משנה: מִי שֶׁהָיָה בֵיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לְבֵית עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנָפַל אָסוּר לִבְנוֹתוֹ. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה כּוֹנֵס בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וּבוֹנֶה. הָיָה שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה נִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה. אֲבָנָיו וְעֵצָיו וַעֲפָרוֹ מְטַמְּאִין כַּשֶּׁרֶץ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ וגו׳. רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר כַּנִּדָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ. מַה הַנִּידָּה מְטַמֵּא בְמַשָּא אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמֵּא בְמַשָּא׃ MISHNAH: If one’s house was connected168His house and the pagan temple share a wall. to a house of pagan worship and collapsed, it is forbidden to rebuild it. What should he do? He restricts himself to his property169In the Babli: 4 cubits. His wall should be separated from the temple by 4 cubits. The text of Maimonides is that of the Yerushalmi. and builds. If it was his and the idolatry’s, it is judged half by half170He may take half of the building material of the common wall for his own use; the remainder is forbidden for all usufruct for any Jew. Its stones, its wood, and its dust make impure like a crawling animal171As described in Lev. 11: 29–38, it makes impure by touch. This applies also to the stones which remain his property., as it is said172Deut. 7:26. In Lev. 11:40–41, all crawling things which are forbidden as food are called abomination, including those which make impure by touch., you shall treat it as an abomination. Rebbi Aqiba says like a menstruating woman as it is said173Is. 30:22. In Lev. 12:2 menstruation is called “the separation of her feeling miserable”., you shall throw it away like feeling miserable; you will call it excrement. Since the menstruating makes impure by load174In Lev. 15:20–21 it is stated that anything she lies on becomes an original source of impurity. This means that if a woman in her period lies on top of ten mattresses and somebody touches the lowest one, which the woman never touched, he becomes impure as if he touched the woman herself. For R. Aqiba anybody who carries an idol becomes impure even if he never touched the idol., also idolatry makes impure by load.
הלכה: מִי שֶׁהָיָה בֵיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לְבֵית עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כול׳. כָּתוּב תּוֹעֵבָה בְנִידָּה וְכָתוּב תּוֹעֵבָה בִשְׁרָצִים וְכָתוּב תּוֹעֵבָה בָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. בָּנִידָּה כִּ֤י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּֽוֹעֵבוֹת. בִּשְׁרָצִים לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל כָּל־תּֽוֹעֵבָֽה׃ בָּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְלֹֽא־תָבִ֤יא תֽוֹעֵבָה֙ אֶל־בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ. אֲבָל אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ לְאֵי זוֹ דָבָר הוּקְשָׁה. רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר לְתֽוֹעֵיבָה דְנִידָּה הוּקְשָׁה. מַה הַנִּידָּה מְטַמֵּא בְמַשָּׂא אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמֵּא בְמַשָּׂא׃ אוֹ מַה הַנִּידָּה מְטַמֵּא עַל גַּב אֶבֶן מְסַמֵּא אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמֵּא בְאֶבֶן מְסַמֵּא. רִבִּי זְרִיקָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי חֲנִינָה. וְאִית אָֽמְרִין לָהּ. בְּשֵׁם רַב חִסְדָּא. מוֹדֶה רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה לַחֲכָמִים שֶׁאֵין עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמֵּא בְאֶבֶן מְסַמֵּא. וְרַבָּנִן אָֽמְרֵי. לְתֽוֹעֵיבָה שֶׁבִּשְׁרָצִים הוּקְשָׁה. מַה הַשֶּׁרֶץ מְטַמֵּא בְהֵיסֵט אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמֵּא בְהֵיסֵט. אוֹ מַה הַשֶּׁרֶץ מְטַמֵּא בְכַעֲדָשָׁה יָכוֹל אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה תְטַמֵּא בְכַעֲדָשָׁה. רִבִּי זְעִירָא רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָן רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. וַ֖יִּצָּ֣מְדוּ לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַ֝יֹּאכְל֗וּ זִבְחֵ֥י מֵתִֽים׃ מַה הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא בִכְזַיִת אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה תְטַמֵּא בִּכְזַיִת. אוֹ מַה הַמֵּת מְטַמֵּא מִשֶּׁיכְנִיס רָאשֵׁי אֶצְבָּעוֹתָיו יָכוֹל אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִשֶּׁיַכְנִיס רָאשֵׁי אֶצְבָּעוֹתָיו. נְתִיצָה נְתִיצָה גָמַר מִבַּיִת הַמְנוּגָּע. מַה בַּיִת הַמְנוּגָּע מִשֶּׁיַכְנִיס רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוּבּוֹ אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִשֶּׁיַכְנִיס רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוּבּוֹ. אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנִינָה. זֹאת אוֹמֶרֶת שֶׁאֵין טוּמְאַת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְחוּוֶרֶת. דִּלֹא כֵן מַקִּישָׁהּ לַקַּלִּים וְאֵינוֹ מַקִּישָׁהּ לַחוֹמָרִין. אָמַר רִבִּי מָנָא. מְחוּוֶרֶת הִיא. וְלָמָּה הוּא מַקִּישָׁהּ לָמֵת וּלְשֶׁרֶץ. לְלַמֵּד מִמֶּנָּהּ לַקַּלִּים שֶׁבָּהּ. הָדָא דְאַתְּ אָמַר בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שְׁבוּרָה. אֲבָל בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שְׁלֵימָה כָּל־שֶׁהִיא. דָּמַר רִבִּי יּוֹסֵי בֵּירִבִּי בּוּן רָב חָמָא בַּר גּוֹרִיוֹן בְּשֵׁם רב. בַּעַל רֹאשׁ גְּוִייָה הֲוָה וּכְאָפוּן הֲוָה. וּמָה טַעַם. וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בַּ֥עַל בְּרִ֖ית לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃ HALAKHAH: “If one’s house was connected to a house of pagan worship,” etc. 175This Halakhah also is Halakhah 9:1 in Šabbat(ש). Evidence points to Šabbat as the primary source. Much of the argument is found in Babli Šabbat 82b–83b. There is written abomination about the menstruating women, abomination about vermin, abomination about idolatry. About the menstruating woman, for anybody who would commit any of these abominations176Lev. 18:29. The verse refers to all prohibitions of a sexual nature.. About vermin, do not eat any abomination177Deut. 14: 2. The verse refers to all food prohibitions.. About idolatry, and do not bring any abomination into your house178Deut. 7:26. This verse refers uniquely to idols and idolatry.. But I do not know for which purpose it was compared. Rebbi Aqiba says, it was compared to abomination regarding the menstruating woman. As the menstruating woman imparts impurity by load174In Lev. 15:20–21 it is stated that anything she lies on becomes an original source of impurity. This means that if a woman in her period lies on top of ten mattresses and somebody touches the lowest one, which the woman never touched, he becomes impure as if he touched the woman herself. For R. Aqiba anybody who carries an idol becomes impure even if he never touched the idol., also idolatry imparts impurity by load. Or since the menstruating woman imparts impurity through a cover stone179Stone is impervious to impurity. In general, anything not susceptible to impurity cannot transmit impurity. The one and only exception is impurity caused by genital discharges where impurity by load (Note 174) applies to anything under the affected person and even a stone plate covering a mattress will not shield the mattress from impurity if a person afflicted by a genital discharge sits on the stone. Babli Niddah 69b., does idolatry impart impurity through a cover stone? Rebbi Zeriqa in the name of Rebbi Ḥanina180In, Šabbat: Rav Jehudah. On one hand, the tradent in Šabbat is mentioned as R. Zeriqan, the Yerushalmi form, not the Babli form Zeriqa as here; but this is to be explained by the babylonized spelling of the text of the present Tractate. On the other hand, the tradent in the Babli (Šabbat 82b) is R. Eleazar, a known student of R. Ḥanina., but some say in the name of Rav Ḥisda: Rebbi Aqiba agrees with the Sages that idolatry does not impart impurity through a cover stone. But the rabbis say it was compared to abominations of vermin. As vermin imparts impurity by motion181Here one has a serious discrepancy between the technical terminology of the Babli and the Yerushalmi. In the Babli impurity by motion is a form of impurity by load: If a person suffering from a genital discharge moves something indirectly or is moved with it, he imparts impurity. In the Yerushalmi this is consistently designated by its Mishnaic name, מִדְרָס, “stepping on.” This kind of impurity emphatically does not exist for vermin, or anything other than genital discharges. Therefore היסט the “motion” mentioned here must be that of a person’s hand touching an impure object. Transfer of impurity by touch is the only one mentioned for the eight kinds of impure vermin., so also idolatry imparts impurity by motion. Or as vermin in the size of a lentil imparts impurity182Mishnah Ahilut 1:8. This minimum size for generation of impurity does not apply to complete limbs. does also idolatry in the size of a lentil impart impurity? Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman, Rebbi Eleazar, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: They were yoked to Baal Peor and ate sacrifices to the dead183Ps. 106:28.. As the dead in the size of an olive impart impurity182Mishnah Ahilut 1:8. This minimum size for generation of impurity does not apply to complete limbs. so idolatry in the size of an olive imparts impurity. Or since a corpse imparts impurity once a person puts his finger tips in184This refers to “tent” impurity (Ševuot 2:1 Note 34) which is created by any part of a person’s body being under the same roof as a corpse, even if it is only a finger tip., could I think that idolatry imparts once a person puts his finger tips in? Tearing down, tearing down one infers from the leprous house185A house afflicted with recurrent “leprosy” must be torn down (Lev. 14:45). Pagan altars must be torn down (Deut. 12:3). By the nature of the topics, the verb נתץ is used in the singular in the first case, in the plural in the second. Therefore this is a comparison (הקש), not an “equal cut” (גזירה שוה); the laws will be similiar, not exactly identical.. Since in a leprous house when he entered with his head and most of his body186Based on Lev. 14:46, which decrees impurity for anybody coming into the house, Sifra Meṣoraˋ Pereq 5(4), Mishnah Negaˋim 13:8., so idolatry when he entered with his head and most of his body. Rebbi Ḥanina187In Šabbat: Ḥanania. The latter attribution is correct since he must have been a contemporary of R. Mana (II). said, this means that the impurity of idolatry is not consistent188Neither R. Aqiba nor the rabbis are consistent in their comparisons.. For otherwise, why does one compare if for the facile [impurity] and does not compare for the strict? Rebbi Mana said, it is consistent. Why was it compared to a corpse and to vermin? To inform in both cases about the facile [impurity] attached to it189The impurity of idols and idolatry should follow the rules common to impurities generated either by dead vermin or by bodily discharges. This argument is known in the Babli tradition as הַצַּד הַשָּׁוֶה “the equal part;” cf. H. Guggenheimer, Logical Problems in Jewish Tradition, in: “Confrontations with Judaism”, ed. Ph. Longworth, London 1966, p. 185.. This is for a broken idol. But an entire one even in the most minute size190This is consistent with the impurity of animals as food, where a complete creature always is biblically forbidden irrespective of size (cf. Nazir 6:1 Note 64)., as Rebbi Yose hen Rebbi Abun191In ש: R. Ḥuna. said, Rav Ḥama bar Gorion in the name of Rav: Baal was the penis gland in the form of a bean. What is the reason? They selected the Baal of circumcision as god192Jud. 8:33. Instead of “Baal of Covenant” one reads “Baal of circumcision” referring to the place of circumcision. This identifies the Semitic Baal with the Greek and Roman Priapus..
