POINT BY POINT SUMMARY
Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Avodah Zarah 27
1) WHO MAY CIRCUMCISE?
(a) Answer #2: Do not switch the opinions: the case is, the
Mohel is a professional;
1. (Rav Dimi): A professional Nochri Mohel may
circumcise a Yisrael (he is concerned for his
reputation, he will circumcise properly).
(b) Objection: Does R. Yehudah really permit using a Kusi
Mohel?!
1. (Beraisa - R. Yehudah): A Yisrael may circumcise a
Kusi.
2. A Kusi may not circumcise a Yisrael, for they
circumcise for the sake of Har Grizim (their
idolatry);
3. R. Yosi: Circumcision need not be Lishmah (for the
sake of the Mitzvah)!
(c) Conclusion: Really, the opinions must be switched;
1. (This led to a contradiction in R. Yehudah's
opinion; to resolve it,) we attribute Beraisa #1 to
R. Yehudah ha'Nasi (Rebbi), for another Beraisa
explicitly expounds thusly in his name.
2. (Beraisa - Rebbi): Circumcision by a Nochri is
invalid - "V'Ata Es Brisi Tishmor".
(d) (Rav Chisda): R. Yehudah learns that circumcision must be
Lishmah from "La-Sh-m Himol";
1. R. Yosi learns from "Himol Yimol" that circumcision
is valid, even not Lishmah.
(e) Question: What does R. Yosi learn from "La-Sh-m Himol"?
(f) Answer: The verse says "Pesach La-Sh-m Himol..."; he
explains that "La-Sh-m" refers to the Pesach, and teaches
that it must be offered Lishmah.
(g) Question: What does R. Yehudah learn from "Himol Yimol"?
(h) The Torah speaks as people speak (he does not expound the
double language).
(i) Question: What is the source that circumcision by a
Nochri is invalid?
(j) Answer #1 (Daro bar Papa): "*V'Ata* Es Brisi Tishmor".
(k) Answer #2 (R. Yochanan): "Himol Yimol" (one who is
circumcised may circumcise).
(l) Question: What is the difference between these answers?
(m) Answer #1: A Nochri that is circumcised (e.g. Gavnunim (a
nation that circumcises) - they were not commanded about
circumcision).
(n) Rejection (Mishnah): If one vowed 'Any benefit I get from
uncircumcised people is Konam (forbidden like a
sacrifice)', he may benefit from (even) uncircumcised
Yisraelim, he may not benefit from (even) circumcised
Nochrim.
1. We learn that even circumcised Nochrim are
considered uncircumcised!
(o) Answer #2: Rather, they argue about a Yisrael whose
brothers died through circumcision (he is exempt from
circumcision on account of the danger (until we determine
that it is no longer dangerous));
1. He is commanded about circumcision, but he is
uncircumcised.
(p) Rejection (Mishnah): If one vowed 'Any benefit I get from
circumcised people is Konam', he may not benefit from
(even) uncircumcised Yisraelim, he may benefit from
(even) circumcised Nochrim.
1. We learn that even uncircumcised Yisraelim are
considered circumcised!
(q) Answer #3: Rather, they argue about a Yisraelis;
1. She is not commanded about circumcision, but she is
considered circumcised.
(r) Question: Can one say that a woman may not circumcise?!
"Va'Tikach Tziporah Tzor.."!
(s) Answer #1: We may read it 'va'Tukach' (she told someone
else to take the rock and circumcise).
1. Question: But it says "Va'Tichros"!
2. Answer: We may read it 'va'Tichras' - she had
someone else cut.
(t) Answer #2: She started the circumcision, Moshe finished
it.
2) BEING HEALED BY NOCHRIM
(a) (Mishnah): One may use a Nochri for monetary cures (this
will be explained), not for cures of Nefashos (lives);
(b) R. Meir says, one may not get a haircut from a Nochri in
any place;
(c) Chachamim permit this in a public domain, but not in
private.
(d) (Gemara) Question: What are monetary cures, what are
cures of Nefashos?
1. Suggestion: Monetary cures are when the Nochri is
paid, cures of Nefashos are for free.
2. Rejection: If so, the Mishnah should say 'One may
pay a Nochri to cure him, he may not be cured by a
Nochri for free'.
(e) Answer #1: Monetary cures are when there is no danger,
Nefashos cures are when there is danger.
(f) Question: But Rav Yehudah taught, we may not even use a
Nochri to heal the wound after bloodletting (which is not
dangerous)!
(g) Answer #2: Monetary cures are of the Yisrael's Behemah,
Nefashos cures are of the Yisrael himself.
1. According to this, we understand Rav Yehudah's law.
(h) (Rav Chisda): If a Nochri says 'this drug will help you,
this one will harm you', one may rely on him.
27b---------------------------------------27b
1. The Nochri assumes that the patient will ask others,
too; he does not want to ruin his reputation
(especially since he cannot harm the Yisrael).
(i) (R. Yochanan): If a sick Yisrael might die, he may not be
cured by a Nochri; if he surely will die (if not treated
and no Yisrael can treat him), he may be cured by a
Nochri.
(j) Question: Perhaps the Nochri will make him die quicker -
we should try to preserve the short time he has to live!
(k) Answer: (If we have a chance to save his life) we are not
concerned for (risking) the short time he has to live.
(l) Question: What is the source of this?
(m) Answer: "Ba'Ir va'Masnu...Fo va'Masnu...v'Nipelah El
Machaneh Aram Im Yichayunu Nichyeh v'Im Yemisunu
va'Masnu".
1. We see that they were not concerned for a short time
to live.
3) BEING HEALED BY "MINIM"
(a) Question (Beraisa): One may not talk at length with
Minim, nor be cured by them, even if he has only a short
time to live;
1. Ben Dama, the nephew of R. Yishmael was bitten by a
snake. Yakov of Sichniya (a Min) came to cure him;
R. Yishmael would not let him.
2. Ben Dama: A verse proves that it is permitted!
3. He died before giving his proof.
4. R. Yishmael: Happy are you, you died in Taharah, you
did not transgress Chachamim - "U'Poretz Gader (one
who transgresses a Rabbinical decree) Yishechenu
Nachash".
(b) Answer: We are more stringent regarding Minim, lest one
be drawn to heresy.
(c) Question: He was going to die from a snakebite anyway -
had the Min cured him, even though he would be bitten by
another snake, perhaps he would also be cured from that!
(d) Answer: There is no cure for one bitten for transgressing
the words of Chachamim.
(e) Question: What proof did Ben Dama want to bring?
(f) Answer: "Va'Chai Bahem" - one should not die through
observing the Mitzvos.
1. R. Yishmael disagreed, for that does not apply in
public.
2. (Beraisa - R. Yishmael): If one is threatened,
'serve idolatry or be killed', he should transgress
and live - "Va'Chai Bahem", one should not die
through observing the Mitzvos;
3. Suggestion: Perhaps that applies even in public (in
front of 10 Yisraelim)!
4. Rejection: "V'Lo Sechalelu Es Shem Kodshi".
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