Avodah Zarah, Daf Ayin Gimmel, Part 6

 

Introduction

Today s section brings support from baraitot for both Rav and Shmuel and R. Yohanan and R. Shimon b. Lakish in yesterday s section.

 

תניא כוותיה דרב ושמואל תניא כוותיה דרבי יוחנן ור"ל תניא כוותיה דרב ושמואל כל איסורין שבתורה במינן במשהו שלא במינן בנותן טעם

תניא כוותיה דר’ יוחנן ור"ל כל איסורין שבתורה בין במינן בין שלא במינן בנותן טעם חוץ מטבל ויין נסך במינן במשהו שלא במינן בנותן טעם

 

It was taught in agreement with Rav and Samuel, and it was taught in agreement with R. Yhanan and R. Shimon b. Lakish. It was taught in agreement with Rav and Samue: 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.

It was taught in agreement with R. Yohanan and R. Shimon b. Lakish: 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.

 

The baraitot in this section are word for word the same as the amoraic statements in yesterday s section.

 

בשלמא יין נסך משום חומרא דעבודת כוכבים אלא טבל מ"ט כהיתירו כך איסורו דאמר שמואל חטה אחת פוטרת את הכרי ותניא נמי הכי במה אמרו טבל אוסר בכל שהוא במינו שלא במינו בנותן טעם:

 

This makes sense with yayin nesekh because of the stringency in the laws of idolatry; but what is the reason for tevel?

Like its permissibility so is its prohibition; for Shmuel said: One grain of wheat can exempt the heap.

And we also learned in a baraita: When did [the rabbis] say that tevel renders [a mixture] prohibited by the smallest quantity, it refers to the same species, but when it is with a different species it must impart a flavor.

 

We can understand why R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish are stringent about yayin nesekh the laws about idolatry are stringent. But why are they stringent about tevel produce from which tithes and terumah have not been removed?

The answer is that the prohibition is the same as the permission. If a person separates one grain of wheat from a pile of wheat and declares it to be terumah, the entire pile permitted. So too one grain of wheat can make the entire pile prohibited. In other words, one grain has significance, both to make a pile of grain (or any type of terumah, such as a vat of wine) permitted, so too it has the power to make an entire pile prohibited, if one prohibited grain falls in.

Finally, the Talmud cites another baraita that supports the idea that tevel prohibits a mixture in the smallest amount only when it is of the same species. This baraita accords with R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish.