## Avodah Zarah Daf 21a

###### Avodah Zarah 21a:1
[Avodah Zarah 21a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:1)

מַשְׂכִּירִין לָהֶם בָּתִּים אֲבָל לֹא שָׂדוֹת, וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מוֹכְרִין לָהֶם בָּתִּים וּמַשְׂכִּירִין שָׂדוֹת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַשְׂכִּירִין לָהֶם בָּתִּים אֲבָל לֹא שָׂדוֹת, וּבְסוּרְיָא מוֹכְרִין בָּתִּים וּמַשְׂכִּירִין שָׂדוֹת, וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מוֹכְרִין אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**one may rent houses to** gentiles, **but** one may **not** rent **fields. And outside of Eretz** Yisrael **one may sell houses and rent fields to** gentiles; this is **the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: In Eretz Yisrael one may rent houses to** gentiles **but** one may **not** rent **fields. And in Syria one may sell houses to them and rent fields, and outside of Eretz** Yisrael **one may sell** both **these,** houses, **and those,** fields.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:2
[Avodah Zarah 21a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:2)

אַף בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְהַשְׂכִּיר, לֹא לְבֵית דִּירָה אָמְרוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מַכְנִיס לְתוֹכוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֹא תָבִיא תוֹעֵבָה אֶל בֵּיתֶךָ״, וּבְכׇל מָקוֹם לֹא יַשְׂכִּיר לוֹ אֶת הַמֶּרְחָץ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נִקְרָא עַל שְׁמוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Even in a place** with regard to **which** the Sages **said** that it is permitted for a Jew **to rent** a house to a gentile, **they did not say** that one may rent it **for** use as **a residence, because** the gentile will **bring** objects of **idol worship into it, as it is stated: “You shall not bring an abomination into your house”** (Deuteronomy 7:26), and this is still considered the house of a Jew. **And** for the same reason, **in every place, one may not rent a bathhouse to** a gentile, **since it is called by the name of** the owner, and onlookers will think that the Jew is operating it on Shabbat.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:3
[Avodah Zarah 21a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:3)

**גְּמָ׳** מַאי ״אֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שָׂדוֹת״? אִילֵּימָא מִשּׁוּם דְּאִית בַּהּ תַּרְתֵּי: חֲדָא, חֲנָיַית קַרְקַע; וַחֲדָא, דְּקָא מַפְקַע לַהּ מִמַּעֲשֵׂר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **What** is the meaning of the mishna’s statement: **Needless to say** one may not allow gentiles to rent **fields?** Why is the *halakha* with regard to fields more obvious than the *halakha* of houses? **If we say** that it is **because** allowing a gentile to rent a field **entails two** problems, **one** of which is aiding gentiles in **encamping** in the **land, and** the other **one** is **that** doing so **releases** the land **from** the mitzva of separating **tithe,** this cannot be correct.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:4
[Avodah Zarah 21a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:4)

אִי הָכִי, בָּתִּים נָמֵי אִיכָּא תַּרְתֵּי: חֲדָא, חֲנָיַית קַרְקַע; וַחֲדָא, דְּקָא מַפְקַע לַהּ מִמְּזוּזָה! אָמַר רַב מְשַׁרְשְׁיָא: מְזוּזָה חוֹבַת הַדָּר הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains why that cannot be the reason: **If that is so,** the same can be said about the prohibition against renting **houses,** as it **also involves two** problems: **One** is aiding gentiles in **encamping** in the **land, and** the other **one** is **that** it **releases** the house **from** the mitzva of ***mezuza*. Rav Mesharshiyya says** in response: Affixing **a *mezuza* is the obligation of the resident,** rather than an obligation that applies to the house. Therefore, if no Jew lives in a house, it is not subject to the mitzva of *mezuza*. This means that by renting a house to a gentile one is not removing the right to perform the mitzva from the house.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:5
[Avodah Zarah 21a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:5)

