Julian Ungar-Sargon

  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
Julian Ungar-Sargon copy 3.jpg

Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Avodah Zarah 15: אֵין מוֹכְרִין לָהֶם לֹא זַיִין וְלֹא כְּלֵי זַיִין

jyungar July 3, 2025

For the source text click/tap here: Avodah Zarah 15

To download, click/tap here: PDF

And furthermore, it is taught in a baraita: One may not sell weapons to gentiles or the auxiliary equipment of weapons, and one may not sharpen weapons for them. And one may not sell them stocks used for fastening the feet of prisoners, or iron neck chains [kolarin], or foot chains, or iron chains. This prohibition applies equally to both a gentile and a Samaritan.

The Talmudic baraita on our daf (Avodah Zarah 15b–16a) presents a rabbinic prohibition against selling weapons and related equipment to gentiles due to the concern that they may use them to harm Jews or others, or that the weapons might fall into the hands of enemies.

This is part of a broader principle: “לא תיתן להם חנייה בארץ” (“Do not give them a foothold in the land”)—a verse from Deuteronomy 7:2, which Chazal interpret broadly to restrict actions that may empower hostile gentiles.

We explore the sale of arms including the modern Israeli arms industry.

Tags64th
  • Daf Ditty
  • Older
  • Newer

Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​