Una bestia non può essere trovata presso le locande di idolatri, [dove alloggiano i viandanti], poiché gli idolatri sono sospettati di sodomia. [Questo è persino vietato alle femmine (bestie) nei confronti delle femmine. Perché gli idolatri hanno familiarità con le mogli dei loro amici e talvolta, non trovandoli, potrebbero usare la bestia.] E una donna potrebbe non essere sola con loro, poiché sono sospettati di relazioni illecite. [Anche un tipo di yichud ("stare da solo") che è permesso ad un ebreo (come ad un'ebrea e ad un ebreo, quando sua moglie è con lui) è vietato per un'ebrea e un idolatra; poiché sua moglie non lo "custodisce".] E un uomo potrebbe non essere solo con loro, poiché sono sospettati di aver ucciso. Un'ebrea non può offrire un gentile, poiché in tal modo consegna un figlio per l'idolatria. [Ma a pagamento è permesso, in modo da non generare odio.] Ma un gentile può liberare un'ebrea [quando altri ebrei le stanno sopra, ma non quando sono soli; perché sono sospettati di spargimenti di sangue (cioè potrebbe uccidere il bambino)]. Un'ebrea non può allattare il figlio di un gentile; ma un gentile può allattare il figlio di un ebreo nella sua casa (l'ebreo).
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אין מעמידין בהמה בפונדקאות – that are made to harbor passers through there because idolaters are suspect of carnal connection with beasts and even females with females are prohibited because the idolaters are found with the wives of their friends and sometimes they don’t find her and they copulate with the beasts.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah teaches that non-Jewish idol worshippers are suspected of several heinous sins: bestiality, sexual licentiousness and murder. This mishnah adopts a very harsh attitude towards the idolaters at the time. We should remind ourselves that according to later Jewish law, non-Jews who did not engage in such practices were not subject to these laws.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ולא תתיחד אשה עמהן – even the privacy between a man and a woman and something similar with an Israelite is permissible, such as when his wife is with him, [but] with an idolater, it is prohibited, since the wife of an idolater does not protect him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
One should not place animals in inns of non-Jews, because they are suspected of bestiality. Non-Jewish idolaters are suspected of bestiality. Therefore Jews should not place animals in their inns. By doing so they would be encouraging the non-Jew to engage in bestiality, which according to Jewish ideology is also forbidden to non-Jews. It is one of the seven “Noahide” commandments which are incumbent upon non-Jews to observe.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
לא תילד את העובדת כוכבים – because she raises a son for idolatry but with payment, it is permitted, for the sake of preventing ill-will.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
A woman should not be alone with them, because they are suspected of licentiousness; Nor should a man be alone with them, because they are suspected of shedding blood. Jewish women should not be alone with non-Jewish idolaters for they are suspected of being rapists. Jewish men should not be alone with non-Jewish idolaters for they are suspected of being murderers.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אבל עובדת כוכבים מילדת את בת ישראל – at the time when other women stand by her, but not between him and her, for they are suspected of murder, lest she kills him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
A Jewish woman should not act as midwife to a non-Jewish woman, because she would be delivering a child for idolatry. But a non-Jewish woman may act as midwife to a Jewish woman. A Jewish woman should not act as midwife for a non-Jew for this would abet idol worship. In the Talmud it is explained that this is only prohibited if the Jewish woman works for free. If she is paid for her work it is permitted. A non-Jewish woman may act as a midwife for a Jewish woman.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
A Jewish woman should not suckle the child of a non-Jewish woman, But a non-Jewish woman may suckle the child of a Jewish woman in her premises. A Jewish woman may not act as a wet-nurse for a non-Jewish child. This is for the same reason that she may not act as a midwife. A non-Jewish woman may be a wet-nurse to a Jewish child, provided she nurse the child on the premises of the Jewish family. The Jewish family may not give over their child to the non-Jewish woman for fear that she will kill the child.
