Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

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

Avodah Zarah 20: שמע מינה לדברים ככתבן הוא דאתא

jyungar July 8, 2025

For the source text click/tap here: Avodah Zarah 20

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The gemara derives from the verse “lo techanem” 3 things that are forbidden, including the halacha in the mishna about selling items attached to the ground, complimenting non-Jews and giving them gifts for free.

Another interpretation of ‘lo sichaneim’ is: You shall not pronounce them as graceful; yet another interpretation of ‘lo sichaneim’ is: You shall not give them any free gift. The giving of free gifts [to idolaters] is itself a matter of dispute between Tannaim, for it has been taught: [The verse]: You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself - unto the stranger that is within your gates you may give it that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a heathen. This only tells us that it may be given away to a stranger or sold to a heathen. How do we know that it may be sold to a heathen?

Because Scripture says: You may give it — or sell it. How do we know that it may be given away to a heathen? Because Scripture says: You may give it that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a heathen: hence it may be derived that both giving and selling may be applied to a stranger or a heathen; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah, however, says: The words should be taken as they are written, giving being applied to a stranger, and selling to a heathen.

What are the limits of mercy vs cruelty?

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

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