Diese Dinge der Götzendiener sind (einem Juden) verboten, und ihre Ausgabe (Verbot) ist eine Ausgabe von (Ableitung von) Nutzen: (ihr) Wein und der Essig eines Götzendieners, der am Anfang Wein war [ auszuschließen, dass die Nichtjuden Essig von einem Juden gekauft haben, in welchem Fall die Leistung nicht verboten ist. Aus diesem Grund ist der Vorteil verboten, dass er ihn möglicherweise als Trankopfer für den Götzendienst angeboten hat und Essig nicht als Trankopfer angeboten wird. und Hadrianisches Steingut [Der Kaiser Hadrian knetete Ton mit Wein und machte Gefäße daraus, ohne ihn in einem Ofen zu schmelzen. Sie würden diese in den Krieg führen, und wenn sie wollten, würden sie die Scherben in Wasser legen, in dem sie sich auflösen würden. Der Ton würde zu Boden sinken und der Wein würde im Wasser verdünnt bleiben—daher der Name "Hadrianic Steingut"]; und "Herzhäute" ("oroth levuvin") [so genannt, weil sie ein rundes Loch (in der Haut) machen würden, aus dem sie das Herz (lev) extrahierten und es dem Götzendienst anboten.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel sagt: Wenn sein Schnitt (der der Haut) rund ist, ist es verboten; wenn es verlängert wird (in einer geraden Linie), ist es zulässig; [denn nur ein runder Schnitt ist für den Götzendienst gemacht. Die Halacha entspricht R. Shimon b. Gamliel.] Es ist erlaubt (Nutzen daraus zu ziehen) Fleisch, das in den Götzendienst geht (ihm angeboten wird) (es wurde noch nicht angeboten), und es ist verboten (Nutzen daraus zu ziehen) Fleisch, das ausgeht, [es hat bereits dem Götzendienst gewidmet]; denn es ist wie "die Opfer der Toten" (Psalm 106: 28). Dies sind die Worte von R. Akiva. Diejenigen, die zur Tarputh gehen [götzendienerische Ausschweifung (aus "Beth Tarpah", dem Pudendum einer Frau)]—es ist verboten, mit ihnen umzugehen; [denn dann gehen sie und danken ihrem Götzendienst (für den Verkauf), und außerdem kaufen sie (mit dem Erlös), was sie für ihre götzendienerischen Opfergaben benötigen.) Die Halacha entspricht R. Akiva.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
שהיה מתחילתו יין – to exclude where the heathen purchased vinegar from an Israelite where benefit was not forbidden; the reason why benefit was forbidden because perhaps its drink-offerings were for idolatrous purposes, but vinegar is not offered for idolatrous purposes.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah lists things that belong to non-Jews that may not be used by Jews, for fear that the Jew will be using something that has previously been used in idol worship.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
וחרס הדרייני – Hadrian the Caesar/Emperor would knead plaster with wine and make of it utensils and would not smelt them in the furnace/kiln (see Talmud Avodah Zarah 32a) and they would carry them in battle, and when they wanted, they would place the earthenware in water, and they would be dissolved (or fall to pieces) there and the plaster would sink downward and the wine would remain mixed with the water. And the earthenware of Adria was named after Hadrian.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
The following things belonging to non-Jews are forbidden [for Jews to use] and the prohibition extends to any benefit that may be derived from them: wine, or a non-Jew’s vinegar that was formerly wine, Hadrianic earthenware, skins pierced at the animal’s heart. (1) Rabban Shimon Gamaliel says: when its tear is round, [the skin] is forbidden, but if oblong it is permitted. Non-Jewish wine may not be used since it may have been used in making a libation to an idol. [This prohibition is still observed by many religious Jews today, even though we can be quite sure that the wine was not used for idol worship.] Similarly, vinegar that was once intended to be wine and then went sour may not be used by a Jew, since it may have been used in idol worship when it was wine. However, if the non-Jew bought the vinegar from a Jew and then gave it back to a Jew the Jew may use it since vinegar itself is not used in idol worship. According to the Talmud Hadrianic earthenware absorbs wine and when subsequently wetted, will release the wine. If a Jew were to use such earthenware he would be using non-Jewish wine, which is prohibited. According to the mishnah, idolaters would make incisions in animals to remove the hearts and use them in idol worship. If one sees a cut in an animal skin at the place of the heart, it is a sign that the animal was used for idol worship and it is forbidden. Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel claims that only if the cut is circular is the skin forbidden. Since non-Jews do not make oblong cuts as part of their idol worship, the skin is permitted.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
עורות לבובים – they would tear the animal while living opposite the heart a kind of round hole and remove the heart and sacrifice it to idolatry.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Meat which is being brought into a place of idol worship is permitted, but that which is brought out is forbidden, because it is like a sacrifice to the dead, this is the opinion of Rabbi Akiba. Meat that is being brought into a place of idol worship is permitted to a Jew, since it has not yet been used for idol worship. It is of course not permitted to be eaten, since it probably is not kosher. However, one could use it to feed animals. Meat that is coming out of a place of idol worship is forbidden, since it was probably used for idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
משוך מותר – for they do not make for idolatry other than round [incisions]. And the Halakha is according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
With non-Jews going on a pilgrimage [to worship idols] it is forbidden to have any business transactions, but with those returning it is permitted. It is forbidden to conduct business with non-Jews who are on their way to worship idols, since they will thank their gods for their business with the Jews. In this way the Jew will indirectly be abetting idol worship. However, it is permitted to engage them in business on their return, since they have already completed their idol worship. [Note this last section is of a different subject than the other sections. It should have been included in chapter one. It probably was included here due to its similarity to the previous clause.]
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
היוצא אסור בהנאה – for it had already become a sacrificial offering [to idolatry – see Talmud Avodah Zarah 32b).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
לתרפות – towards the errant idolatry [from afar: Rashi]. It is the place of lewdness of a woman which is called the house of debauchery.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אסור לשאת ולתת עמהם – for they go and admit [to idolatry and more] and purchase things that they need for offerings to idolatry. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Akiba.
