Study Avodah Zarah folio 48B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Mishnah: With regard to an ashera, one may not sit in its shade, but if one sat in its shade he remains ritually pure. And one may not pass beneath it, and if one passed beneath it he is ritually impure. If the tree was robbing the public, i.e., if its branches extended over public property, and
Talmud: The Mishnah teaches: One may not sit in its shade. The Talmud asks: Isn’t this obvious? He is directly benefiting from an object of idol worship. Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that R' Yoḥanan said: It is necessary only with regard to the shade of its shade. The shade that extends as far as the
The Talmud comments: By inference, with regard to the shade of its height, its primary shade, if one sat there he is impure. The Talmud rejects this inference: No, this inference is not correct, as even with regard to the shade of its height, if one sat there he remains pure. And this is what the
There are those who teach this discussion with regard to the latter clause of that part of the Mishnah, which states: But if one sat in its shade he remains ritually pure. The Talmud asks: Isn’t this obvious? Why should he be rendered impure? Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that R' Yoḥanan said: It is nec
§ The Mishnah teaches: And one may not pass beneath an ashera, and if one passed beneath it he is ritually impure. The Talmud asks: What is the reason? The Talmud answers: Because it is impossible that there is no remnant of an idolatrous offering underneath the tree.