פירוש על עבודה זרה 115:3
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Rava comes to Pumbedita, where Nahmani, another name for Abaye, is the head of the academy. Abaye proves to Rava that this wine is prohibited. First he cites some precedents, cases where rabbis actually ruled that it is prohibited.
Shmuel prohibited it in Nehardea. R. Yohanan prohibited it in Tiberias. Thus two great rabbis already ruled strictly.
Rava tries to argue that in these places they prohibited it because the people there are not “students of Torah.” Since they are not knowledgeable in the finer points of Torah, the law must be more stringent with them so that they will not come to transgress Torah law. But Abaye pushes back—if the people in Nehardea and Tiberias are not students of Torah, then all the more so the people in Mehoza, Rava’s place of residence, are not. Thus there is no justification for Rava to rule leniently.
Shmuel prohibited it in Nehardea. R. Yohanan prohibited it in Tiberias. Thus two great rabbis already ruled strictly.
Rava tries to argue that in these places they prohibited it because the people there are not “students of Torah.” Since they are not knowledgeable in the finer points of Torah, the law must be more stringent with them so that they will not come to transgress Torah law. But Abaye pushes back—if the people in Nehardea and Tiberias are not students of Torah, then all the more so the people in Mehoza, Rava’s place of residence, are not. Thus there is no justification for Rava to rule leniently.
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