Ce sont des choses qu'il est interdit de vendre aux idolâtres: itztroblin (fruits d'un cèdre), b'noth shvach [sortes de grosses figues blanches] avec leurs épines [sur lesquelles elles pendent, le gentil souhaitant probablement les apporter en offrande à l'idolâtrie], et de l'encens, et un coq blanc. R. Yehudah dit: Il est permis de lui vendre un coq blanc parmi les autres. [Si un gentil achète plusieurs coqs à un juif, il est permis de lui vendre un coq blanc parmi eux; car puisqu'il en prend d'autres, il est évident qu'il ne le destine pas à l'idolâtrie.] Et quand c'est tout seul, il lui coupe le doigt et le lui vend, car ils ne sacrifient pas un (animal) défectueux à l'idolâtrie. Comme pour toutes les autres choses, s'il ne précise pas (à quoi il les utilisera), il est permis (de les lui vendre), et s'il déclare expressément [qu'il les désire pour l'idolâtrie], c'est interdit. [Il est nécessaire de dire ceci, car je pourrais autrement penser que cet homme ne les veut pas vraiment pour l'idolâtrie, mais dit qu'il le fait, pensant que tout comme il est dévoué à l'idolâtrie, tous les autres le sont aussi, et il dit ceci, en espérant qu'ils «redescendront» (sur le prix); On nous dit donc que ce n’est pas le cas.] R. Meir dit: Il est également interdit de vendre à un idolâtre [le fruit de] un palmier de choix, [qui est habituellement offert à l’idolâtrie], le chatzav [la canne à sucre] et niklivam [une herbe exceptionnellement fine. La halakha est conforme à R. Meir.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אצטרובלין – fruit of the cedar.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah begins a somewhat new topic: things which are forbidden to sell to idolaters at all times of the year and not just during their holidays, lest these things be used in idol worship. Again, it is not only forbidden to worship idols, but it is forbidden to aid non-Jews in idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
בנות שוח – it is prohibited for an Israelite to sell a kind of the species of the large white figs to an idolater.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
The following things are forbidden to be sold to idolaters: iztroblin, bnoth-shuah with their stems, frankincense, and a white rooster. Iztroblin are the pines of a cedar tree. Bnoth-shuah are types of figs. All of these things listed in this section are used by the idolaters for idol worship. Therefore it is forbidden to sell them to non-Jews since that would be abetting idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ופטוטרות – with their stems (Talmud Avodah Zarah 13b) it is stated, meaning to say, with their stalks/peduncles by which they are suspended, for undefined, the idolater wants to offer them as a [sacrificial] offering to idolatry.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Rabbi Judah says: it is permitted to sell a white rooster to an idolater among other roosters; but if it be by itself, one should clip its spur and then sell it to him, because a defective [animal] is not sacrificed to an idol. As for other things, if they are not specified their sale is permitted, but if specified it is forbidden. Rabbi Judah presents some exceptions to the prohibition of selling a white rooster to an idolater. A Jew may sell a white rooster to an idolater if it is sold with other regular roosters. In this case the Jew is merely selling roosters and happens to sell one that is white. The non-Jew may also not be purchasing the rooster for idolatrous purposes since he bought a lot of other roosters. Furthermore, when he sells the white rooster it doesn’t look to others as if he is selling something specifically for idol worship, since the other roosters he is selling will not typically be used in idol worship. Rabbi Judah also creates a way for Jews to sell white roosters alone to idolaters. As long as the Jew cuts off the spur the sale is permitted since the idolater will not sacrifice a blemished animal. With regards to the other forbidden items, it is forbidden to sell them to idolaters only if the sale is specifically for idol worship. If not, it is permitted to sell the item, because it may be used for other, non-idolatrous purposes.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
תרנגול לבן בין תרנגולין – an idolater bought from an Israelite many chickens, it is permitted to sell amongst them a white chicken and since another person took them, It was not for idolatry that he wanted them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Rabbi Meir says: also a “good-palm”, hazab and niklivas are forbidden to be sold to idolaters. Rabbi Meir adds several other things which are forbidden for a Jew to sell to idolaters. All three of these are varieties of date-palms.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ופירושן אסור – if he explained/specified that it was for idolatry that he needed them, it is prohibited. And it was necessary for our Mishnah [to specify this] for you might think that I would say that this person wanted them not for idolatrous purposes, and when he said this, he holds that just as that this person clings to it (for idolatrous purposes), everyone also clings to it, and I would say this for [just as] he would give it to me, it to teach us [that the reverse is to be taught].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
דקל טב – [fruits] of a superior date which are regularly used for sacrificial purposes to idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
נקב – reeds that they make from them sugar.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ונקליהם – a kind of very superior herb/grass, and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Meir.