מַה טַעֲמֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי עֲקִיבָה. תַּעֵב תְּֽתַעֲבֶנּ֖וּ כְּנִידָּה. מַה טַעֲמוֹן דְּרַבָּנִן. שַׁקֵּ֧ץ ׀ תְּשַׁקְּצֶ֛נּוּ כְשֶׁרֶץ. מַה מְקַייְמִין רַבָּנִן טַעֲמֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי עֲקִיבָה תַּעֵב תְּֽתַעֲבֶ֖נּוּ. צָאֵהוּ נַבְּלֵיהוּ. מָה הֵן לְרַבָּנִין נַבְּלֵיהוּ. רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְשֵׁם רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר. צֵ֖א תֹּ֥אמַר לֽוֹ. אֶת שֶׁקּוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ פְּנֵי אֱלוֹהַּ קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ פְּנֵי כֶלֶב. עֵין כּוֹס קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ עֵין קוֹץ. גָּדִייָה קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ גָלִייָא. רִבִּי תַנְחוּמָא בָּעֵי רִבִּי הוּנָא. כָּתוּב הָעַ֞י אֲשֶׁ֨ר עִם־בֵּ֥ית אָ֨וֶן֙ מִקֶּ֣דֶם לְבֵֽיתאֵ֔ל. מִקֶּדֶם קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ בֵּיתְאֵל וְעַכְשָׁיו קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ בֵּית אָוֶן. תַּנֵּי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר. לֹא רָצָה לִקָרוֹת עוֹמְדָה קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ עֲמִידָה. וְצַווְחִין לִדְהוֹן שֶׁלְּמֵימֵי רַגְלַיִם עֲמִידָה. מַה מְקַייְמִין רַבָּנִין צֵ֖א תֹּ֥אמַר לֽוֹ. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֵּירִבִּי אַבִּין רִבִּי הוּנָא בְשֵׁם רַב יוֹסֵף. מְנַיִין שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים לָאָדָם צֵא עַד שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוּבּוֹ. What is Rebbi Aqiba’s reason? You should treat it as an abomination193Deut. 7:26., like a menstruating woman. What is the rabbis’ reason? You should detest it, like vermin. How do the rabbis uphold Rebbi Aqiba’s reason, you should treat it as abomination? Treat it as excrement, make it vile194ש has an addition: How does R. Aqiba interpret the rabbi’s reason, you should detest it? Detest it, make it vile. Babli 46a, Mekhilta dR. Ismael Mišpatim 20 (p. 332 ed. Horovitz-Rabin).. What means “make it vile” for the rabbis? Rebbi Samuel, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: you shall call it excrement. What is called God’s195In ש: King’s face.. Face is called Dog’s Face. Spring of the Cup is called Spring of the Thorn. The Place of Fortune is called the Place of Undress196All these places and most of their idolatrous meanings are unknown. A similar list is as Tannaitic text in the Babli 46a, Tosephta 6:4. Rebbi Tanḥuma (asked) [in the name of]197The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. Rebbi Huna: It is written198Jos. 7:2., The Ai which is near Bet-Awen East of Bethel. Earlier it was called Bethel but now one calls it Bet-Awen199It seems that the translator of the LXX read the verse in the way of the Talmud and eliminated the mention of Bet-Awen, “the House of Iniquity”, as a gloss, as accepted by the moderns. (However, E. Täubler in a marginal Note to his copy of M. Noth’s Das Buch Josua, Tübingen 1938, identifies Bet-Awen as the old name of “The Ai (ruin)”; cf. Arabic اون “calm, tranquillity”.). It was stated in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: If one does not want to call it ‘Omda one calls it ‘Amida since the flow of urine is called ‘amida200This piece is truncated here but it is in bad shape both here and in Šabbat (and Yalqut Jos. ad 7:2). It is intelligible in Gen. rabba 39(24), on Gen. 12:8, the first mention of The Ai in the Bible, following the interpretation of J. Levy:
ויעתק משם ההרה מקדם לבית אל. לשעבר היתה נקראת בית אל ועכשיו היא נקראת בית און. א״ר אלעזר לא זכתה להקראת בית העמל הרי היא הקראת בית העמד. תמן קריין לפועלא טבא עמילה ולהרהון של מימי רגלים עמידה.
He transferred from there to the mountain, East of Bethel. In the past it was called Bethel but now it is called Bet Awen. Rebbi Eleazar said, it did not merit to be called the House of Work but it is called the House of Baptism. There, they are calling a good worker عَمِل but the chamber pot ἀμίδα.. How (do the rabbis) [does Rebbi Aqiba]197The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. interpret you shall call it excrement? Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abin, Rebbi Huna in the name of Rav Josef: from (where) [here]197The reading of Avodah zarah is in (parentheses), that of Šabbat in [brackets]. that one does not tell anybody to leave unless he entered with his head and most of his body.
