## Avodah Zarah Daf 39a

###### Avodah Zarah 39a:1
[Avodah Zarah 39a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:1)

הָתָם יְדִיעַ מַמָּשׁוֹ, הָכָא לָא יְדִיעַ מַמָּשָׁן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains: **There, the substance of** the wine **is a recognizable** component of the fish stew; **here, its substance is not a recognizable** component of the pickled vegetables.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:2
[Avodah Zarah 39a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:2)

וְטָרִית טְרוּפָה, וְצִיר שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ דָּגָה וְכוּ׳. מַאי חִילֵּק? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: זוֹ סוּלְתָּנִית, וּמִפְּנֵי מָה אֲסוּרָה? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֵרְבוֹנָהּ עוֹלֶה עִמָּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches: **And minced *tarit*** fish, **and brine that does not have** a *kilbit* **fish** floating in it, and *ḥilak* are all prohibited. The Gemara asks: **What** is ***ḥilak*? Rav Naḥman bar Abba says** that **Rav says: This is *sultanit*,** a type of small fish that is generally caught before its scales have developed. **And for what** reason **is it prohibited?** It is **because its** size causes it to be **intermingled** with other fish, and as a result *sultanit* **rises** out of the water **with** non-kosher fish when **it** is caught.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:3
[Avodah Zarah 39a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:3)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְגַדֵּל לְאַחַר זְמַן, כְּגוֹן הַסּוּלְתָּנִית (וְהָעַפְיָץ) [וְהָעַפְיָין] — הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר. יֵשׁ לוֹ עַכְשָׁיו וְעָתִיד לְהַשִּׁיר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹלֶה מִן הַיָּם, כְּגוֹן אֲקוּנָס וַאֲפוּנָס, כְּטַסְפַּטְיָיס וְאַכְסְפַּטְיָיס וַאֲטוּנָס — מוּתָּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught:** If a fish **does not currently possess** scales **but will grow** them **after** a period of **time, such as the *sultanit* and *afiyatz*** fish, **it is permitted.** Likewise, if **it has** scales **now but will shed** them **when it** is caught and **rises from the sea, such as *akunas* and *afuna*, *ketasfatiyas* and *akhsaftiyas* and *otanas*** fish, it is **permitted.**


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:4
[Avodah Zarah 39a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:4)

אַכְרֵיז רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ בְּקֵיסָרִי: קִירְבֵי דָגִים וְעוּבָּרָן נִיקָּחִין מִכׇּל אָדָם. חֶזְקָתָן אֵינָן בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִפִּלּוּסָא וְאַסְפַּמְיָא, כִּי הָא דְּאָמַר אַבָּיֵי: הַאי צַחַנְתָּא דְּבָב נַהֲרָא שַׁרְיָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Abbahu announced in Caesarea: Fish entrails and their eggs may be purchased from any person,** as **the presumption with regard to them** is that **they come only from Pelusium [*Pilusa*] and Spain [*Aspamya*],** and non-kosher fish are not found in those areas. This is **similar to that which Abaye says: These small fish [*tzaḥanta*] of the Bav River are permitted,** as non-kosher fish are not found in that river.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:5
[Avodah Zarah 39a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:5)

מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵּימָא מִשּׁוּם דִּרְדִיפִי מַיָּא, וְהַאי דָּג טָמֵא כֵּיוָן דְּלֵית לֵיהּ חוּט הַשִּׁדְרָה, בְּדוּכְתָּא דִּרְדִיפִי מַיָּא לָא מָצֵי קָאֵי, וְהָא קָא חָזֵינַן דְּקָאֵי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What is the reason** that Abaye unequivocally permitted eating these fish and was not concerned about the potential presence of non-kosher fish among them? **If we say** that it is **due to** the fact **that** the **water flows rapidly, and these non-kosher fish, since they do not have a spinal cord, are not able to exist in a place where the water flows rapidly,** as the current carries the non-kosher fish out of the Bav River, and consequently all the remaining fish are kosher, that is not the case, **since we see that** non-kosher fish **exist** in rivers with strong currents.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:6
[Avodah Zarah 39a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:6)

אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דִּמְלִיחִי מַיָּא, וְהַאי דָּג טָמֵא — כֵּיוָן דְּלֵית לֵיהּ קִלְפֵי, בְּדוּכְתָּא דִּמְלִיחִי מַיָּא לָא מָצֵי קָאֵי. וְהָא קָחָזֵינַן דְּקָאֵי! אֶלָּא, מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא מְרַבֵּה טִינָא דָּג טָמֵא. אֲמַר רָבִינָא: הָאִידָּנָא דְּקָא שָׁפְכִי בֵּיהּ נְהַר גּוֹזָא וּנְהַר גַּמְדָּא — אֲסִירִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather,** perhaps Abaye permitted the fish **because** the **water is salty, and these non-kosher fish are not able to exist in a place of salty water since they do not have scales.** This, too, is not the case, **since we see that** non-kosher fish **exist** in salty water. **Rather,** Abaye permitted the small fish in the Bav River **because** the **mud** in that river **is not** suitable for **non-kosher fish** to **reproduce.** The conditions in the river render it an unproductive habitat for non-kosher fish. **Ravina says: Nowadays, as** the government built canals between the rivers, and the **Goza River and** the **Gamda River spill into** the Bav and carry non-kosher fish there, it is **prohibited** to eat the small fish without thorough inspection.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:7
[Avodah Zarah 39a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:7)

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: הַאי חַמְרָא דְּיַמָּא — שְׁרֵי, תּוֹרָא דְּיַמָּא — אֲסִיר, וְסִימָנָיךְ: טָמֵא טָהוֹר, טָהוֹר טָמֵא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara cites several other statements of *amora’im* that concern the halakhic status of fish. **Abaye says: This** creature known as the **sea donkey [*ḥamara deyamma*]** is **permitted;** the creature known as the **sea ox [*tora deyamma*]** is **prohibited, and your mnemonic** to remember this *halakha* is: **Impure is pure,** and **pure is impure,** i.e., the name of an animal which is non-kosher on land is kosher in the sea, and that which is kosher on land is non-kosher in the sea.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:8
[Avodah Zarah 39a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:8)

אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: שְׁפַר נוּנָא שְׁרֵי, קְדַשׁ נוּנָא אֲסִיר, וְסִימָנָיךְ: ״קֹדֶשׁ לַה׳״. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: קְבַר נוּנָא אָסוּר, וְסִימָנָיךְ: קִבְרֵי גוֹיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Ashi said:** The type of fish known as ***shefar nuna*** is **permitted,** and the type of fish known as ***kadesh nuna*** is **prohibited, and your mnemonic** to remember this *halakha* is: That which is **holy [*kodesh*]** is **to the Lord,** and not for humans. And **some say** that Rav Ashi said: The type of fish known as ***kevar nuna*** is **prohibited, and your mnemonic** is: The grave [*kever*] is impure like the **graves of gentiles.**


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:9
[Avodah Zarah 39a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:9)

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אִיקְּלַע לְגִינְזַק, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ הָהוּא נוּנָא דַּהֲוָה דָּמֵי לְחִיפּוּשָׁא, חַפְּיֵיהּ בְּדִיקּוּלָא, חֲזָא בֵּיהּ קִלְפֵי וְשַׁרְיֵיהּ. רַב אָשֵׁי אִיקְּלַע לְטַמְדוֹרְיָא, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ הָהוּא נוּנָא דַּהֲוָה דָּמֵי לִצְלוֹפְחָא, נַקְטֵיהּ לַהֲדֵי יוֹמָא, חֲזָא דַּהֲוָה בֵּיהּ צִימְחֵי וְשַׁרְיֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates several incidents involving Sages and their rulings with regard to fish. **Rabbi Akiva happened** to come **to Ginzak** and **they brought before him a certain fish that was similar to a *ḥippusha*,** a non-kosher aquatic creature. When **he enclosed it in a basket he saw** that **it** had **scales** which it shed as it struggled to escape from the basket, **and he permitted it** on that basis. **Rav Ashi happened** to come **to Tamduria** where **they brought before him a certain fish that was similar to an eel [*tzelofḥa*]. He took it out** and held it **against** the light of **day** and **saw that there were thin scales on it, and he permitted it.**


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:10
[Avodah Zarah 39a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:10)

