Commentary for Avodah Zarah 88:10
אמר אביי גנובתה מהכא דקאמר ליה אני לא באתי בגבולה והיא באה בגבולי וכי בא בגבולה מאי הוי והתנן עבודת כוכבים שיש לה מרחץ או גינה נהנין מהן שלא בטובה ואין נהנין מהן בטובה
Abaye said: Its deception was from the fact that he told him, “I did not enter her domain, she entered mine.” And if he had entered her domain, what of it? For we learn: If an idol has a bathhouse or garden, we may derive benefit from it as long as we don’t provide something in return, but we may not derive benefit if we do provide something in return.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Abaye offers a different alternative as to what the deception may have been. One of Rabban Gamaliel’s answers was that he did not enter Aphrodite’s domain, she entered his. But Abaye points out that it is permitted to enter the domain of an idol in order to take a bath, or a stroll in the garden. The prohibition is only to provide direct benefit to the idolatry. Thus Rabban Gamaliel did not need to say that he didn’t enter her domain.
But Abaye himself points out that this answer is not actually deceptive. Rabban Gamaliel is a very important person, a real macher. His mere entrance into someone’s domain is considered providing a benefit. So if Rabban Gamaliel had entered Aphrodite’s domain, it would have been a problem. But he did not. She entered his.
But Abaye himself points out that this answer is not actually deceptive. Rabban Gamaliel is a very important person, a real macher. His mere entrance into someone’s domain is considered providing a benefit. So if Rabban Gamaliel had entered Aphrodite’s domain, it would have been a problem. But he did not. She entered his.
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