1)

(a)'Eideihen shel Goyim' is - a derogatory term (See Tosfos Yom Tov) for the festivals and special occasions of the Nochrim (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)The Mishnah forbids doing business with them - three (See Tosfos Yom Tov) days before to each one ...

(c)... because the Nochrim tend to go and thank their gods on their festivals (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Laseis ve'Laseis').

(d)Besides borrowing from them (See Tosfos Yom Tov) or lending them vessels or money (See Tosfos Yom Tov), the Tana also prohibits - paying off one's debts to them or claiming one's debts from them.

2)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah permits claiming one's debts from them - because it makes them sad.

(b)The Tana Kama counters Rebbi Yehudah's reason by arguing that - it may make them sad now, but when his Yom-Tov arrives, he will be pleased (to have got the Yisrael off his back).

(c)Even the Tana Kama permits one to claim one's debts from a Nochri - in the case of an oral loan ...

(d)... since one is merely saving oneself a loss.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

3)

(a)Rebbi Yishmael adds to the three days prior to a Nochri festival prohibited by the previous Mishnah - the three days after it.

(b)The Chachamim - concur with the Tana of the previous Mishnah (See Tosfos Yom-Tov).

(c)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

4)

(a)One reason that in Galus, the full stringency of the above ruling does not apply in Galus is because we rely fully on the Nochrim for our Parnasah, the other is - out of fear (how they might react violently [See also Tosfos Yom Tov]).

(b)The Din in Galus is that - the prohibition is confined to the actual day itself.

(c)Nowadays, we even do business with them on the actual day of the festival - since the Chachamim determined that the 'Ovdei Avodah-Zarah' referred to throughout the Masechta refers to Nochrim who are ardent idolaters, which today's Nochrim are not (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

5)

(a)The three Nochri festivals listed by the Mishnah are Kalenda, S'tarnura and K'rateisim(See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Kalanda' & 'K'rateisim'). They celebrated Kalenda for the eight days after Tekufas Teves (the onset of winter), and S'tarnura for the eight days before it.

(b)The person who initiated these Yamim Tovim was - Adam ha'Rishon.

(c)In his first year, he actually fasted and prayed during the period of S'tarnura - when he saw the days getting shorter and shorter, and assumed that, due to his sin, the world was coming to an end.

(d)And he then celebrated Kalenda - as a form of thanksgiving when he saw the days getting longer again and came to the realization that it was all part of a natural phenomenon.

(e)The difference between Adam's celebrations and those of his descendants is that - whereas he did it in honor of Hash-m, they do not.

6)

(a)'K'rateisim' means - the day on which the Emperor of Rome seized power from the Greeks, which they continued to celebrate every year, and ...

(b)... 'Yom Ginusya' - the king's birthday (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)According to Rebbi Meir, they automatically celebrated the day of his death. The Chachamim say - only if they burned all his belongings on that day, as was the custom in those days.

(d)They celebrated the latter - throughout the duration of his son's reign.

7)

(a)The first two items in a list of personal festivals presented by the Mishnah are the day on which a Nochri shaves his beard and his 'B'luris' - a large shock of hair at the back of the head ...

(b)... which he would leave and shave off only from year to year.

(c)Two of the remaining three days are those on which he came up from the sea (which was dangerous in those days) and on which he was freed from jail. As part of his celebrations, the former would - bring sacrifices.

(d)The third is - the day that his son got married.

(e)The Halachic difference between the previous list and the current one is that - the prohibition regarding the current one is confined to the actual day itself.

8)

(a)If a town possesses an Avodah-Zarah, it is permitted to do business in the surrounding areas (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - and vice-versa ...

(b)... because the one did not worship what the other worshipped.

(c)One is forbidden to travel to a town that celebrates a festival (See Tosfos Yom Tov) - as long as the road does not lead anywhere else other than to that town ...

(d)... in which case it is prohibited on account of Mar'is ha'Ayin (it conveys the impression that one is traveling there in order to worship the Avodah-Zarah).

