Commentary for Avodah Zarah 84:1
והא שיפויין דעיקר עבודת כוכבים קיימת וקתני לצרכה היא אסורה ושיפוייה מותרין
But what about chips [chipped off an idol] where the basic part of the idol remains, and it was taught [above]: “If he did so for the idol’s own need, it, it is prohibited but its pieces are permitted.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
When it came to the Asherah tree, we said that if the main idol still exists, then the pieces are not annulled. But earlier we said that if a non-Jew chips some pieces off an idol to improve it, the chipped pieces are permitted, even though the idol still remains.
The answer is that falling leaves cannot be considered a form of annulment because this is natural. Nothing was done to the leaves to annul them. But when the idolater chips pieces off the idol, he is in essence removing their sanctity. Therefore they are permitted.
The answer is that falling leaves cannot be considered a form of annulment because this is natural. Nothing was done to the leaves to annul them. But when the idolater chips pieces off the idol, he is in essence removing their sanctity. Therefore they are permitted.
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