Yevamot 91

Chapter 91

א עובד כוכבים גופא לא קני ליה מאי דקני ליה הוא דמקני ליה לישראל וכיון דקדם וטבל לשם בן חורין אפקעיה לשעבודיה
1 — The idolater has no title to the person [of the slave]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As will be explained infra, no idolater may acquire the person of another idolater. ');"><sup>1</sup></span> and he can transfer to the Israelite only that which is his. And [the slave], since he forestalled him and performed ritual ablution for the purpose of acquiring the status of a freed man, has thereby cancelled the obligations of his servitude, in accordance with the ruling of Raba. For Raba stated: Consecration,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the altar, of a pledged animal, ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ב כדרבא דאמר רבא הקדש חמץ ושחרור מפקיעין מידי שעבוד
2 leavened food<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is pledged to a non-Israelite but kept in the possession of an Israelite when the time for its destruction on the Passover Eve arrived. No leavened food may be kept in Jewish possession (though pledged to a non-Jew) from midday of Passover Eve until the conclusion of the Passover festival. ');"><sup>3</sup></span> and manumission<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of a mortgaged slave, v, Git. 40b. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ג מתיב רב חסדא מעשה בבלוריא הגיורת שקדמו עבדיה וטבלו לפניה ובא מעשה לפני חכמים ואמרו קנו עצמן בני חורין לפניה אין לאחריה לא
3 cancel a mortgage.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Similarly here, the ritual ablution of the slave, for the purpose of procuring his manumission, cancelled his obligations to his idolatrous master, and ipso facto to his Jewish master who is only the representative of the former and can lay no greater claim to the slave than he. ');"><sup>5</sup></span> R. Hisda raised an objection: It happened with the proselyte Valeria<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Heb. [H]. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ד אמר רבא לפניה בין בסתם בין במפורש לאחריה במפורש אין בסתם לא
4 that her slaves forestalled her and performed ritual ablutions<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the purpose of conversion to Judaism, and thereby procuring their manumission. ');"><sup>7</sup></span> before her. And when the matter came before the Sages they decided that the slaves had acquired the status of freed men.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra 66b, Keth, 59b, Git, 40b, Ned, 86b, B.K. 89b. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
ה אמר רב אויא לא שנו אלא בלוקח מן העובד כוכבים אבל עובד כוכבים גופיה קני
5 [From here it follows that] only if they performed ablution before her,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Are they manumitted; because, in that case, they were already proselytes while she was still an idolatress with no title to them. ');"><sup>9</sup></span> but not if after her!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'before her, yes: after her, no'. Thus it has been shewn that if the owner is an Israelite, ritual ablution does not procure the slave's manumission, which is in contradiction to what R. Hama stated in the name of Rab! ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
ו דכתיב (ויקרא כה, מה) וגם מבני התושבים הגרים עמכם מהם תקנו אתם קונים מהם ולא הם קונים מכם ולא הם קונים זה מזה
6 — Raba replied: 'Before her' they acquire their emancipation whether the object of their bathing had, or had not been specified;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'whether specified or unspecified'. ');"><sup>11</sup></span> 'after her' emancipation is acquired only when the object had been specified,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When the slave specifically stated that his ablution was performed for the purpose of procuring his manumission: cf. the statement of R. Hama b. Guria. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
ז ולא הם קונים מכם למאי אילימא למעשה ידיו אטו עובד כוכבים לא קני ליה לישראל למעשה ידיו והכתיב (ויקרא כה, מז) או לעקר משפחת גר ואמר מר משפחת גר זה העובד כוכבים אלא לאו לגופיה וקאמר רחמנא אתם קונין מהם אפילו גופיה
7 but not when it had not been specified.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'by specified, yes: by unspecified. no'. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> R. Iwya said: What has been taught<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That by ritual ablution a slave procures his emancipation. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
ח פריך רב אחא אימא בכספא ובטבילה קשיא
8 applies only to one<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'they did not teach but'. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> who buys<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A slave. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
ט אמר שמואל וצריך לתקפו במים
9 from an idolater; but the idolater himself<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he sold his own person. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> may well be acquired;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And a ritual ablution does not procure his liberation. ');"><sup>18</sup></span>
י כי האי דמנימין עבדיה דרב אשי בעא לאטבולי מסריה ניהלייהו לרבינא ולרב אחא ברי' דרבא אמר להו חזו דמינייכו קבעית ליה רמו ליה ארויסא בצואריה ארפו ליה וצמצמו ליה