9)

(a)The dilemma the Tana initially had concerning shopping in a town that is celebrating is - whether, if some shops are adorned (in honor of the festival) and others are not, it is permitted to purchase there or not.

(b)He resolved it from a case that occurred in Beis Sha'an - where the Chachamim permitted shopping in those shops that were not adorned, but not in those that were (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)The shops that are adorned - belong to the priests, who take a tax from the shoppers in honor of the Avodah-Zarah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(d)One is permitted to purchase from the shops that are not adorned - goods that last a long time ...

(e)... because then the seller is generally sad (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

10)

(a)The Mishnah opens the list of items that one is forbidden to sell to residents of a town that is celebrating a Yom-Tov with Itztrublin (the fruit of a cedar-tree) and ...

1. ... 'B'nos-Shu'ach' - a species of white figs still attached to ...

2. ... 'Petotroseihen' - their stalks.

(b)The other two items are frankincense and - a white rooster.

(c)The reason for the prohibition is - because the idolaters are likely to bring them as sacrifices to their gods (See also Tiferes Yisrael & Tosfos Yom Tov).

11)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah permits selling them even a white rooster - provided it is one among a batch of roosters.

(b)One may sell them even a white rooster on its own however, provided one first severs one claw - because Nochrim do not sacrifice animals with missing limbs.

(c)The Tana Kama forbids selling them other items - only if they specify their intention to use them for Avodah-Zarah.

(d)The reason that he finds it necessary to mention this is - because we might otherwise have thought that they said that (not because they really want the item for idolatrous purposes, but) because they believe that everybody else adores their gods just as they do. Consequently, they pretend to want the article in order to convince the seller to sell it to them.

12)

(a)The first of three additional items that Rebbi Meir forbids selling them is dates - from a high-quality date-palm.

(b)He also forbids the sale of 'Chatzav' - sugar-cane and Naklivam (a very valuable herb [See also Tiferes Yisrael 34 & 35)]) ...

(c)... since these too, Nochrim tend to bring as sacrifices to their gods.

(d)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Meir (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

13)

(a)One is permitted to sell to a Nochri - a Beheimah Dakah (a small-type of animal, such as a sheep or a goat) ...

(b)... provided it conforms to local custom.

(c)A large animal - is forbidden at all costs.

(d)The Chachamim forbade it in case one comes to rent or lend him one - and he works with it on Shabbos (See also Tiferes Yisrael).

14)

(a)The Tana forbids even selling him ...

1. ... calves and fillies or ...

2. ... animals that are broken ...

(b)... because although the latter are incapable of doing regular work, they are used for grinding (See Tiferes Yisrael).

(c)One is permitted however, to sell him even a large animal - through a middle man, who does not have the authority to lend or rent the animal.

15)

(a)Rebbi Yehudah - permits selling him a broken animal.

(b)The Halachah is - like the Tana Kama.

(c)ben Beseira permits selling a Nochri a horse, even one that is meant to carry hunting falcons - based on the principle that a living creature supports itself, and that it is therefore not considered carrying.

(d)The Chachamim nevertheless forbid it - because they restrict the above principle to human-beings, who tend to carry their own weight but not to animals.

(e)The Halachah is - like the Chachamim.

16)

(a)The Tana forbids selling Nochrim bears or lions ...

(b)... 'or anything that causes damage to the public' - such as weapons (swords and spears).

(c)The Mishnah also prohibits assisting them to build a Basilki (a tall palace), a Gardum (a large platform in the street [Tiferes Yisrael]), an Itztadya (a stadium) or a Bimah (a cupboard-like building [See Tosfos Yom Tov]). The function of a ...

1. ... 'Basilki' was - to judge the death-sentence and push the sentenced man off the top.

2. ... 'Gardum' is - to judge the death-sentence.

3. ... 'Itztadya' is - for pitting people against wild bulls.

4. ... 'Bimah' is - to push people off the top to their death.

