Avodah Zarah 14 - July 2, 6 Tamuz

Today's daf is sponsored by Mark & Semé Cooper in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary. Today's daf is sponsored by  Marc and Becki Goldstein with gratitude to the Almighty who will אי"ה celebrate the marriage of their first granddaughter Amiah to Neria today. שיזכו להוסיף עוד חוליה בשרשרת הדורות לבנין עדי עד Today's daf is sponsored by Hannah Piotrkowski, with prayers for the refuah shleima of Michal Naomi bat Zahava Gita, who is having major surgery for a life-threatening illness. What items are forbidden to sell all year round to idol worshippers? The Babylonian amoraim struggled to understand the terms used in the Mishna and relied mainly on the scholars in Israel to explain them. It is permitted to sell large quantities of items that are generally used for idol worship, as they are for resale, and there is no prohibition of putting a stumbling block indirectly (selling to someone who may sell to others who will transgress the prohibition). If one sells them with other similar items that are not used for idol worship, there is a debate whether or not it is permitted. Rabbi Yona explains that if the buyer asked specifically for the item used for idol worship, one cannot sell. But if the buyer was not specific about which type, it is permitted to sell even the one used for idol worship. The Gemara raises two difficulties with Rabbi Yonah's position, but resolves them both.  Whether or not it is forbidden to sell a small animal (like sheep, etc.) to non-Jews depends on the local custom, dependent on whether the non-Jews there engage in bestiality. It is forbidden to sell large animals to non-Jews, as it may lead one to rent them or loan them, which would be forbidden, as animals owned by Jews are not allowed to work on Shabbat.