1)

WHY HASH-M LEAVES IDOLATRY IN THE WORLD (cont.)

(a)

Question (Agripas, a Nochri general): Your Torah says "Ki Hash-m Elokecha Esh Ochlah Kel Kana" - a Chacham envies only another Chacham. A Gibor (powerful one) envies only another Gibor!

(b)

Answer (Raban Gamliel): A parable explains this. Yakov was married to Leah. He then married Rachel;

1.

If Rachel is more distinguished than Leah, Leah does not resent him for this;

2.

If Rachel is less distinguished than Leah, Leah resents him for this.

(c)

Question (Zunin (a Yisrael)): We both know that idolatry is empty. Why do we see people with disjointed bones go to the house of idolatry, and when they leave, their bones are properly connected?!

(d)

Answer (R. Akiva): A parable explains this. Levi was trustworthy. Everyone would deposit by him without witnesses. Once, Yehudah deposited with him with witnesses. Another time, Yehudah deposited with him without witnesses.

1.

Levi's wife: Let us deny the deposit!

2.

Levi: Because he did improperly (not to trust me), should we ruin our trustworthiness?!

3.

Similarly, when afflictions are sent on a person, they must accept an oath only to leave at a particular time, through a particular doctor, through a particular medicine. When the time to leave came, the person entered a house of idolatry. Should the afflictions transgress their oath?!

4.

(R. Yochanan): "Va'Chalayim Ra'im v'Ne'emanim" - the sicknesses fulfill a mission to do evil. They are trustworthy to fulfill their oath.

(e)

Rava bar Rav Yitzchak: There is a house of idolatry in our area, that when the world needs rain, the idolatry appears to them in a dream, and says 'slaughter a person for me.' After they do so, rain comes!

(f)

Answer (Rav Yehudah): "Asher Chalak... Osam l'Chol ha'Amim" - Hash-m was Machlik (deceived) the Nochrim (to let them believe in idolatry) to deprive them of the world to come.

1.

(Reish Lakish): "Im la'Letzim Hu Yalitz" - if one comes to Metamei (defile) himself, Hash-m gives him the opportunity. If one comes to Metaher himself, Hash-m helps him.

2)

WHAT IS CONSIDERED WINE?

(a)

Version #1 - our text - (Mishnah): We may buy a Gas (winepress) from a Nochri even after he stomped grapes in it, even if the Nochri takes grapes with his hand and puts them on the heap being pressed;

(b)

The juice is not considered wine (to become forbidden if touched with a Nochri) until it descends to the pit.

(c)

Version #2 - Rashi - (Mishnah): We may buy a Gas from a Nochri even after he stomped grapes in it;

(d)

Even if the Nochri takes grapes with his hand and puts them on the heap being pressed (it is permitted), because (even the juice) is not considered wine until it descends to the pit. (end of Version #2)

(e)

After the juice descends to the pit, it is forbidden (Rashi - if the Nochri touches it; Rashbam - even if he does not touch it, for he caused it to descend). The rest is permitted.

(f)

We may stomp with the Nochri (who already stomped a bit everywhere, for then the grapes are already Teme'im, but we may not harvest with him (for the grapes will become Tamei when they are put in the Gas, and one may not Metamei (or assist to Metamei) Chulin Peros in Eretz Yisrael.

55b----------------------------------------55b

(g)

If a Yisrael allows his Peros to become Tamei, one may not stomp or harvest with him (one may not assist transgressors);

1.

One may help him take empty barrels to the Gas and take full ones from it.

(h)

If a Yisrael kneader allows the dough to become Tamei, one may not knead or arrange the dough with him;

1.

One may help him take the loaves to the Palter (Tosfos - who sells them; Rashi - one may help take the dough to the Palter, who bakes it).

(i)

(Gemara - Rav Huna): Once wine starts to flow (down the incline of the Gas), it can become Yayin Nesech (if a Nochri touches it).

(j)

Question (Mishnah): We may buy a Gas from a Nochri even after he stomped in it, even if he takes grapes with his hand and puts them on the heap.

(k)

Answer #1 (Rav Huna): The case is, the Gas is plugged up and full. (The juice does not flow. It stays in its place.)

(l)

Question (Mishnah): It is not considered wine until it descends to the pit.

(m)

Answer #1 (Rav Huna): Here also, the Gas is plugged up and full.

(n)

Question (Mishnah): After the juice descends to the pit, it is forbidden, and the rest is permitted.

(o)

Answer (and Answer #2 to the previous questions - Rav Huna): The Tana later retracted. My law is according to the latter version of the Mishnah;

1.

(Beraisa): At first, they said BaDaD (an acronym for three laws);

i.

We may not be Botzer (harvest grapes) with Nochrim, because one may not be Metamei Chulin in Eretz Yisrael;

ii.

We may not be Dorech (stomp) with a Yisrael who allows the wine to become Tamei, for one may not assist in a transgression;

iii.

We may be Dorech with a Nochri (who already stomped, for then the grapes are already Teme'im;

iv.

We are not concerned for Rav Huna's law (that once wine starts to flow, it becomes Yayin Nesech if a Nochri touches it).

2.

They retracted and said DaBaD (perhaps the second 'D' refers to the second part of the second law. The text of the Bach, 'DaBaB', is simpler);

i.

We may not be Dorech with a Nochri, due to Rav Huna's law;

ii.

We may not be Botzer with a Yisrael who allows the wine to become Tamei, and all the more so we may not be Dorech with him (this makes the wine Tamei mid'Oraisa);

iii.

We may be Botzer with Nochrim, because one may be Metamei Chulin (from which Terumah will not be taken, e.g. a Nochri's Peros) in Eretz Yisrael.

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