Commentary for Avodah Zarah 38:11
הגיע לכיפה מקום שמעמידין בה עבודת כוכבים: א"ר אלעזר אמר רבי יוחנן אם בנה שכרו מותר פשיטא משמשי עבודת כוכבים הן ומשמשי עבודת כוכבים בין לרבי ישמעאל בין לרבי עקיבא אינן אסורין עד שיעבדו
When he reaches the cupola in which the idol is placed [he must not build]. Elazar said in the name of R. Yohanan: If he did build, the pay he received is permitted. This is obvious: it is a case of things used in the worship of idols, and things used in the worship of idols, whether according to R. Ishmael or according to R. Akiba, are not forbidden till actually worshipped.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The mishnah prohibits participating in building the cupola because that is where the idol is placed. This is too close to abetting idol worship.
If a Jew transgressed this law and did help build the cupola, he may make use of the pay he received.
If a Jew transgressed this law and did help build the cupola, he may make use of the pay he received.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The Talmud argues the R. Yohanan’s ruling is overly obvious. R. Ishmael and R. Akiva will argue later in the tractate over idols themselves—are they prohibited before they are actually worshipped. But they would both agree that if the item is not itself an idol, it is not prohibited until it is actually worshipped.
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