Reference for Shabbat 9:1

אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, מִנַּיִן לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁמְּטַמְּאָה בְמַשָּׂא כַּנִּדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ל) תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה, צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ, מַה נִּדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְמַשָּׂא:

R. Akiva said: Whence is it derived that idolatry renders one who carries it unclean as a niddah (does)? From (Isaiah 30:22): "Tizrem kemo davah — 'Get out!' will you say to him." [Since a verse was used as support above in respect to a shard, another supporting verse is adduced. And "Tizrem kemo davah" is near "And there will not be found among its fragments a shard." Or else, since it is to be taught (9:3): "Whence is it derived that we bathe the circumcision, etc.", we adduce the other (instances of) "Whence is it derived," which are similar to it.] Just as a niddah renders unclean what she carries, so idolatry renders unclean the one who carries it. [He must wash his clothes, even if he did not touch it, as when it were in a box (that he was carrying) and the like. The rabbis differ with R. Akiva, saying that it renders unclean only by contact, as sheretz does. The halachah is in accordance with the sages. ("Tizrem kemo davah":) That is, let them (idolatrous objects) be in your eyes as zarim (strangers), as "davah," a niddah, viz. (Leviticus 15:33): "Vehadavah benidathah."]

Explore reference for Shabbat 9:1. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.