אִית מַתְנִיתָא אָֽמְרָה. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְנִידָּה וּמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ כְנִידָּה. וְאִית מַתְנִיתָא אָֽמְרָה. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְנִידָּה וּמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ כְשֶׁרֶץ. מָאן דָּמַר. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְנִידָּה וּמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ כְנִידָּה. נִיחָא. וּמָאן דָּמַר. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְנִידָּה וּמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ כְשֶׁרֶץ. כָּל־עַצָמוֹ אֵינוֹ קָרוּי נִידָּה אֶלָּא בִמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. תִּיפְתָּר בַּחֲקוּקִין עַל גּוּפָהּ. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב דִּכְפַר חָנָן. תִּיפְתָּר בְּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָאֵפוֹד עַצְמוֹ. כְּעִנְייָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיַּעַשׂ֩ גִדְע֜וֹן אֵפוֹד. מַתְנִיתִין כְּמָאן דְּאָמַר. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְנִידָּה וּמְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ כְנִידָּה. וְתַנִּינָן. אֲבָנָיו וְעֵצָיו וַעֲפָרוֹ מְטַמְּאִין כַּשֶּׁרֶץ. תִּיפְתָּר בְּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַבַּיִת עַצְמוֹ. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי בָּא רַב הוּנָא בְשֵׁם רַב. הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַבַּיִת אֲסָרוֹ. רִבִּי זְעִירָא רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֶת הַבַּיִת אֵין מוֹעֲלִין בּוֹ. וּמָאן דְּאָמַר. אֵין מוֹעֲלִין בּוֹ. אֲסָרוֹ. הָתִיב רִבִּי חַגַּיי קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יוֹסֵי. וְהָא מַתְנִיתָא פְלִיגָא עַל רַב. הַשּׁוֹקֶת שֶׁבַּסֶּלַע אֵין מְמַלְאִין בָּהּ וְאֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין בָּהּ וְאֵין מַזִּין מִמֶּנָּה וְאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה צָמִיד פָּתִיל וְאֵינָהּ פּוֹסֶלֶת אֶת הַמִּקְוֶה. הָיְתָה כֶלִי וְחִיבְּרָהּ בַּסִּיד וכול׳ עַד פּוֹסֵל אֶת הַמִּקְוֶה. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁחֲקָקָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ חִיבְּרָהּ. הָא אִם חִיבְּרָהּ וְאַחַר כָּךְ חֲקָקָהּ מָה אַתְּ עֲבַד לָהּ. פָּתַר לָהּ כְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. סִיתוּתָן שֶׁלָּאֲבָנִים הִיא גְמַר מְלָאכְתָן. לֵית הָדָא פְּלִיגָא עַל רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ דְּאָמַר. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרָה מוּתֶּרֶת. וְכֵן סָֽבְרִנָן מֵימַר. אִם בְּעָתִיד לְהַחֲזִירָן לְכִלְייָן דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אָסוּר. תִּיפְתָּר לַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְכָל־אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן וְאַחַר כָּךְ בְּנָייָן. לֵית הָדָא פְלִיגָא עַל רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. דְּרִבִּי יוֹחַנָן אָמַר. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרָה אֲסוּרָה. וְכֵן סָֽבְרִנָן מֵימַר. אִם בְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ עָתִיד לְהַחֲזִירָן לְכִלְייָן דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל מוּתָּר. תִּיפְתָּר בְּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַזְּמוֹרָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נְטָעָהּ. 204At some places, this paragraph has been shortened from the text in Šabbat to the extent as to become unintelligible without recourse to that text. There exists a baraita which says, idols are like a menstruating woman and its appurtenances are like a menstruating woman. Also there exists a baraita which says, idols are like a menstruating woman and its appurtenances are like crawling animals205The first opinion is the teaching of R. Aqiba in the Mishnah, the second is ascribed to R. Aqiba in the Babli, Šabbat 83a.. The one who says, idols are like a menstruating woman and its appurtenances are like a menstruating woman, is understandable. But the one who says, idols are like a menstruating woman and its appurtenances are like crawling animals, is it not called “unwell” only for its appurtenances206The full text of Is. 30:22 (quoted in Šabbat) which is the base of R. Aqiba’s argument reads: You will defile the cover of your silver statues and the clothing of your golden casts; you shall throw it away like feeling miserable, you shall call it excrement. Therefore the reference of “feeling miserable” which