Study Sanhedrin folio 74B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Even to change the strap of a sandal. There was a Jewish custom with regard to sandal straps. If the non-Jew authorities were to decree that Jews must change their practice and wear sandal straps like those worn by the non-Jews, one would be obligated to give up his life rather than veer from the a
The Talmud asks: And the presence of how many people is required so that it should be deemed a public act? R' Ya’akov says that R' Yoḥanan says: An action is not considered a public act if it is performed in the presence of fewer than 10 people. The Talmud clarifies this point: It is obvious that
The Talmud answers: Come and hear an answer from what Rav Yannai, the brother of R' Ḥiyya bar Abba, teaches in a baraita: This is derived by means of a verbal analogy between the word “among” written with regard to the sanctification of God’s name, and the word “among” written with regard to Korah a
The Talmud raises a difficulty: But wasn’t the incident involving Esther, i.e., her cohabitation with Ahasuerus, a public sin? Why then did Esther not surrender her life rather than have sex? The Talmud answers: Abaye says: Esther was merely like natural ground, i.e., she was a passive participant
Rava says that there is another justification for Esther’s behavior: When non-Jews order the transgression of a prohibition not in order to persecute the Jews or to make them abandon their religion, but for their own personal pleasure, it is different. In such a situation there is no obligation to