10 for it is written in Scripture, Moreover from the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them may ye buy:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev, XXV, 45. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> you may buy of them but they may not buy of you, nor may they buy of one another.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Git. 37b. ');"><sup>20</sup></span>
יא ארפו ליה כי היכי דלא להוי חציצה צמצמו ליה כי היכי דלא לקדים ולימא להו לשם בן חורין אני טובל בהדי דדלי רישיה ממיא אנחו ליה זולטא דטינא ארישיה ואמרו ליה זיל אמטי לבי מרך
11 'But they may not buy of you'. — What can this refer to? If it be suggested [that it refers] to one's manual labour, may not an idolater, [it may be asked,] buy an Israelite to do manual labour? Surely it is written, Or to the offshoot of a stranger's family,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXV, 47. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> and a Master said that by 'stranger's family' an idolater was meant?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How then could it be suggested that an Israelite may not sell his manual labour to an idolater! ');"><sup>22</sup></span>
יב א"ל רב פפא לרבא חזי מר הני דבי פפא בר אבא דיהבי זוזי לאינשי לכרגייהו ומשעבדי בהו כי נפקי צריכי גיטא דחירותא או לא
12 Consequently it must refer to his person;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An idolater cannot acquire the person of an Israelite, ');"><sup>23</sup></span> and the All Merciful said, 'You may buy of them,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of then, may ye by, Lev, XXV, 45. ');"><sup>24</sup></span>
יג א"ל איכו שכיבי לא אמרי לכו הא מילתא הכי א"ר ששת מוהרקייהו דהני בטפסא דמלכא מנח ומלכא אמר מאן דלא יהיב כרגא משתעבד למאן דיהיב כרגא
13 even their persons'. R. Aha objected: It<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The authorization to buy the person of an idolater. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> might be said [to refer to acquisition] by means of money and ritual ablution!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As a slave of a Jew. A heathen, bought as a slave by a Jew, had to submit to circumcision and ritual ablution and thereby acquired partly the status of a Jew: in respect of observances he was on the same footing as Jewish women and minor sons. What proof, however, is there that an idolater does not acquire his freedom if he performed ritual ablution with the specific object of procuring thereby his manumission? ');"><sup>26</sup></span>
יד ר' חייא בר אבא איקלע לגבלא חזא בנות ישראל דמעברן מגרים שמלו ולא טבלו וחזא חמרא דישראל דמזגי עובדי כוכבים ושתו ישראל וחזא תורמוסין דשלקי עובדי כוכבים ואכלי ישראל ולא אמר להו ולא מידי
14 — This is a difficulty. Samuel said: He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' An idolatrous slave who is performing his ablution on his initiation into Judaism as a slave of a Jew. ');"><sup>27</sup></span>
טו אתא לקמיה דר' יוחנן א"ל צא והכרז על בניהם שהם ממזרים ועל יינם משום יין נסך ועל תורמוסן משום בישולי עובדי כוכבים לפי שאינן בני תורה
15 must be firmly held<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To indicate that he is performing his ablution as a slave. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> while he is in the water;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Unless some outward mark of slavery accompanied the ablution the slave can procure his manumission by making a declaration, while he is still in, the water, that he performs his ablution for the purpose of procuring thereby his freedom. ');"><sup>29</sup></span>
טז על בניהן שהם ממזרים ר' יוחנן לטעמיה דאמר ר' חייא בר אבא אמר ר' יוחנן לעולם אין גר עד שימול ויטבול וכיון דלא טביל עובד כוכבים הוא ואמר רבה בר בר חנה א"ר יוחנן עובד כוכבים ועבד הבא על בת ישראל הולד ממזר
16 as [was done with] Menjamin, the slave of R. Ashi who wished to perform ritual ablution,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On his initiation as the slave of a Jew. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> and was entrusted to Rabina and R. Aha son of Raba. 'Note', [R. Ashi] said to them, 'that I shall claim him from you'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If, while in the water, he will declare that his ablution was performed for the purpose of procuring his emancipation. ');"><sup>31</sup></span>
יז ועל יינם משום יין נסך משום לך לך אמרין נזירא סחור סחור לכרמא לא תקרב
17 They put a chain<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'chain' (Aruk): — Persian arvis, 'rope' (Perles, Ety. Stud.); 'halter' (Jast.); v. Levy. ');"><sup>32</sup></span> round his neck, and loosened it and again tightened it. They loosened it in order that there might be no interposition.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between his body and the water. In all cases of ritual ablution the water must come in direct contact with every external part of the body. ');"><sup>33</sup></span>
יח ועל תורמוסן משום בשולי עובדי כוכבים לפי שאינן בני תורה הא בני תורה שרי והאמר רב שמואל בר רב יצחק משמי' דרב כל הנאכל כמות שהוא חי אין בו משום בשולי עובדי כוכבים והא תורמוס אינו נאכל כמות שהוא חי ויש בו משום בשולי עובדי כוכבים
18 They then tightened it again in order that he might not forestall them and declare,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So BaH. Cur. edd., add, 'to them'. ');"><sup>34</sup></span> 'I perform the ablution in order to procure thereby the status of a freed man'. While he was raising his head from the water they placed upon it a bucket full of clay and told him, 'Go, carry it to your master's house.