רַב אָשֵׁי אִיקְּלַע לְהָהוּא אַתְרָא, אַיְיתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ נוּנָא דְּהָוֵי דָּמֵי לִשְׁפַרְנוּנָא, חַפְּיֵיהּ בִּמְשִׁיכְלֵי חִיוָּרֵי, חֲזָא בֵּיהּ קִלְפֵי וְשַׁרְיֵיהּ. רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אִיקְּלַע לְאַקְרָא דְאַגְמָא, קָרִיבוּ לֵיהּ צַחַנְתָּא, שַׁמְעֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה קָרֵי לֵיהּ ״בָּאטֵי״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Ashi** also **happened** to come **to a certain land** where **they brought before him a fish that was similar to a *shefarnuna*. He enclosed it in a white vessel** and **saw** that **it** shed dark **scales,** which he could see against the white background of the container, **and he permitted it. Rabba bar bar Ḥana happened** to come **to Akra DeAgma** and **they brought him** some ***tzaḥanta*,** a dish prepared from small fish. **He heard a certain man calling it *batei*,** the name of a non-kosher sea creature.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:11
[Avodah Zarah 39a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:11)

אֲמַר: מִדְּקָא קָרֵי לֵיהּ ״בָּאטֵי״, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ דָּבָר טָמֵא אִית בֵּיהּ, לָא אֲכַל מִינֵּיהּ. לְצַפְרָא עַיֵּין בֵּהּ, אַשְׁכַּח בֵּיהּ דָּבָר טָמֵא, קָרֵי אַנַּפְשֵׁיהּ: ״לֹא יְאֻנֶּה לַצַּדִּיק כׇּל אָוֶן״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabba bar bar Ḥana **said** to himself: **From** the fact **that he called it *batei*,** I can **conclude from** here that **there is a non-kosher substance in** the *tzaḥanta*. And **he did not eat from it** that night. **In the morning, he examined** the dish and in fact **found a non-kosher substance in it. He read** the following verse **about himself: “No sin shall befall the righteous”** (Proverbs 12:21).


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:12
[Avodah Zarah 39a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:12)

וְהַקּוֹרֶט שֶׁל חִילְתִּית. מַאי טַעְמָא? מִשּׁוּם דְּמַפְסְקִי לֵיהּ בְּסַכִּינָא. אַף עַל גַּב דְּאָמַר מָר: נוֹתֵן טַעַם לִפְגָם מוּתָּר, אַגַּב חוּרְפֵּיהּ דְּחִילְתִּיתָא מְחַלְּיָא לֵיהּ שַׁמְנוּנִיתָא, וְהָוֵה לֵיהּ כְּנוֹתֵן טַעַם לְשֶׁבַח, וְאָסוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches: **And a sliver of *ḥiltit*** may not be consumed, although one may derive benefit from it. The Gemara asks: **What is the reason** that it is prohibited? It is **because they slice it with a knife** on which there is presumably non-kosher residue. And **even though the Master said** that a prohibited substance that **imparts flavor to** the **detriment** of the mixture is **permitted,** that principle does not apply in this case because **as a result of the sharpness of the *ḥiltit*,** the act of slicing it with a knife **sweetens,** i.e., enhances, the taste of **the** non-kosher **residue. And** therefore **it is like** a prohibited substance that **imparts flavor to** the **enhancement** of the mixture, **and** it is **prohibited.**


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:13
[Avodah Zarah 39a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:13)

עַבְדֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי לֵוִי הֲוָה קָא מְזַבֵּין חִילְתִּיתָא, כִּי נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּרַבִּי לֵוִי אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: מַהוּ לְמִיזְבַּן מִינֵּיהּ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל חָבֵר הֲרֵי הוּא כְּחָבֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that the gentile **slave of Rabbi Levi would sell *ḥiltit*,** and it was permitted to purchase it from him as he was the slave of a Sage. **When Rabbi Levi passed away, they came before Rabbi Yoḥanan** and **said to him:** Now that Rabbi Levi has passed, **what is** the *halakha* with regard to whether or not it is permitted **to purchase** *ḥiltit* **from his** gentile slave? Rabbi Yoḥanan **said to them: The slave of a *ḥaver*,** one devoted to the meticulous observance of mitzvot, especially *halakhot* of ritual purity, *teruma*, and tithes, **is as a *ḥaver*** himself, and therefore it is permitted to buy *ḥiltit* from him.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:14
[Avodah Zarah 39a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:14)

