Commentary for Avodah Zarah 33:6
עולא כי הוה אתי מבי רב הוה מנשק להו לאחתיה אבי ידייהו ואמרי לה אבי חדייהו ופליגא דידיה אדידיה דאמר עולא קריבה בעלמא אסור משום לך לך אמרין נזירא סחור סחור לכרמא לא תקרב
Ulla, when he would return from the academy, used to kiss his sister on the hand; some say, on the breast. But he contradicts himself, for Ulla said: Mere approach is forbidden because we say to a Nazarite, “Go, go, around vineyard; but do not approach.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This final section discusses a fascinating contradiction between Ulla’s actions and his preaching. On the one hand, in reality he would kiss his sister, either on the hand or on the breast (I assume this was considered normal social behavior in the time). This is his sister after all. On the other hand, he also preached that a man should stay away from even getting near any woman, just as we tell a nazirite to stay away from the vineyard.
Interestingly, there is no resolution to this contradiction.
Interestingly, there is no resolution to this contradiction.
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