Commentary for Avodah Zarah 57:16

This is a list of food or activities that are in some situations beneficial to one’s health, but in the opposite situations are not.

Here’s some advice on what to eat after bloodletting. And also which way to point when defecating!

Different versions of what to do with these drugs.

This list has some advice that probably is considered correct in the modern world but some which probably is not so correct.

The Jew must keep his eye on the non-Jew cutting his hair, lest the non-Jew try to murder him. And a Jew may cut a non-Jew’s hair, but not his special forelock for this is associated with idolatry. The Jew should not be seen as helping groom this special part of the hair.

The mirror shouldn’t be necessary in the public domain—everyone can see what is going on there. But in the private domain it is hard to see how a murderous barber would be stopped by a mirror. The answer tells us a bit about the history of mirrors. Only important people seem to have had them, and therefore, a Jew who has a mirror will look important enough for the non-Jew to be afraid to kill him.

R. Hana realizes that he put his life in danger when he transgressed the words of R. Meir, who in the Mishnah had stated that a Jew should not have his hair cut by them in any place.

The rabbis allow a Jew to have his hair cut by a non-Jew in a public place. R. Hana thought that the road to Nehardea was not a public place.

In case you’re giving a haircut to an idol worshiper, this is what you need to know!

There are two sages with very similar names—R. Malkio and R. Malkiah. How does a young yeshiva student avoid confusion? R. Hanina provides a list, and R. Papa a rule—all statements made in reference to a mishnah (or baraita) are R. Malkiah, whose name sounds closer to “queen.” There is one real difference between them. R. Hanina says that R. Malkio made the statement about the maid-servants, whereas R. Papa says that it was R. Malkiah. Oy, this is really making me dizzy!