Study Avodah Zarah folio 2A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Mishnah: On the 3 days before the festivals of non-Jews the following actions are prohibited, as they would bring joy to the non-Jew, who would subsequently give thanks to his object of idol worship on his festival: It is prohibited to engage in business with them; to lend items to them or to borro
Talmud: Rav and Shmuel disagree with regard to the correct version of the text of the Mishnah. One teaches the term meaning: Their festivals, as eideihen, spelled with an alef as the first letter, and one teaches eideihen with an ayin as the first letter. The Talmud comments: The one who teaches e
The Talmud elaborates: The one who teaches eideihen with an alef is not mistaken, as it is written: “For the day of their calamity [eidam] is at hand” (Deuteronomy 32:35), and the future downfall mentioned in the verse is partly due to the festivals of idol worshippers. The term there is spelled wit
The Talmud asks: And according to the one who teaches eideihen with an alef, what is the reason that he did not teach eideihen with an ayin? The Talmud answers: He could have said to you that a term that refers to a calamity is preferable. The Talmud asks: And the one who teaches eideihen with an a
The Talmud asks: But is this verse: “Let them bring their witnesses that they may be justified,” written with regard to the non-Jewish nations? Isn’t it written with regard to the Jewish people? As R' Yehoshua ben Levi says: All the mitzvot that the Jews perform in this world will come and bear witn