Commentary for Avodah Zarah 45:5
רבי פדת אמר לא קשיא הא רבי אליעזר הא רבנן דתנן גבי פרת חטאת ר' אליעזר אומר אינה נקחת מן העובדי כוכבים וחכמים מתירין מאי לאו בהא קמיפלגי דר"א סבר חיישינן לרביעה ורבנן סברי לא חיישינן לרביעה
Pedat said: There is no contradiction; the one is [according to] R. Eliezer, the other is [according to] the rabbis. For we have learned in connection with the red heifer: R. Eliezer says: It must not be bought from a non-Jew, but the sages permit it. Do they not disagree over this: R. Eliezer holds that we are concerned about bestiality while the rabbis hold that we are not concerned about bestiality?
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Pedat solves the contradiction by attributing the sources to different tannaim. R. Eliezer holds that we are concerned about bestiality and therefore one cannot buy a red heifer from a non-Jew. He would also hold that an animal should not be left alone with them. The other sages are not concerned about bestiality.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy