Commentary for Avodah Zarah 69:7
מ"ש האי קרא דשייליה אר"ש בן פזי ואיתימא ר"ש בר אמי מרישיה דקרא קא"ל (שיר השירים א, ב) ישקני מנשיקות פיהו אמר ליה ישמעאל אחי חשוק שפתותיך זו בזו ואל תבהל להשיב
Why did he ask him just about this verse? R. Shimon b. Pazi (and if you want, R. Shimon b. Ammi): He was speaking to him about the beginning of this verse: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” He said to him, “Ishmael, my brother, press your lips one to the other and do not rush to answer.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
According to this interpretation, R. Joshua hinted very subtly to R. Ishmael that he should not ask too many questions about the prohibition of Gentile cheese, for this cheese was a new prohibition of the rabbis. One does not cast doubt on new prohibitions, for this could lead to a people adopting a lackadaisical attitude towards them. One can sense here that there is a larger issue at stake in this mishnah than simply Gentile cheese. The issue is rabbinic authority and how much people respect it.
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