For the source text click/tap here: Avodah Zarah 50
To download, click/tap here: PDF
Following the destruction of the second Temple, the house belonging to King Yannai was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Ultimately, pagans entered the house and placed an idol dedicated to Mercury in it.
Later on, other non-Jews who did not believe in Mercury as a deity removed the stones from the building and used them to pave the paths and streets of the city.
This led to a disagreement among the Sages. Some of them refused to walk on the newly paved streets, lest they benefit from the stones that had been consecrated to the worship of Mercury. Others had no such compunctions and walked on them without concern. Rabbi Yoḥanan ruled: The “son of holy ones” – referring to Rabbi Menaḥem the son of Rabbi Simai – walks on these streets, how can we do otherwise?
We explore the mythic history of Mercury as a pagan deity and the rabbinic skill in negotiating the Torah law vs expedience down to Jung’s archetypal treatment of mercury in the ensouling process.