Avodah Zarah 70a — the Talmud in English

And we are not concerned that perhaps they gave the gentile prostitute to touch the wine, for

although the inclination toward sexual transgression overcame them, ![](pamud.bmp "

exact page position")

the inclination toward libation wine did not overcome them [although the desire for forbidden relations overcame them, they do not desire to drink libation wine to the same extent, and there is no concern that they stumbled in this].

that is, although their sexual desire became stronger than they could control, they did not have such a strong desire to drink wine used for idolatrous libation, and there is no concern that they violated this prohibition].

But

a Jewish prostitute, with gentiles reclining

with her,

and she brought wine with her,

the wine is forbidden

[the wine is forbidden].

What is the reason?

Since she is degraded in their eyes, she follows after them

[since she abandoned herself to them, she certainly allowed them to touch the wine].

According to Rashi, it appears that the prostitute allows them to touch the wine. And although “the inclination toward libation wine” did not overcome them, nevertheless, since “she is degraded in their eyes,” she does not prevent them from touching the wine. The Ya'avetz explains that a prostitute who has intercourse with a gentile becomes especially attached to him, and it is difficult for her to separate from him, since he is available to her at all times. Therefore, she allows him to make the wine libation, thereby satisfying all his desire, as explained in Gittin (45a) concerning the daughters of Rav Yannai who were taken captive: They preferred gentiles and complied with them in everything. But the Rambam (Forbidden Foods 12:26) wrote that the gentiles touch the wine without her knowledge. She herself, however, does not allow them to touch it, because “the inclination toward libation wine did not overcome her.” (See there the Lehem Mishne, and the Torat Hayyim on this sugya.)

There was a certain house in which Jewish wine was located, and a gentile entered, closed the door behind him, and there was a crack in the door. [There was an incident involving a house in which Jewish wine was kept, and a gentile entered it and closed the door behind him. But there was a crack in the door through which one could look into the house]. Afterwards, when they opened the door,

[There was an incident involving a house in which a Jew’s wine was kept. A gentile entered it and closed the door behind him. However, there was a crack in the door through which one could look into the house.]

Afterward, when they opened the door,

a gentile was found standing between the barrels [the gentile was found standing between the barrels].

[they found the gentile standing among the barrels].

Rava said: Everything opposite the crack is permitted [all the barrels opposite the crack in the door are permitted for drinking], since the gentile was afraid to touch them, lest they see him from outside.

[all the barrels opposite the crack in the door are permitted for drinking], because the gentile was afraid to touch them, lest people outside see him.

But

those on this side and those on that side [the barrels located on the sides]

[the barrels located on the sides]

are forbidden

even for benefit, lest he swirled his hands in them and rendered them libation.

There was a certain Jewish wine that was located in a house [an incident involving Jewish wine kept in a two-story house]

[There was an incident involving a Jew’s wine kept in a two-story house]

in which a Jew lived on the

upper

floor, and a gentile on the

lower

floor. The wine had been placed on the upper floor, and the Jew watched over it from above.

Once,

the

residents of that house

he

ard

the sound of a quarrel,

and

went out [they went out to see what it was about].

[to see what was happening].

The gentile came first and closed the door behind him. [The gentile returned home before the Jew and closed the door behind him].

[The gentile returned home before the Jew and closed the door behind him.]

Rava said: The wine is permitted [the wine is permitted for drinking].

[the wine is permitted for drinking].

He says to himself: Just as I came first, perhaps the Jew also came first and is sitting upstairs and watching me. [Since the gentile says in his heart: Perhaps, just as I returned first, the Jew also returned first and is standing on the upper floor watching the wine].

[Since the gentile thinks: Perhaps, just as I returned first, the Jew also returned first and is standing upstairs watching the wine, he is afraid to touch it].

An incident involving

a certain inn [an inn]

[lodging house]

in which there was [was located in it]

[was kept]

Jewish wine; a gentile was found sitting among the barrels [and a gentile was found standing between the barrels].

[and a gentile was found standing among the barrels].

Rava said: If he would be caught as a thief,

that is, if he cannot justify his touching the wine, and if they caught him touching the wine they would judge him as a thief,

it is permitted [the wine is permitted for drinking].

[the wine is permitted for drinking].

And if not,

the wine

is forbidden.

An incident involving

a certain house in which wine was located [a Jew’s house in which wine was kept].

[a Jew’s house in which wine was kept].

A gentile was found standing among the barrels [a gentile was found standing between the barrels].

[a gentile was found standing among the barrels].

Rava said: If he has a means of excusing himself, the wine is forbidden. [If he can find an excuse for entering the house, the wine is forbidden], since he is not afraid to pour the wine as libation, saying: If they catch me, I can give an excuse for myself.

[If he can find an excuse for entering the house, the wine is prohibited], because he is not afraid to pour an idolatrous libation into the wine, thinking: If they catch me, I can justify myself.

And if not,

if he cannot find an excuse for entering,

the wine is permitted.

The wine is permitted, since because of his fright he certainly did not have time to pour it as libation.

The Gemara raises a difficulty:

Meitivi,

for we learned in a beraita:

“If the inn was locked,

and the gentile was secluded with the wine,

or if he said to him,

the Jew said to the gentile, Stand outside and

guard,

the wine

is forbidden.”

For we are concerned that, since he said to him “Guard,” the gentile thinks that the Jew intends to distance himself from the place, and he is not afraid to enter and pour the wine as libation.

The Gemara infers:

Is it not the case that

the intention of the beraita is to say that the wine is forbidden

even though he has no means of excusing himself [even in a case in which the gentile has no excuse to explain his entry into the house containing the wine] ?!

[even in a case where the gentile has no excuse to explain his entry into the house containing the wine] ?!

And not in accordance with Rava’s words!

