Mesechtas Avodah Zarah
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Masechet Avodah Zarah (also known as: Avodat Gilulim, Akum) is the eighth tractate in Seder Nezikin, which is the fourth Order in the Mishnah. This masechet contains five chapters that deal with the prohibition of coming close to gentiles who engage in idol worship (actively). Its parameters, obligations of distancing, and eradicating it from the world. Additionally, the masechet deals with the fundamentals of prohibition and permissibility, therefore it is called by later authorities "a great principle" (Birkei Yosef Yoreh Deah section 246).
In the Babylonian Talmud, this masechet has 75 pages.
The Rebbe conducted a siyum (completion ceremony) on this masechet and it was edited by him.
Connection Between the End of the Masechet and its Beginning[edit | edit source]
Expanded entry - Shavor Malka[edit | edit source]
At the conclusion of the masechet, it states: Rav Ukva bar Chama said, one should pierce it into the ground ten times. Rav Huna the son of Rav Yehoshua said, in ground that is not cultivated. Rav Kahana said, with a fine knife that has no nicks. It was similarly taught: A fine knife that has no nicks, one should pierce it ten times in the ground. Rav Huna the son of Rav Yehoshua said, to eat cold food with it. Like the incident where Rav Yehuda and Bati bar Tovi were sitting before Shavor Malka, they brought before them a citron. He cut and ate, cut and gave to Bati bar Tovi, then he pierced it ten times in the ground, cut and gave to Rav Yehuda. Bati bar Tovi said to him, "Is that man not a son of Israel?" He replied to him, "I know about this one but I do not know about you." Some say he said to him, "Remember what you did last night."
Translation: Rav Yehuda and his servant Bati bar Tovi sat before Shavor Malka, who was a gentile king. They brought before them a citron to eat. The king cut pieces from the citron, and took several pieces for himself, afterward the king cut from the citron with his knife and gave to Bati. And afterward he pierced the knife ten times in the ground and then gave to Rav Yehuda to eat. Bati bar Tovi asked him: "Am I not a Jew?" The king replied to him: "Rav Yehuda is known to me that he follows this law, but about you I do not know." (And according to Rashi's explanation:) "I know about this one - Rav Yehuda I recognize that he is ascetic and will not eat something forbidden, but about you I am not certain that you are so ascetic." According to the second version, he said to him that he knew with certainty that Bati does not observe the mitzvot of the Torah, and as Rashi explains - "What did you do last night - it was the custom of Persians to send women to guests, and when they sent them to them last night, Bati accepted but Rav Yehuda did not accept."
The Rebbe asks: Why did Shavor Malka pierce the knife in the ground specifically after he gave to Bati bar Tovi? There would be no extra effort if he had pierced the knife in the ground before that, so even if he wasn't sure that Bati was ascetic, why didn't he pierce the knife in the ground earlier? Furthermore, even if he was certain that Bati was not ascetic, that is not a reason to cause him to stumble with a prohibition.
The Rebbe explains that it is precise in this incident that Shavor Malka was knowledgeable in the laws. Therefore, he did not pierce the knife before he ate, because it is not the way of a wise person to do things unnecessarily. Additionally, since he was not a gentile, we do not allow them to innovate laws that are not according to their understanding, even if they did so to receive reward.
Cause and Effect[edit | edit source]
Regarding the two opinions about what Shavor Malka said to him, the Rebbe explains that they disagree whether the main thing is the cause that led him to know how he behaved, or the effect - that he actually behaved this way.
Additional Explanations[edit | edit source]
- 5b. On four special days, etc. and on the eve of festivals. Likkutei Sichos Vol. 33 p. 64 (p. 76)
- 44a. David's crown fits him. Likkutei Sichos p. 102 (p. 155)
- 45a. Every place where you find a high mountain... know that there is idol worship there. Likkutei Sichos p. 69 note 12 (p. 82)
- 46b. Is there a change for that which is worshipped or is there no change for that which is worshipped. Likkutei Sichos Vol. 17 p. 136 (p. 149)
- 53b. Indeed, it is an inheritance to them from their ancestors. Likkutei Sichos Vol. 30 p. 87 note 56 (p. 100)
External Links[edit | edit source]
- Masechet Avodah Zarah