בְּסוּרְיָא מַשְׂכִּירִין בָּתִּים כּוּ׳. מַאי שְׁנָא מְכִירָה דְּלָא? מִשּׁוּם מְכִירָה דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִי הָכִי, מִשְּׂכִירוּת נָמֵי נִגְזוֹר! הִיא גּוּפַהּ גְּזֵרָה, וַאֲנַן נֵיקוּם וְנִיגְזוֹר גְּזֵרָה לִגְזֵרָה?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna teaches: **In Syria one may rent** houses but not fields to gentiles. The Gemara asks: **What is different** about **selling** houses **that** it is **not** permitted to sell houses in Syria? The Gemara answers that it is prohibited **due to** a concern that this will ultimately result in the **selling** of houses **in Eretz Yisrael.** The Gemara challenges: **If that is so, let us also issue a decree** prohibiting **renting** houses to gentiles in Syria, lest it lead to renting to gentiles in Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara explains: The prohibition against renting houses to gentiles in Eretz Yisrael **is itself** a rabbinic **decree** lest one come to sell the houses, **and shall we arise and issue** one **decree to** prevent the violation of another **decree?**


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:6
[Avodah Zarah 21a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:6)

וְהָא שְׂכִירוּת שָׂדֶה דִּבְסוּרְיָא, דִּגְזֵרָה לִגְזֵרָה הִיא, וְקָא גָזְרִינַן! הָתָם לָאו גְּזֵרָה הוּא, קָסָבַר: כִּיבּוּשׁ יָחִיד שְׁמֵיהּ כִּיבּוּשׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges: **But** the prohibition against **renting a field that is in Syria is** also **a decree** whose purpose is **to** prevent the violation of another **decree,** as the prohibition against allowing a gentile to rent one’s field in Eretz Yisrael is a rabbinic decree, **and** yet **we** still **issue the decree.** The Gemara explains: According to Rabbi Meir, **there,** with regard to selling houses and fields in Syria to gentiles, the prohibition **is not** merely **a decree** intended to prevent the violation of the decree with regard to Eretz Yisrael. Rather, Rabbi Meir **holds** that the **conquest of an individual is called a conquest.** Once Syria was conquered by King David, who is considered an individual in this regard, the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael applied to it.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:7
[Avodah Zarah 21a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:7)

שָׂדֶה דְּאִית בֵּיהּ תַּרְתֵּי — גְּזַרוּ בֵּיהּ רַבָּנַן, בָּתִּים דְּלֵית בְּהוּ תַּרְתֵּי — לָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Therefore, **concerning a field, which has two** problems, as one releases the land from the mitzva of separating tithes and aids gentiles in acquiring land in Eretz Yisrael, **the Sages issued a decree** as a preventative measure, prohibiting the renting of fields just as in Eretz Yisrael. But **concerning houses, which do not have two** problems, **the Sages did not issue** such **a decree.**


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:8
[Avodah Zarah 21a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:8)

בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וְכוּ׳. שָׂדֶה דְּאִית בֵּיהּ תַּרְתֵּי — גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן, בָּתִּים דְּלֵית בְּהוּ תַּרְתֵּי — לָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna teaches that according to Rabbi Meir, **outside of Eretz** Yisrael one may sell houses and rent fields, but one may not sell fields to gentiles. The Gemara explains: **Concerning a field, which has two** problems when it is in Eretz Yisrael, **the Sages issued a decree** preventing its sale even outside of Eretz Yisrael. **Concerning houses, which do not have two** problems, **the Sages did not issue a decree** prohibiting their sale.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:9
[Avodah Zarah 21a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:9)

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַשְׂכִּירִין לָהֶם בָּתִּים וְכוּ׳. מַאי טַעְמָא? שָׂדוֹת דְּאִית בְּהוּ תַּרְתֵּי — גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן, בָּתִּים דְּלֵית בְּהוּ תַּרְתֵּי — לָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna further teaches that **Rabbi Yosei says: In Eretz Yisrael one may rent houses** but not fields **to** gentiles. The Gemara explains: **What is the reason** that one may rent houses but not fields? **Concerning fields, which have two** problems, **the Sages issued a decree** as a preventive measure prohibiting the renting of fields in Eretz Yisrael. But **concerning houses, which do not have two** problems, **the Sages did not issue a decree** prohibiting renting houses to gentiles.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:10
[Avodah Zarah 21a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:10)

