Avodah Zarah, Daf Nun Tet, Part 2
Introduction
Today s section continues to explain R. Yohanan s strict rulings.
ועל תורמוסן משום בישולי עובדי כוכבים לפי שאינן בני תורה טעמא דאינן בני תורה הא בני תורה שרי
[And he decreed] against their lupines because of the prohibition of eating food cooked by non-Jews, because [the inhabitants of Gavla] were not students of Torah. His reason was that they were not students of Torah. Had they been students of Torah, [the lupines] would have been permitted!
According to R. Yohanan the lupines cooked by Gentiles are prohibited only because the people of Gavla are not students of Torah. The implication is that they are lax in their observance and in consequence, the halakhah must be extra stringent with them. But, as we shall see, lupines should have been prohibited in any case.
והאמר רב שמואל בר רב יצחק אמר רב כל שנאכל כמות שהוא חי אין בו משום בישולי עובדי כוכבים
But surely R. Shmuel son of R. Yitzchak said in the name of Rav: Whatever is eaten raw does is not prohibited on account of having been cooked by Gentiles.
Lupines cannot be eaten raw. Therefore, the prohibition of food cooked by Gentiles should, according to a statement made by Rav, apply to them. This was an issue more fully discussed way back on 38a.
ר’ יוחנן כי הך לישנא ס"ל דאמר רב שמואל בר רב יצחק אמר רב כל שאינו עולה לשולחן של מלכים ללפת בו את הפת אין בו משום בישולי עובדי כוכבים טעמא דאינן בני תורה הא בני תורה שרי
R. Yohanan follows a different version [of the teaching]: R. Shmuel son of R. Yitzchak said in the name of Rav: Whatever is not brought on the table of kings to dip with bread is not prohibited on account of having been cooked by Gentiles. Therefore his reason was that they were not students of Torah, had they been students of Torah [the lupines] would have been permitted.
There is another version of what types of foods are prohibited if cooked by Gentiles foods that kings use to accompany bread. Simple lupines, a type of bean, are not eaten by kings. Therefore, Jews may eat lupines cooked by non-Jews. However, R. Yohanan prohibited the Jews of Gavla because they were not students of Torah. He thought that if they heard of this leniency they might come to transgress other laws.