Commentary for Avodah Zarah 38:12
אמר רבי ירמיה לא נצרכה אלא לעבודת כוכבים עצמה הניחא למ"ד עבודת כוכבים של ישראל אסורה מיד ושל עובד כוכבים עד שתעבד שפיר אלא למ"ד של עובד כוכבים אסורה מיד מאי איכא למימר
Yirmiyah said: It is necessary in the case of the idol itself. This accords with the one who holds that it is prohibited to derive benefit from an idol made for an Israelite immediately, but if the idol is made for an idolater, [it is not prohibited] until it is worshipped. In that case the statement goes well. But according to the one who holds that even when made for an idolater [any benefit] is forbidden immediately, what can be said?
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Yirmiyah says that R. Yohanan was referring to a Jew who helped build the idol itself, not just the cupola. His pay is still permitted, despite the fact that he helped make an idol.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
There is a debate about whether an idol made for an idolater becomes prohibited immediately when it is made, or only when it is worshipped. If the rule is that any benefit derived from it becomes prohibited only once it is worshipped, then R. Yohanan’s statement makes sense. The Jew made this idol for the idolater, but until the idolater actually worships it, the Jew may use the wages. But if the prohibition begins immediately, then how can the wages be permitted?
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