The Gemara answers:

No!

The wine is forbidden only

when he has a means of excusing himself [when the gentile has an excuse to explain his entry into the place containing the wine].

[when the gentile has an excuse to explain his entry into the place where the wine is kept].

An incident involving

a certain Jew and a gentile who were sitting and drinking wine [they sat and drank wine together].

[they were sitting and drinking wine together].

Suddenly,

the Jew heard the sound of prayer at the synagogue, arose, and went away [the Jew heard the sound of prayer in the synagogue, arose and went away], leaving the gentile alone with the wine.

[the Jew heard the sound of prayer in the synagogue, arose, and left the gentile alone with the wine].

Rava said: The wine is permitted [the wine is permitted for drinking].

[the wine is permitted for drinking].

Since

he says to himself [the gentile says to himself],

[the gentile says to himself],

perhaps

he will now remember his wine and return [he will suddenly remember his wine and return], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

[he may suddenly remember his wine and return], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

An incident involving

a certain Jew and a gentile who were sitting in a boat,

and it was the eve of Shabbat.

and it was the eve of Shabbat.

Suddenly,

the Jew heard the sound of the shofar from the house of Shimshi, and went out and left. [The Jew heard the sound of the shofar announcing the onset of Shabbat, and went out and left the gentile alone with the wine].

[The Jew heard the sound of the shofar announcing the onset of Shabbat, and left the gentile alone with the wine.]

Rava said: The wine is permitted [the wine is permitted for drinking].

[the wine is permitted for drinking].

Since

he says to himself [the gentile says to himself],

[the gentile says to himself],

perhaps

he will now remember his wine and return [he will suddenly remember his wine and return], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

[he may suddenly remember his wine and return], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

And if it is because of Shabbat?

That is, if you say that the gentile is not afraid that the Jew will return to the boat on Shabbat, and he pours the wine as libation.

There is no concern for this!

For

this

is what

Issur the convert said [a convert whose name was Issur]:

[a convert named Issur]

“When we were among the Arameans, we would say: ‘Jews do not observe Shabbat; for if they observed Shabbat, how many purses would be found in the marketplace?’” [When I was a gentile, I said to myself: Surely the Jews do not truly observe Shabbat. For if they did observe Shabbat, we would find purses of money that had been lost in the marketplace. Rather, surely Jews who see money before their eyes desecrate Shabbat for its sake].

[When I was a gentile, I said to myself: Surely Jews do not truly observe Shabbat. For if they did observe Shabbat, we would find money-pouches lost in the marketplace. Rather, Jews who see money before them certainly desecrate Shabbat for its sake].

And we did not know

that the reason we do not find purses of money on Shabbat is because

we hold like Rabbi Isaac.

For Rabbi Isaac said: One who finds a purse on Shabbat,

and wishes to carry it to a concealed place in order to return and take it after Shabbat,

carries it fewer than four cubits at a time.

Therefore, in our case, the gentile does not rely on the Jew’s observance of Shabbat, and assumes that since there is a monetary loss here for the Jew, he will certainly return to the boat on Shabbat to take the wine. And he is afraid to touch it.

An incident involving

a certain lion that was roaring in the winepress [a lion roared in the winepress].

[a lion roared in the winepress].

A gentile heard it,

and was frightened,

and hid among the barrels [he ran and hid among the barrels].

[he ran and hid among the barrels].

Rava said: The wine is permitted [the wine is permitted for drinking].

[the wine is permitted for drinking].

Since

he says to himself [the gentile says to himself],

[the gentile says to himself],

perhaps

just as I hid, the Jew also hid behind me, and is watching me [just as I am hiding here, the Jew too is hiding behind me and will see me], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

[just as I am hiding here, perhaps the Jew is hiding behind me as well and will see me], and he is afraid to touch the wine.

An incident involving

certain thieves who went up to Pumbedita and opened many barrels [thieves came to Pumbedita and opened many wine barrels].

[thieves came to Pumbedita and opened many wine barrels].

Rava said: the wine is permitted

the wine is permitted for drinking.

What is the reason?

Because

most of the thieves,

most of the thieves of Pumbedita,

are Jews.

And likewise

an incident occurred in Nehardea

a similar incident occurred in Nehardea,

and Shmuel said: the wine is permitted

the wine is permitted for drinking.

Even though most of the thieves of Nehardea were not Jews.

And the Gemara explains:

According to whom?

According to whose view did Shmuel hold when he permitted the wine?

According to

the opinion of

Rabbi Eliezer.

For he said:

Whenever the uncertainty is not about the “contact”—for example, whether the gentile touched the wine—but there is

an uncertainty

about the very

entry

into the place of prohibition,

it is pure.

And therefore here, since we are not certain that the thief was a gentile, and if so, we have an uncertainty about the very entry—whether a Jew or a gentile entered—the wine is permitted.

For it was taught

in Tractate Taharot (chapter 6, Mishna 5):

“One who enters a valley

in the rainy season, and

knows that there is

impurity in a certain field, and says: I went to that place, but I do not know whether I entered that field or whether I did not enter it.

Rabbi Eliezer

declares him pure, while the Sages declare him impure.” Because Rabbi Eliezer

would say

(there, Mishna 4):

“An uncertainty of entry renders one pure; an uncertainty of contact renders one impure.”

The Gemara rejects this:

No!

There is no necessity to establish Shmuel’s words only according to the view of Rabbi Eliezer.

For

it is different there, since there are those who open them for the sake of money

there are thieves who open the barrels for the sake of money, and when they see that there is wine in them, they do not touch it],

if so,

it is a compound uncertainty.

Uncertainty 1: Was the thief a Jew or a gentile?

Uncertainty 2: Even if he was a gentile, did he touch the wine or not?

And in such a case, according to everyone, the wine is permitted.