Es ist erlaubt, von ihnen geheilt zu werden, eine Heilung des Geldes [dh der eigenen Tiere], aber keine Heilung der Seelen [dh des eigenen Körpers. Und wenn er zu ihm sagt: "Diese Medizin ist gut für dich", ist sogar die Heilung seines Körpers damit erlaubt.] Und man kann sich nicht an allen Stellen die Haare schneiden lassen. Dies sind die Worte von R. Meir. Und die Weisen sagen: Im öffentlichen Bereich ist es erlaubt; aber nicht im Geheimen. [Und wenn er (der sich die Haare schneiden lässt) in einen Spiegel schaut, ist das erlaubt. Denn der Nichtjude wird denken, da er dies tut, muss er ein angesehener Mensch sein, und er wird Angst haben, ihn zu töten.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
רפוי ממון – his animal.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah is a continuation of the discussion which began in the previous mishnah. It continues to discuss prohibitions that are a result of the Jewish suspicion that non-Jews are murderers.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
רפוי נפשות – his body; [but if he said] to him: a certain drug is fine for you, even if it is the healing of bodies, it is permissible to be healed by him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
We may allow them to heal us when the healing relates to money, but not personal healing; A Jew is permitted to be healed by a non-Jew when the healing relates to money. In the Talmud this clause is explained to mean that a Jew may take his animals to a non-Jewish doctor. This “healing” is considered to be related to money because the animal is the Jew’s property. However, a Jew may not himself be healed by a non-Jewish doctor, lest the non-Jewish doctor purposefully cause him damage. The Talmud adds that if the non-Jewish doctor tells him that a certain drug would be beneficial he may listen to him, since the Jew could check this information with others.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אבל לא בינו לבינו – but if he looks into a mirror, it is permissible, for the idolater might say that since he is getting a haircut, this is an important person and he is afraid to kill him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Nor should we have our hair cut by them in any place, this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. But the Sages said: in a public place it is permitted, but not when the two persons are alone. According to Rabbi Meir a Jew may never get his hair cut by a non-Jew, lest the non-Jew kill him with the scissors or razor. The Sages say that this is only prohibited in private. In public the non-Jew would not dare to kill the Jew.
