Commentary for Avodah Zarah 52:4
איתמר מומר פליגי רב אחא ורבינא חד אמר לתיאבון מומר להכעיס מין הוי וחד אמר אפילו להכעיס נמי מומר אלא איזהו מין זה העובד אלילי כוכבים
It was stated: [In regard to the term] “apostate” there is a disagreement between R. Aha and Ravina; one says that [he who eats forbidden food] to satisfy his appetite, is an apostate, but [he who does so] to provoke is a heretic; while the other says that even [one who does so] to provoke is merely an apostate. And who is a “heretic”? One who actually worships idols.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
According to one opinion, an “apostate” is one who sins because it makes life easier (for instance, it is cheaper to eat non-kosher meat). A “heretic” is one who sins because he wants to provoke (i.e. two hamburgers are put in front of them, one kosher one not, and they eat the non-kosher one). To the other opinion, the term “apostate” includes both categories of sinners. According to this view a “heretic” is a Jew who goes so far as to worship idols.
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