Avodah Zarah, Daf Yod Gimmel, Part 2
Introduction
In yesterday s section Resh Lakish ruled that one is allowed to provide benefit to idolatry. Today s section contains a difficulty on his position.
מיתיבי רבי נתן אומר יום שעבודת כוכבים מנחת בו את המכס מכריזין ואומרים כל מי שנוטל עטרה ויניח בראשו ובראש חמורו לכבוד עבודת כוכבים יניח לו את המכס ואם לאו אל יניח לו את המכס.
יהודי שנמצא שם מה יעשה? יניח נמצא נהנה לא יניח נמצא מהנה.
מכאן אמרו הנושא ונותן בשוק של עבודת כוכבים בהמה תיעקר פירות כסות וכלים ירקבו מעות וכלי מתכות יוליכם לים המלח.
ואיזהו עיקור המנשר פרסותיה מן הארכובה ולמטה
קתני מיהת יניח נמצא נהנה לא יניח נמצא מהנה.
They raised a difficulty: R. Natan says: On the day when the idolaters reduce the taxes, they proclaim: Whoever takes a wreath and puts it on his head and on the head of his donkey in honor of the idols, his tax will be remitted; otherwise his tax will not be remitted! A Jew who is found there, what should he do? If he puts it on, it turns out that he is benefiting! If he does not put it on? Then he is providing benefit! From here they said: One who engages in business in a market of idolaters, if it be cattle it should be disabled, if fruit, clothes or utensils, they should be allowed to rot, if money or metal vessels he should carry them to the Dead Sea.
What is meant by disabling? Cutting the tendons of the hoofs beneath the ankle.
In any case we are taught, If he puts it on, it turns out that he is benefiting! If he does not put it on? Then he is providing benefit!
R. Natan s baraita clearly indicates that a Jew may not provide benefit to idolaters by paying the taxes. This is a direct contradiction of Resh Lakish s ruling.
אמר רב משרשיא בריה דרב אידי קסבר רשב"ל פליגי רבנן עליה דרבי נתן ואנא דאמרי כרבנן דפליגי עליה ור’ יוחנן סבר לא פליגי
R. Mesharsheya the son of R. Idi said: R. Shimon b. Lakish holds that the rabbis disagree with R. Nathan, and I (Resh Lakish) say like the Rabbis who disagree; whereas R. Yohanan holds that they do not disagree.
Resh Lakish could resolve the difficulty by positing that he holds like other rabbis who disagree with R. Natan. We shall see such an opinion in tomorrow s section. The existence of this other opinion provides legitimacy to Resh Lakish. R. Yohanan would hold that all tannaim agree with R. Natan providing benefit to idolatry is prohibited.