Avodah Zarah Daf Ayin Gimmel, Part 5

 

Introduction

Today s section contains a foundational dispute about forbidden mixtures.

 

זה הכלל מין במינו במשהו שלא במינו בנותן טעם:

רב ושמואל דאמרי תרוייהו כל איסורין שבתורה במינן במשהו שלא במינן בנותן טעם זה הכלל לאתויי מאי לאתויי כל איסורין שבתורה

 

This is the general rule: When a species is mixed with [another species of] the same type [the mixture is disqualified] by the smallest quantity, but with a different type [it is disqualified when the prohibited element] imparts a flavor.

Rav and Samuel both say: With all the prohibited things of the Torah: if one species [becomes mixed] with the same species, [it prohibits the entire mixture] even in the smallest quantity. With a different species, when [the prohibited element] imparts a flavor.

What do the words this is the general rule come to include? To include all the prohibited substances in the Torah.

 

Rav and Shmuel s reading of the mishnah adheres closely to the simple meaning. Any time two of the same substance become mixed together, one permitted and one forbidden, for instance terumah wine with regular wine, the mixture will be prohibited no matter how small a quantity of prohibited substance. But if the substances are different, for instance lard in a pancake mixture, the mixture is prohibited only if the prohibited substance imparts a flavor. The last line of the mishnah indicates that this is true no matter what the prohibition.

 

ר’ יוחנן ור"ל דאמרי תרוייהו כל איסורין שבתורה בין במינן בין שלא במינן בנותן טעם חוץ מטבל ויין נסך במינן במשהו ושלא במינן בנותן טעם

וזה הכלל לאתויי טבל

 

R. Yohanan and R. Shimon b. Lakish both say: With all the prohibited substances in the Torah, whether mixed with the same species or with a different species, [the mixture is prohibited only when the prohibited substance] imparts a flavor, except for tevel and yayin nesekh. [With these substances if they are mixed] with the same species [the mixture is prohibted] by the smallest quantity, but with a different species when [the prohibited substance] imparts a flavor.

What do the words this is the general rule come to include? To include tevel.

 

R. Yohanan and R. Shimon b. Lakish are more lenient. In most cases, even with two of the same species, the mixture is prohibited only if the forbidden substance imparts taste [note that this is actually impossible to test. If non-kosher beef is mixed up with kosher beef, how could one tell whether the non-kosher beef imparts a taste]. The only exception is tevel produce from which tithes have not been removed. And yayin nesekh.

The mishnah already referred to yayin nesekh. So the only extra thing it can add by saying this is the general rule is tevel. Again, this is a more difficult reading of the mishnah.