboard is allowed.” “But if he said to him, ‘you may mix and drink wine, even that one on the sideboard is forbidden?’ ”461 “Open barrels are forbidden, also sealed ones, when there is time to open, and cork, and seal them up again.” 4. If foreign banditti have entered into a city in time of peace, open barrels are forbidden—closed ones are allowed. [pg 197] 5. When an idolater has sent to workmen of Israel a barrel of wine of idolatrous libation for wages, it is allowed to say, “give us its value.” “But if it has come into their possession?” “It is forbidden.” 6. “Has one sold wine to an idolater?” “If he agreed for the price before it is measured, its payment is allowed.” “Has he measured it before he agreed for the price?” “Its payment is forbidden.” 7. “Has one taken a funnel and measured wine into the bottle of an idolater, and he then turned round and measured wine into the bottle of an Israelite?” “If the funnel retain a drop of the wine of the idolater, the wine is forbidden.” “Has one poured the wine from vessel to vessel?” “That vessel from which he poured it is allowed, and that one into which he poured it is forbidden.” 8. Wine of idolatrous libation is forbidden, and even a little of it renders forbidden—wine in wine, and water in water—how much soever they be, and wine in water, and water in wine, in giving a taste. This is the rule: If both be of one sort, however little; if they be of different sorts, in giving a taste. 9. These things are forbidden, and even a little of them renders other things forbidden. Wine of idolatrous libation, and idols, and skins of beasts with the hearts torn out, and an ox that was stoned,462 and a heifer that is beheaded,463 and the birds from the leprosy, and the hair of the Nazarite,464 and the first-born of the ass, and flesh in milk, and the scapegoat, and the profane animals465 which were slaughtered in the Temple court. These are forbidden to be mixed with other things; and if so mixed, even a little of them renders other things forbidden. 10. “Wine of idolatrous libation which has fallen into a vat?” “All its use is forbidden.” R. Simon ben Gamaliel said, “it may all be sold to heathens, excepting the value of the wine of idolatrous libation which is in it.” [pg 198]11. “A stone-press which an idolater has prepared with pitch?” “It must be cleansed, and it is clean.” “And if of wood?” Rabbi said, “it should be cleansed”; and the Sages said, “one must peel off the pitch; but if it be made of earthenware, even though one peel off the pitch, it is forbidden.” 12. “If one buy culinary utensils from an idolater?” “That which it is usual to dip (in water), one must dip; to scour, one must scour; to whiten in the fire, one must whiten in fire. The spit and the fork, one must whiten in the fire;466 and the knife must be rubbed down, and it is clean.” |
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