Avodah Zarah, Daf Samekh Zayin, Part 1

 

Introduction

This week s sugya continues with the next clause of the mishnah. These sugyot are some of the most important in the entire Talmud with regard to the laws of kashrut. The particular rule is called noten ta am lifgam gives a bad taste.

For ease of reference I am copying the relevant clause in the mishnah here:

 

This is the general rule: whatever derives advantage [from yayin nesekh by its]

imparting a flavor is prohibited, but whatever does not derive advantage [from yayin nesekh by its] imparting a flavor is permitted, as, for example vinegar which fell upon split beans

 

זה הכלל כל שבהנאתו בנותן טעם כו’:

אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל הכי הלכתא

 

This is the general rule: Whatever derives advantage [from yayin nesekh by its] imparting a flavor etc.

Rav Judah said in the name of Shmuel: Such is the halakhah.

 

The halakhah follows the mishnah if the prohibited substance imparts a bad taste the mixture is permitted.

 

ואמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל לא שנו אלא שנפל לתוך גריסין רותחין אבל נפל לתוך גריסין צוננין והרתיחן נעשה כמי שהשביח ולבסוף פגם ואסור

 

And Rav Judah said in the name of Shmuel: They taught this only when [the vinegar] fell into hot split beans; but if it fell into cold split beans and he then warms them it is as if they were improved and only in the end worsened, and therefore they are prohibited.

 

According to Shmuel, if the vinegar falls into cold beans it improves the taste. This would make it prohibited. When he heats it up the vinegar now imparts a bad flavor. But since it was good at first, the beans stay prohibited. In other words once the flavor is considered good it cannot switch to be considered bad.

 

וכן כי אתא רבין אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר ר’ יוחנן לא שנו אלא שנפל לתוך גריסין רותחין אבל נפל לתוך גריסין צוננין והרתיחן נעשה כמי שהשביח ולבסוף פגם ואסור

 

Similarly when Rabin came [from Eretz Yisrael] he reported that Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Yohanan: They taught this only when [the vinegar] fell into hot split beans; but if it fell into cold split beans and he then warms them it is as if they were improved and only in the end worsened, and therefore they are prohibited.

 

This is the same tradition as above, here attributed to rabbis from Eretz Yisrael.

 

וכן כי אתא רב דימי כו’ וכך היו עושין בערבי שבתות בציפורי וקוראין אותם שחליים

 

Similarly when Rav Dimi came [from Eretz Yisrael etc.] And thus they used to do on the eve of Sabbaths in Tzippori and they called them cress.

 

Rav Dimi restates the same statement from above. It has been abbreviated in the talmudic record because by now it is getting repetitive. He also adds that they used to make a dish of split beans and vinegar on erev Shabbat in Tzippori. Sounds pretty good if you ask me.