is the description of a female period refers to appurtenances only. The second version of the position of R. Aqiba seems untenable.? Explain it if they were engraved on its body. As Rebbi Jacob of Kefar Ḥanan said, explain it if one worships the ephod itself, similar to what is written, Gideon made an ephod207The formulation in Šabbat is better: R. Jacob said (as an alternative explanation) that the statue and its ornamental vest were two separate objects of worship. Either explanation is possible.. Our Mishnah follows him who said, idols are like a menstruating woman and its appurtenances are like a menstruating woman, and we have stated: “its stones, its wood, and its dust make impure like a crawling animal.208Since this sentence in the Mishnah precedes the statement of R. Aqiba, it is implied that R. Aqiba disagrees and imposes the impurity of niddah also on the stones which form the shell of the house of worship but are not the object of worship.” Explain it if he worshipped the house itself, as Rebbi Abba, Rab Huna said in the name of Rav: One who worships a house makes it forbidden209A comparison with the text in Šabbat shows that the sentence has to be split in two. First it is stated that the house will be strictly impure if it was worshipped. Then a question is missing, quoting the following Mishnah 9: Only a house originally built as a temple is permanently forbidden; all others can be cleansed by removing the idol and all installations and ornamentations made for it. How could one decree severe impurity which can be easily eliminated? On this Rav says that even a house not built for worship becomes permanently forbidden as if it had been built as a pagan temple, if itself was worshipped. Babli 47b, Meˋilah 20a.. Rebbi Zeˋira, Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: If somebody dedicates a house one does not commit larceny with it. And he who says, one does not commit larceny with it, can he make it forbidden210In Šabbat one reads: “R. Zeˋura, R. Abbahu in the name of R. Joḥanan, if one dedicates his house one commits larceny with it.” The reading here is confirmed by Halakhah 9.
One compares the rules concerning a pagan temple with those of a house dedicated to the Temple (Lev. 27:14–15). Improper use of dedicated things is larceny which must be expiated by a sacrifice and payment of a fine, (Lev. 5:14–16). Just as real estate cannot become forbidden by idolatry, larceny by improper use of dedicated objects does not apply to real estate. If a house is considered real estate, it cannot become forbidden by worship, and its improper use while in the possession of the Temple cannot trigger a fine for larceny. If it is not considered real estate since the building materials were movables before being used, it can become forbidden and improper use can trigger the fine.? Rebbi Ḥaggai objected before Rebbi Yose, does not a Mishnah disagree with Rav? “A trough in a rock: one does not fill from it, and one does not sanctify with it, and one does not sprinkle with it, it does not have to be fastened with a tightened cover, and it does not invalidate a miqweh. If it was a vessel and he fixed it with lime, etc., up to it invalidates a miqweh.211Mishnah Parah 5:7. The ashes of the Red Cow, used to purify a person from the impurity of the dead, must be strewn on “flowing water in a vessel” (Num. 19:17). A vessel is movable; therefore a trough hewn into the rock is not a vessel. The water flowing from the source into the trough becomes standing water. Therefore it may be used neither (1) to fill a vessel for the ashes, nor (2) to put some ashes in the water, “to sanctify it”, nor (3) to sprinkle the water on impure persons to purify them.
In addition, a corpse in a “tent” makes everything in the tent impure including the contents of vessels whose cover is not tightly fastened (Num. 19:15). Since the trough is no vessel, if it is under one roof with a corpse it only needs to be covered but the cover does not have to be fastened.
A miqweh (ritual bath) has to contain 40 seah of water. It becomes invalid if 3 log (⅛ seah) of water from a vessel is poured into it. If the trough is not a vessel, its water cannot invalidate the miqweh. On the other hand, if the trough was a vessel before it was fastened in the rock, it can be used for the ashes of the red cow, and its water will disqualify the miqweh.