וּבְסוּרְיָא מוֹכְרִין וְכוּ׳. מַאי טַעְמָא? קָסָבַר: כִּיבּוּשׁ יָחִיד לָא שְׁמֵיהּ כִּיבּוּשׁ, וְשָׂדֶה דְּאִית בַּהּ תַּרְתֵּי — גְּזַרוּ בַּהּ רַבָּנַן, בָּתִּים דְּלֵית בְּהוּ תַּרְתֵּי — לָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna teaches that Rabbi Yosei rules: **And in Syria one may sell** houses and rent fields to gentiles, but one may not sell fields. The Gemara asks: **What is the reason** that one may sell houses but not fields? The Gemara answers: Rabbi Yosei **holds** that the **conquest of an individual is not called a conquest,** and therefore there is no prohibition by Torah law against selling houses in Syria. **And concerning a field, which has two** problems, **the Sages issued a decree** as a preventive measure prohibiting the sale of fields in Syria. **Concerning houses, which do not have two** problems, **the Sages did not issue a decree** prohibiting their sale.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:11
[Avodah Zarah 21a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:11)

וּבְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מוֹכְרִין וְכוּ׳. מַאי טַעְמָא? כֵּיוָן דִּמְרַחַק, לָא גָּזְרִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna continues: **And outside of Eretz** Yisrael **one may sell** houses and fields. The Gemara asks: **What is the reason** for this? The Gemara answers: **Since** this land **is at a distance** from Eretz Yisrael, the Sages **do not issue a decree,** unlike Syria, which is near Eretz Yisrael.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:12
[Avodah Zarah 21a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:12)

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂנָּה שְׁכוּנָה. וְכַמָּה שְׁכוּנָה? תָּנָא: אֵין שְׁכוּנָה פְּחוּתָה מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה בְּנֵי אָדָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
In conclusion, **Rav Yehuda says** that **Shmuel says:** The ***halakha*** is **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yosei,** that it is permitted to sell houses outside of Eretz Yisrael to gentiles. **Rav Yosef says: And** this is the *halakha* **provided that one does not make it** into a gentile **settlement. And how many** people constitute **a settlement?** The Sage **taught:** There is **no settlement** that consists of **fewer than three people.**


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:13
[Avodah Zarah 21a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:13)

וְלֵחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא אָזֵיל הַאי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְזַבֵּין לְחַד גּוֹי, וְאָזֵיל הַאיְךְ וּמְזַבֵּין לַהּ לִתְרֵי! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: אַ״לִּפְנֵי״ מִפַּקְּדִינַן, אַ״לִּפְנֵי״ דְּ״לִפְנֵי״ לָא מִפַּקְּדִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges: **But let us be concerned** that **perhaps this Jew will go and sell to one gentile, and the other** owners of the adjacent houses **will go and sell to two** other gentiles, resulting in a gentile settlement. **Abaye said: We are commanded about** placing a stumbling block **before** the blind (see Leviticus 19:14), but **we are not commanded about** placing a stumbling block **before** someone who may place it **before** the blind. In other words, this prohibition applies only when one causes another to sin by his direct action, not in a situation such as this, where the prohibition is two stages removed from the Jew’s action.


###### Avodah Zarah 21a:14
[Avodah Zarah 21a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/21a:14)

אַף בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְהַשְׂכִּיר. מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא דּוּכְתָּא דְּלָא מוֹגְרִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that **even in a place** with regard to **which** the Sages **said** that it is permitted for a Jew **to rent** a house to a gentile, they did not say that one may rent it for use as a residence. The Gemara points out: **By inference,** this means **that there is a place where one may not rent** any house to a gentile.