יט ר' יוחנן כאידך לישנא סבירא ליה דאמר רב שמואל בר רב יצחק משמי' דרב כל שאין עולה על שולחן מלכים לאכול בו את הפת אין בו משום בשולי עובדי כוכבים וטעמא דאינן בני תורה הא בני תורה שרי
19 R. Papa said to Raba: The master must have observed the men of Papa b. Abba's house who advance sums of money on people's accounts in respect of their capitation taxes,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which they themselves are unable to pay to the government when due. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> and then force them into their service. Do they,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' These temporary slaves who were heathens. ');"><sup>36</sup></span>
כ ת"ר גר שמל ולא טבל ר"א אומר הרי זה גר שכן מצינו באבותינו שמלו ולא טבלו טבל ולא מל ר' יהושע אומר הרי זה גר שכן מצינו באמהות שטבלו ולא מלו וחכמים אומרים טבל ולא מל מל ולא טבל אין גר עד שימול ויטבול
20 when set free, require a deed of emancipation or not? He replied: Were I now dead I could not have told you of this ruling. Thus said R. Shesheth: The surety for these people<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] v. Jast [H] 'signatures' (Rashi) or 'registers of tax payers' (V. Aruk), 'written document V. Levy. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> is deposited in the king's archive, and the king has ordained that whosoever does not pay his capitation tax shall be made the slave of him who pays it for him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The temporary service is consequently regarded as proper slavery, and a deed of emancipation is necessary should such slaves ever desire to embrace Judaism and to be permitted to marry a Jewess. ');"><sup>38</sup></span>
כא ורבי יהושע נמי נילף מאבות ור"א נמי נילף מאמהות וכי תימא אין דנין אפשר משאי אפשר
21 R. Hiyya b. Abba once came to Gabla<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gebal of Ps. LXXXIII, 8, i.e., the northern part of Mt. Seir. ');"><sup>39</sup></span> where he observed Jewish women who conceived from proselytes who were circumcised but had not performed the required ritual ablution;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ritual ablution is an essential part of the ceremonial of initiation into Judaism. ');"><sup>40</sup></span>
כב והתניא ר"א אומר מנין לפסח דורות שאין בא אלא מן החולין נאמר פסח במצרים ונאמר פסח בדורות מה פסח האמור במצרים אין בא אלא מן החולין אף פסח האמור לדורות אין בא אלא מן החולין
22 he also noticed that idolaters were serving<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The verb [H] (cf. [G] Lat. misceo). lit., 'to mix', sc. wine with water or spices, also signifies 'to fill the cup, 'to serve'. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> Jewish wine and Israelites were drinking it,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Wine that has been touched by an idolater suspected of dedicating it to idolatrous purposes is forbidden to an Israelite. ');"><sup>42</sup></span>
כג א"ל ר' עקיבא וכי דנין אפשר משאי אפשר א"ל אע"פ שאי אפשר ראיה גדולה היא ונלמד הימנה
23 and he also saw that idolaters were cooking lupines and Israelites ate them;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Although an Israelite is forbidden to eat of the food which an idolater has cooked. ');"><sup>43</sup></span> but he did not speak to them on the matter at all. He called, however, upon R. Johanan who instructed him: Go and announce that their children are bastards; that their wine is forbidden as nesek wine;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'wine of libation', applied to wine that has been, or is suspected of having been dedicated as a 'drink offering' to an idol or idolatrous purpose. ');"><sup>44</sup></span>
כד אלא
24 and that their lupines are forbidden as food cooked by idolaters, because<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reason applies to the prohibition of the lupines. v. infra. ');"><sup>45</sup></span> they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The men of Gabla. ');"><sup>46</sup></span> are ignorant of the Torah. 'That their children are bastards', R. Johanan ruling in accordance with his view. For R. Hiyya b. Abba stated in the name of R. Johanan: A man cannot become a proper proselyte unless he has been circumcised and has also performed ritual ablution; when, therefore, no ablution has been performed he is regarded as an idolater; and Rabbah b. Bar Hana stated in the name of R. Johanan that if an idolater or a slave cohabited with the daughter of an Israelite the child [born from such a union] is a bastard. 'That their wine is forbidden as <i>nesek</i> wine', because a nazirite<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Num. VI, 2ff. ');"><sup>47</sup></span> is told, 'Keep away; go round about; approach not the vineyard'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., a man must be so careful in the observance of a commandment that he must not only keep away from a prohibition itself but also from that which is permitted but might lead to an infringement of a prohibition, A nazirite who is forbidden to drink wine must not even approach a vineyard. Similarly nesek wine is forbidden only when an idolater has actually touched it; but as a preventive measure it has been forbidden, as here, even when contact was indirect. ');"><sup>48</sup></span> 'That their lupines are forbidden as food cooked by idolaters, because they are ignorant of the Torah'. [Would their lupines have been] permitted if the men had been acquainted with the Torah? Surely R. Samuel b. R. Isaac stated in the name of Rab, 'Any foodstuff that may be eaten raw does not come under the prohibition of food cooked by idolaters', and since lupines cannot be eaten raw the prohibition of food cooked by idolaters should apply!