Since a house was not a vessel before being connected to the ground, it should be considered real estate and not be subject to prohibition because of worship.” Because he excavated it and after that combined it212A vessel which is permanently fixed to the ground remains a vessel and can become forbidden.. Then if he fixed it and after that excavated it, what do you do with it213A piece of loose rock which was cemented to the ground and then a trough was hewn from it does not become a vessel. Then why should a house become forbidden by being worshipped since it becomes a house only after being connected to the ground?? Explain it following Rebbi Joḥanan that the hewing of stones is the completion of work on them214It is true that a finished house not built as a temple cannot become forbidden. But if the finished stones for a stone building were worshipped before being cemented in the house they already are forbidden and do not become permitted by use as building blocks.. Does this215. The Mishnah which subjects the building material of the collapsed wall to the rules of idolatry. Babli Meˋilah 20a. not disagree with Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish who said, an idol which was broken is permitted? And so we are thinking to say if in the future he can restore it to its vessel it is forbidden according to everybody216The statement of R. Simeon ben Laqish and the opposing statement of R. Joḥanan only refer to situations where it is not clear whether the idol can be restored or not.. Explain it if he worships every single stone and then builds with them217Then each individual stone remains forbidden; there is no contradiction to Mishnah 10.. Does this not disagree with Rebbi Joḥanan, as Rebbi Joḥanan said, an idol which was broken is forbidden? And so we are thinking to say if in the future he cannot restore it to its vessel it is permitted according to everybody216The statement of R. Simeon ben Laqish and the opposing statement of R. Joḥanan only refer to situations where it is not clear whether the idol can be restored or not.. Explain it if he worshipped a vine and afterwards planted it218This refers to a holy tree which is worshipped as Ashera (Mishnah 11) but where no idol is found buried under it. Then as connected to the ground it should not be part of the real estate and not be forbidden. It becomes permanently forbidden only if it was planted as a holy shoot..
לֵוִי אָמַר. מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַבַּיִת אֲסָרוֹ. לַמְּעָרָה לֹא אֲסָרָהּ. מַה בֵין בַּיִת לַמְּעָרָה. אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנִינָה בֵּירִבִּי הִלֵּל. בַּיִת הָיָה לוֹ שְׁעַת תְּלִישָׁה. מְעָרָה לֹא הָֽיְתָה לָהּ שְׁעַת תְּלִישָׁה. Levi said, one who worships a house makes it forbidden209A comparison with the text in Šabbat shows that the sentence has to be split in two. First it is stated that the house will be strictly impure if it was worshipped. Then a question is missing, quoting the following Mishnah 9: Only a house originally built as a temple is permanently forbidden; all others can be cleansed by removing the idol and all installations and ornamentations made for it. How could one decree severe impurity which can be easily eliminated? On this Rav says that even a house not built for worship becomes permanently forbidden as if it had been built as a pagan temple, if itself was worshipped. Babli 47b, Meˋilah 20a., a cave he does not make forbidden219Even if the cave was excavated for purposes of idol worship it does not lose its character as real estate.. What is between a house and a cave? Rebbi Ḥanina hen Rebbi Hillel said, a house was separated at some time; a cave never was separated.
רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן פָּתַר מַתְנִיתִין בְּגֵר וְגוֹי שֶׁיָּֽרְשׁוּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶן גּוֹי. וְלָמָּה לֹא פָּתַר לָהּ בְּשֶׁבָּאת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנִסְמְכָה לוֹ. תַּנֵּי. בֵּת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנִסְמְכָה לוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָֽלְכָה לָהּ מוּתָּר. אֲבָל גֵּר וְגוֹי שֶׁיָּֽרְשׁוּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶן גּוֹי אֲסוּרָה. תַּנֵּי. בֵּית עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְנִסְמְכָה לוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָֽלְכָה לָהּ מוּתָּר. אֲבָל אִם בָּא הוּא וְנִסְמָךְ לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כָּל־הַבַּיִת לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי. מַתְנִיתִין אָֽמְרָה כֵן. הָיָה שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה יִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה. 220This paragraph is not in Šabbat. Rebbi Joḥanan explained the Mishnah221To explain how the house of a Jew and a pagan place of worship may share a wall. about a proselyte and a pagan who inherited from their pagan father. Why does he not explain it when idol worship came and built next to him? It was stated: If a house of idol worship was built next to him and then left it is permitted222If the Jew’s house was there before the pagan, it is not touched by temporary use of the adjacent house as place of pagan worship. But if the Jew builds in disregard of the injunction of the Mishnah to construct a separate wall inside his real estate he is fined.. But for a proselyte and a pagan who inherited from their pagan father, it is forbidden. It was stated: If a house of idol worship was built next to him and then left it is permitted. But if he came and built next to idol worship the entire house is for idol worship222If the Jew’s house was there before the pagan, it is not touched by temporary use of the adjacent house as place of pagan worship. But if the Jew builds in disregard of the injunction of the Mishnah to construct a separate wall inside his real estate he is fined.. Rebbi Yose said, our Mishnah says so, “If it was his and the idolatry’s, it is judged half by half.223The Mishnah might be referring to a house built after the pagan place already existed, not a proselyte brother to a pagan.”