17)

(a)The Tana permits however, assisting them to build Bimusya'os - theaters, that are used neither for Avodah-Zarah' nor for killing people [See also Tosfos Yom Tov]) and bathhouses.

(b)One is obligated to stop however - upon reaching the archway which housed an idol (that they customarily placed in their bathhouses.

18)

(a)The Tana Kama - prohibits making ornaments for an Avodah-Zarah (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)He gives three examples of this, Katla'os (neck-bands) ...

1. ... 'Taba'os' - finger-rings and ...

2. ... 'Nezamim' - nose-rings.

(c)Rebbi Eliezer permits it - provided one does it for payment.

19)

(a)The Tana Kama forbids selling a Nochri something whilst it is still attached but permits selling it to him after it has been detached ...

(b)... since the Torah writes in Va'eschanan "ve'Lo Sechanem" (a prohibition against giving a Nochri 'an encampment' in the land [See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'Ein Mochrin' & 'bi'Mechubar le'Karka']).

(c)Rebbi Yehudah permits selling him even something that is still attached - provided he undertakes to detach it (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

20)

(a)Rebbi Meir forbids renting out houses to Nochrim in Eretz Yisrael - because he decrees renting on account of selling ...

(b)... and he adds 'How much more so fields!' ...

(c)... where besides the intrinsic Isur, one also prevents Ma'asros from being taken (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

21)

(a)In Syria however - one may rent them a house, but not a field.

(b)David ha'Melech captured Syria (Aram Tzovah), but because he captured it before the conquest of Eretz Cana'an was completed, it did not have the Kedushah of Eretz Yisrael).

(c)Renting out a house to a Nochri is therefore permitted there - because even if one were to sell it to them it would only be an Isur de'Rabbanan (since, min ha'Torah, the Isur of "Lo Sechanem" is confined to Eretz Yisrael). Consequently, renting it would be a Gezeirah li'Gezeirah).

(d)Renting them a field is forbidden however - because, as we already explained, that constitutes two Isurim (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

22)

(a)In Chutz la'Aretz, Rebbi Meir permits selling even a house to a Nochri. He does not decree Chutz la'Aretz on account of Eretz Yisrael - since it is far from Eretz Yisrael.

(b)He nevertheless forbids selling them fields - for the same reason again.

23)

(a)Rebbi Meir permits neither selling nor renting of either houses or fields in Eretz Yisrael. Rebbi Yossi - permits renting them houses.

(b)In Chutz la'Aretz, he permits everything; in Syria - he permits renting them fields and even selling them houses.

(c)The Halachah is - like Rebbi Yossi ...

(d)... provided one does sell to three Nochrim in one location, so as not to turn it into a Nochri neighborhood (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

24)

(a)The Mishnah qualifies the Heter to rent a Nochri a house - by restricting it to renting it for storing hay and wood (See Tosfos Yom Tov) ...

(b)... because if the Nochri rents it as a residence, we are afraid that he will bring Avodah-Zarah into it (See Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'be'Makom she'Amru'.

(c)... and the Pasuk in Va'eschanan writes - "ve'Lo Savi So'eivah el Beisecha".

25)

(a)The current Mishnah is speaking - in Syria ...

(b)... according to Rebbi Meir (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)Whereas according to Rebbi Yossi - it will apply even in Eretz Yisrael.

26)

(a)One is forbidden to rent a Nochri a bathhouse anywhere because its owner is known. Consequently, since renting does not acquire, when people see it being operated on Shabbos, they will say that the bathhouse belonging to so-and-so Yisrael is being used on Shabbos (See Tosfos Yom Tov).

(b)The Tana is more stringent here that in the case of a Nochri Aris, whom one is permitted to hire to work in one's field is - because a. everybody hires an Aris to work in one's field and .b an Aris works predominantly for himself.

(c)One is allowed to hire an Aris nowadays to work in one's bathhouse for a half, a third or a quarter of the income - because (as used to be the case with a field) it has become customary to hire an Aris to work one's bathhouse, and as we just explained, the Aris works predominantly for himself.