Avodah Zarah, Daf Lammed, Part 4
Introduction
More discussion of uncovered wine! I told you they took this subject seriously.
אמר רבא האי חמרא דאקרים עד תלתא יומי יש בו משום גילוי ומשום יין נסך מכאן ואילך אין בו משום גילוי ואין בו משום יין נסך
ונהרדעי אמרי אפי’ לבתר תלתא יומי חיישינן משום גילוי מ"ט זימנין מיקרי שתי
Rava said: Wine which has formed a film for the first three days it is made unfit by being left uncovered and it is suspected of idolatrous use; from this point and onwards, it is not made unfit by being left uncovered nor it is suspected of idolatrous use.
The Nehardeans say that even after three days we must be concerned about it being left uncovered. What is the reason? Occasionally even such wine is drunk [by snakes].
The issue here is whether snakes will drink wine or non-Jews will libate wine that has grown old and formed a film over the top.
ת"ר יין תוסס אין בו משום גילוי וכמה תסיסתו ג’ ימים. השחלים אין בהם משום גילוי ובני גולה נהגו בהן איסור
ולא אמרן אלא דלית בהו חלא אבל אית בהו חלא מיגרי בהו
Our Rabbis taught: Wine in the first stage of fermentation does not become prohibited by being left uncovered. And how long is it considered to be fermenting? Three days.
Cress-dish does not become prohibited by being left uncovered. But those in the Diaspora have a custom to forbid it it [if left uncovered]. But this was said only if there was no vinegar in it; but if there is vinegar in it, it deters snakes.
The baraita continues to discuss what types of wine are subject to the laws of uncovered liquids.
It also begins to discuss dishes into which wine has been placed. Will snakes drink even from them?
כותח הבבלי אין בו משום גילוי ובני גולה נהגו בו איסור
אמר רב מנשי אי אית ביה נקורי חיישינן
Babylonian kutah does not become prohibited by being left uncovered, but those in the Diaspora have a custom to prohibit it. R. Manashi said: If it has traces of biting we must suspect [it of being bitten by a snake].
Babylonian kutah is a dairy dish containing a dairy base, with additions of grain and wine.
אמר רב חייא בר אשי אמר שמואל מי טיף טיף אין בו משום גילוי
אמר רב אשי והוא דעביד טיף להדי טיף טיף
R. Hiyya b. Ashi said in the name of Shmuel: Dripping water does not become prohibited by being left uncovered. R. Ashi said: That is if the dripping is continuous.
Snakes seem to be afraid of the sound of dripping water.
אמר רב חייא בר אשי אמר שמואל פי תאנה אין בו משום גילוי כמאן כי האי תנא דתניא רבי אליעזר אומר אוכל אדם ענבים ותאנים בלילה ואינו חושש משום שנאמר (תהלים קטז, ו) שומר פתאים ה’
R. Hiyya b. Ashi said in the name of Shmuel: The opening of a fig does not become prohibited by being left uncovered. This is like the following Tanna: For it has been taught: R. Eliezer says, One may eat grapes and figs at night without suspecting any harm, for Scripture says, The Lord guards the simple (Psalms 116:6).
When a fig is picked a little hole is left where it was attached to the tree. R. Hiyya b. Ashi says that one need not suspect that the snake drank from there. But the Talmud s comment implies that the snake may indeed have drank from there if left uncovered. Nevertheless, one may eat the fig because God protects people.