Queste cose degli idolatori sono vietate (a un ebreo) e il loro emittente (divieto) è un emittente di (derivazione di) beneficio: (il loro) vino e l'aceto di un idolatore, che, all'inizio, era vino [ escludere che i gentili abbiano acquistato aceto da un ebreo, nel qual caso non è vietato il beneficio. Perché il beneficio è proibito è che avrebbe potuto offrirlo come una libagione all'idolatria, e l'aceto non è offerto come una libagione]; e terracotta Adriana [L'imperatore Adriano impastava l'argilla con il vino e ne produceva vasi senza fonderlo in un forno. Li avrebbero portati in guerra e, quando avessero voluto, avrebbero messo i frammenti in acqua, in cui si sarebbero dissolti. L'argilla affonderebbe sul fondo e il vino rimarrebbe diluito in acqua—da qui il nome "terracotta adrianica"]; e "nascondigli di cuore", ("oroth levuvin") [così chiamato perché avrebbero fatto un buco rotondo (nella pelle) da cui hanno estratto il cuore (lev) e lo hanno offerto fino all'idolatria.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel dice: quando il suo taglio (del nascondiglio) è rotondo, è proibito; quando è esteso (in linea retta), è consentito; [perché solo un taglio rotondo è fatto per l'idolatria. L'halachah è conforme a R. Shimon b. Gamliel.] È permesso (trarre beneficio da) carne che entra in (essere offerto a) idolatria (non è stata ancora offerta) ed è vietato (trarre beneficio da) carne che esce, [già avendo stato dedicato all'idolatria]; poiché è come "i sacrifici dei morti" (Salmi 106: 28). Queste sono le parole di R. Akiva. Coloro che vanno al tarputh [dissolutezza idolatra (da "beth tarpah", il pudendum di una donna)]—è vietato affrontarli; [perché poi vanno a ringraziare la loro idolatria (per la vendita) e, per di più, comprano (con il ricavato) ciò di cui hanno bisogno per le loro offerte idolatriche.) L'halacha è conforme a R. Akiva.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
שהיה מתחילתו יין – to exclude where the heathen purchased vinegar from an Israelite where benefit was not forbidden; the reason why benefit was forbidden because perhaps its drink-offerings were for idolatrous purposes, but vinegar is not offered for idolatrous purposes.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah lists things that belong to non-Jews that may not be used by Jews, for fear that the Jew will be using something that has previously been used in idol worship.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
וחרס הדרייני – Hadrian the Caesar/Emperor would knead plaster with wine and make of it utensils and would not smelt them in the furnace/kiln (see Talmud Avodah Zarah 32a) and they would carry them in battle, and when they wanted, they would place the earthenware in water, and they would be dissolved (or fall to pieces) there and the plaster would sink downward and the wine would remain mixed with the water. And the earthenware of Adria was named after Hadrian.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
The following things belonging to non-Jews are forbidden [for Jews to use] and the prohibition extends to any benefit that may be derived from them: wine, or a non-Jew’s vinegar that was formerly wine, Hadrianic earthenware, skins pierced at the animal’s heart. (1) Rabban Shimon Gamaliel says: when its tear is round, [the skin] is forbidden, but if oblong it is permitted. Non-Jewish wine may not be used since it may have been used in making a libation to an idol. [This prohibition is still observed by many religious Jews today, even though we can be quite sure that the wine was not used for idol worship.] Similarly, vinegar that was once intended to be wine and then went sour may not be used by a Jew, since it may have been used in idol worship when it was wine. However, if the non-Jew bought the vinegar from a Jew and then gave it back to a Jew the Jew may use it since vinegar itself is not used in idol worship. According to the Talmud Hadrianic earthenware absorbs wine and when subsequently wetted, will release the wine. If a Jew were to use such earthenware he would be using non-Jewish wine, which is prohibited. According to the mishnah, idolaters would make incisions in animals to remove the hearts and use them in idol worship. If one sees a cut in an animal skin at the place of the heart, it is a sign that the animal was used for idol worship and it is forbidden. Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel claims that only if the cut is circular is the skin forbidden. Since non-Jews do not make oblong cuts as part of their idol worship, the skin is permitted.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
עורות לבובים – they would tear the animal while living opposite the heart a kind of round hole and remove the heart and sacrifice it to idolatry.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Meat which is being brought into a place of idol worship is permitted, but that which is brought out is forbidden, because it is like a sacrifice to the dead, this is the opinion of Rabbi Akiba. Meat that is being brought into a place of idol worship is permitted to a Jew, since it has not yet been used for idol worship. It is of course not permitted to be eaten, since it probably is not kosher. However, one could use it to feed animals. Meat that is coming out of a place of idol worship is forbidden, since it was probably used for idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
משוך מותר – for they do not make for idolatry other than round [incisions]. And the Halakha is according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
With non-Jews going on a pilgrimage [to worship idols] it is forbidden to have any business transactions, but with those returning it is permitted. It is forbidden to conduct business with non-Jews who are on their way to worship idols, since they will thank their gods for their business with the Jews. In this way the Jew will indirectly be abetting idol worship. However, it is permitted to engage them in business on their return, since they have already completed their idol worship. [Note this last section is of a different subject than the other sections. It should have been included in chapter one. It probably was included here due to its similarity to the previous clause.]
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
היוצא אסור בהנאה – for it had already become a sacrificial offering [to idolatry – see Talmud Avodah Zarah 32b).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
לתרפות – towards the errant idolatry [from afar: Rashi]. It is the place of lewdness of a woman which is called the house of debauchery.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אסור לשאת ולתת עמהם – for they go and admit [to idolatry and more] and purchase things that they need for offerings to idolatry. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Akiba.
