Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf, Part 6

 

Introduction

Earlier we learned that one cannot sell a non-Jew a large animal lest they work that animal on Shabbat. Today’s section asks whether one can sell a large animal on condition that the non-Jew slaughter it for food.

 

איבעיא להו בהמה על מנת לשחוט מהו? התם טעמא מאי שרי ר’ יהודה דלאו ברשותיה קיימי ולא מצי משהי להו אבל בהמה כיון דברשותיה דעובד כוכבים קיימא משהי לה או דלמא לא שנא

 

The question was asked: What is the rule about selling them cattle with the stipulation that it be slaughtered? Shall we say that in those other instances the reason why R. Judah permits is because the land is not in the non-Jew’s domain and therefore he may not be able to leave it there, whereas cattle, which is in his own domain, he might keep it [unslaughtered], or perhaps it makes no difference?

 

When the Jew sells a tree, grain, or low-growth to the non-Jew while still attached to the land, the Jew still owns the land. He will have some leverage over the non-Jew to get him to cut it down. This might be why R. Judah allows one to sell the vegetation to the non-Jew. But if he sells an animal on condition that it be slaughtered, he will have little leverage. The non-Jew might hold on to it for a long period of time, and perhaps work the animal on Shabbat. In this case, perhaps R. Judah would hold that it can’t be sold. Or maybe it makes no difference, and R. Judah would permit here as well.

 

ת"ש דתניא בהמה ע"מ לשחוט ושוחט דברי רבי יהודה רבי מאיר אומר אין מוכרין לו אלא שחוטה:

   

Come and hear: It has been taught: Cattle with the stipulation that he should slaughter it, and he then slaughters it, the words of R. Judah. R. Meir says: We may only sell it to them when slaughtered.

 

Indeed, the same dispute exists when it comes to cattle.