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' What need then was there to give as a reason, 'because they are ignorant of the Torah'? ');"><sup>49</sup></span> — R. Johanan holds the view as expressed in a second version. For R. Samuel b. R. Isaac stated in the name of Rab, 'Whatever is not served on a royal table as a dish to be eaten with bread is not subject to the prohibition of food cooked by idolaters The reason, therefore,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why the lupines of the men of Gabla were forbidden, ');"><sup>50</sup></span> is because they were ignorant of the Torah;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The restriction having been imposed upon them as a preventive measure against their possible laxity in the general laws concerning food cooked by idolaters; cf. parallel passage 'A.Z. 59a. ');"><sup>51</sup></span> for had they been acquainted with the Torah [their lupines would have been] permitted. Our Rabbis taught: 'If a proselyte was circumcised but had not performed the prescribed ritual ablution, R. Eliezer said, 'Behold he is a proper proselyte; for so we find that our forefathers<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Those who departed from Egypt as heathens and received the Torah on Mount Sinai when they were, so to speak. converted to Judaism. ');"><sup>52</sup></span> were circumcised and had not performed ritual ablution'. If he performed the prescribed ablution but had not been circumcised, R. Joshua said, 'Behold he is a proper proselyte; for so we find that the mothers<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 302, n. 6. ');"><sup>53</sup></span> had performed ritual ablution but had not been circumcised'. The Sages, however, said, 'Whether he had performed ritual ablution but had not been circumcised or whether he had been circumcised but had not performed the prescribed ritual ablution, he is not a proper proselyte, unless he has been circumcised and has also performed the prescribed ritual ablution. Let R. Joshua also infer from the forefathers, and let R. Eliezer also infer from the mothers! And should you reply<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To the second query. ');"><sup>54</sup></span> that a possibility<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is possible to circumcise a male proselyte. ');"><sup>55</sup></span> may not be inferred from an impossibility,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The mothers who left Egypt may have been admitted to Judaism by ritual ablution only because the other rite was in their case an impossibility. ');"><sup>56</sup></span> surely [it may be retorted] it was taught: R. Eliezer said, 'whence is it deduced that the paschal lamb<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Ex. XII, 3ff. ');"><sup>57</sup></span> of later generations<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Subsequent to the generation that brought the first Paschal lamb in Egypt. ');"><sup>58</sup></span> may be brought from hullin<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'profane', animals that had not previously been consecrated. In the case of the Paschal lamb consecrated animals could only be such as had been set aside as 'second tithe' the law of which had not been promulgated till after the Exodus. ');"><sup>59</sup></span> only? Those in Egypt were commanded to bring<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'it was said'. ');"><sup>60</sup></span> a Paschal lamb and those of later generations were commanded to bring a Paschal lamb; as the Paschal lamb spoken of in Egypt could be brought from hullin<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'profane', animals that had not previously been consecrated. In the case of the Paschal lamb consecrated animals could only be such as had been set aside as 'second tithe' the law of which had not been promulgated till after the Exodus. ');"><sup>59</sup></span> only, so may also the paschal lamb which had been commanded to later generations be brought from hullin only'. Said R. Akiba to him, 'may a possibility be inferred from an impossibility!'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Paschal lamb in Egypt could not possibly have been brought from consecrated animals. V. supra n. 7, second clause. ');"><sup>61</sup></span> The other replied. 'Although an impossibility, it is nevertheless a proof of importance and deduction from it may be made'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Men. 82a, which proves that even from an impossibility an inference may be drawn. The difficulty, therefore, remains, why does not R. Eliezer, like R. Joshua, infer from the mothers? ');"><sup>62</sup></span> — But