פירוש על עבודה זרה 146:17
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
We can understand why R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish are stringent about yayin nesekh—the laws about idolatry are stringent. But why are they stringent about tevel—produce from which tithes and terumah have not been removed?
The answer is that the prohibition is the same as the permission. If a person separates one grain of wheat from a pile of wheat and declares it to be terumah, the entire pile permitted. So too one grain of wheat can make the entire pile prohibited. In other words, one grain has significance, both to make a pile of grain (or any type of terumah, such as a vat of wine) permitted, so too it has the power to make an entire pile prohibited, if one prohibited grain falls in.
Finally, the Talmud cites another baraita that supports the idea that tevel prohibits a mixture in the smallest amount only when it is of the same species. This baraita accords with R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish.
The answer is that the prohibition is the same as the permission. If a person separates one grain of wheat from a pile of wheat and declares it to be terumah, the entire pile permitted. So too one grain of wheat can make the entire pile prohibited. In other words, one grain has significance, both to make a pile of grain (or any type of terumah, such as a vat of wine) permitted, so too it has the power to make an entire pile prohibited, if one prohibited grain falls in.
Finally, the Talmud cites another baraita that supports the idea that tevel prohibits a mixture in the smallest amount only when it is of the same species. This baraita accords with R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish.
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