Avodah Zarah 18b, Need clarification in Rashi; Maaseh D'Bruriah; Bruriah agreed; just to proceed with temptation; or she actually comitted the aveira of coitus? This is all in Rashi; Other comentaries don't believe in this story; Where does Rashi get this version? Rashi is not explicit; Any commentaries on Rashi to clarify this? When you provide commentaries please show source.
Sam Kay, Brooklyn, NY 11230
There indeed is not much written regarding this incident. However, it is not out of character for Rashi to quote certain stories whose source we do not know. It is possible that Rashi knew this from a "Sefer Hagadah," which was his source for a similar story regarding Mar Ukva in Sanhedrin (31b, DH "led'Ziv").
There is a rule discussed by many Acharonim that the Gemara always judges the righteous favorably when analyzing any verses or incidents in Tanach. The same clearly should apply when one is unsure about an implication of Rashi regarding a known Tzadik and Tzadekes. It is therefore clear to me that there is no right to deduce from here that Beruryah actually committed adultery. It is additionally difficult to say that Rebbi Meir would set up a student to have an affair with his wife.
If you would like a source, the Ben Yehoyada on Avodah Zarah (18b) indeed says that the student asked by Rebbi Meir to test his wife was physically unable to have relations. The Ben Yehoyada suggests that the student told Beruryah that doctors had told him he needed to bathe with a married woman in order to heal himself, and she agreed that he could bathe with her at a certain prearranged time. When he arrived, he undressed and showed her that he was a Seris, and explained to her that the whole thing had been a setup from Rebbi Meir.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose