It is permitted to be healed by them, a healing of money [i.e., one's animals], but not a healing of souls [i.e., one's body. And if he says to him: "This medicine is good for you," even the healing of his body is permitted therewith.] And one may not have his hair cut by them in all places. These are the words of R. Meir. And the sages say: In the public domain it is permitted; but not in privy. [And if he (who is having his hair cut) looks in a mirror, it is permitted. For the gentile will think, since he does this, he must be a distinguished person, and he will be afraid to kill him.]
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.
