Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Avodah Zarah 92:4

א"ל רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע לרבא או חילוף ומה נעבד שאסור בתלוש אצל הדיוט מותר במחובר לגבוה שנא' (דברים יב, ב) אלהיהם על ההרים ולא ההרים אלהיהם לא שנא להדיוט ולא שנא לגבוה אתנן שמותר בתלוש להדיוט אינו דין שמותר במחובר לגבוה

R. Huna the son of R. Joshua said to Rava: Or perhaps the opposite [may be concluded]: If a worshipped object which may not be used for secular purposes when it is detached but is permitted in divine worship when attached, as it is said, “‘Their gods upon the high mountains,’ not the mountains which are their gods,” and it does not make a difference whether it is for secular use or for the divine worship, how much more must the hire of a harlot which is usable for secular purposes when it is detached be permissible in the divine worship when it is attached!

Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah

R. Huna son of R. Joshua says that we could turn Rava’s argument on its head and use it to permit the wages of a harlot for use in divine worship when they are in the form of something attached to the ground. A worshipped object maybe used in the divine worship if it is attached. Attached objects are not prohibited, neither for secular nor for holy purpose. The wages of a harlot are more lenient for even when detached, they are only prohibited for holy use, not for secular use. Therefore they should also be more lenient and permitted for holy use when attached.
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