Commentary for Avodah Zarah 3:2
הַמּוֹצֵא שִׁבְרֵי צְלָמִים, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מֻתָּרִים. מָצָא תַבְנִית יָד אוֹ תַבְנִית רֶגֶל, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲסוּרִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן נֶעֱבָד:
If one finds the fragments of images, they are permitted. [For (even) if they were whole, there is a doubt (safek) as to whether they were or were not worshiped. And even if you say that they were worshiped, perhaps they were annulled, for which reason they were broken — so that they are sfek-sfekah ("a doubt of a doubt"), where the ruling is for leniency.] If one found the form of a hand or the form of a foot, they are forbidden, for their like (if whole) is worshiped. [Ab initio, they make for themselves the form of a hand (or a foot) and worship them.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
הרי אלו מותרין – for had they been whole, there is a doubt whether they would have worshipped them or not worshipped them. And even if one is able to say that hey worshipped them lest they become nullified, and therefore, broke them, for this is a double doubt and for a leniency.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah discusses the permissibility of broken pieces of potentially idolatrous images.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
שכיוצא בהם נעבד – the form of a hand alone they would make ab initio and they worship it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
One who finds fragments of images, behold they are permitted. If one found the figure of a hand or the figure of a foot, behold it is prohibited because such an object is worshipped. One who finds a fragment of an image may make use of that fragment. The mishnah teaches that we may assume that the non-Jew intentionally broke the idol and thereby annulled it from its idolatrous use. However, if one finds an entire hand of an image or a foot, it is prohibited, since there are non-Jews who use these parts in and of themselves as idols. The Talmud explains that these are only prohibited if they are found attached to a base, which means that they are not truly broken pieces.
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