רַב הוּנָא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי זְבֵן תְּכֵילְתָּא מֵאֱנָשֵׁי דְּבֵיתֵיהּ דְּרַב עַמְרָם חֲסִידָא, אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף, לָא הֲוָה בִּידֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates another incident that involves the status of a *ḥaver* and his household. **Rav Huna bar Minyumi purchased sky-blue dye [*tekhelta*] from the people of the household,** i.e., the wife, **of Rav Amram the pious.** One may purchase sky-blue dye for ritual fringes only from a reliable individual, as it is easy to counterfeit it. Rav Huna then **came before Rav Yosef** to ask if he could rely on her assurance that it was usable for the mitzva. The answer **was not available to** Rav Yosef.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:15
[Avodah Zarah 39a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:15)

פְּגַע בֵּיהּ חָנָן חַיָּיטָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: יוֹסֵף עַנְיָא מְנָא לֵיהּ? בְּדִידִי הֲוָה עוֹבָדָא, דִּזְבֵינִי תְּכֵילְתָּא מֵאֱנָשֵׁי דְּבֵיתֵיהּ דְּרַבְנָאָה אֲחוּהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא, וַאֲתַאי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב מַתְנָא, לָא הֲוָה בִּידֵיהּ. אֲתַאי לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה מֵהַגְרוֹנְיָא, אָמַר לִי: נְפַלְתְּ לְיָד, הָכִי אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: אֵשֶׁת חָבֵר הֲרֵי הִיא כְּחָבֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Later, **Ḥanan the tailor happened to** meet Rav Huna, and **he said to him: From where** could **poor** Rav **Yosef** have known the answer to this question? Ḥanan continued: **There was an incident in which I** was involved, **as I purchased sky-blue dye from the people of the household,** i.e., the wife, **of Rabena’a, brother of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, and I came before Rav Mattana** to ask him the same question, and the answer **was not available to him** either. **I** then **came before Rav Yehuda of Hagronya,** who **said to me: You have fallen into** my **hand,** i.e., I am the only one who can answer your question. **This** is what **Shmuel says: The wife of a *ḥaver* is** herself considered **like a *ḥaver*,** and you may therefore rely on her statement.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:16
[Avodah Zarah 39a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:16)

תְּנֵינָא לְהָא דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵשֶׁת חָבֵר הֲרֵי הִיא כְּחָבֵר, עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל חָבֵר הֲרֵי הוּא כְּחָבֵר, חָבֵר שֶׁמֵּת — אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ הֲרֵי הֵן בְּחֶזְקָתָן עַד שֶׁיֵּחָשְׁדוּ, וְכֵן חָצֵר שֶׁמּוֹכְרִין בָּהּ תְּכֵלֶת הֲרֵי (הֵן בְּחֶזְקָתָן) [הִיא בְּחֶזְקָתָהּ] עַד שֶׁתִּיפָּסֵל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **We learn** here **that which the Sages taught** explicitly in a *baraita*: **The wife of a *ḥaver* is like a *ḥaver*; the slave of a *ḥaver* is like a *ḥaver*.** Furthermore, with regard to **a *ḥaver* that died, his wife and children and members of his household remain in their presumptive** status **until they are suspected** of engaging in inappropriate deeds. **And similarly,** with regard to **a courtyard in which they sell sky-blue dye, it remains in its presumptive** status as a place in which kosher sky-blue dye is sold **until it is disqualified** due to unscrupulous behavior.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:17
[Avodah Zarah 39a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:17)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵשֶׁת עַם הָאָרֶץ שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְחָבֵר, וְכֵן בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל עַם הָאָרֶץ שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְחָבֵר, וְכֵן עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל עַם הָאָרֶץ שֶׁנִּמְכַּר לְחָבֵר — כּוּלָּן צְרִיכִין לְקַבֵּל דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוּת, אֲבָל אֵשֶׁת חָבֵר שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְעַם הָאָרֶץ, וְכֵן בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל חָבֵר שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְעַם הָאָרֶץ, וְכֵן עַבְדּוֹ שֶׁל חָבֵר שֶׁנִּמְכַּר לְעַם הָאָרֶץ — אֵינָן צְרִיכִין לְקַבֵּל דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוּת לְכַתְּחִלָּה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught: The wife of one who is not careful to keep the particulars of certain *halakhot* [*am ha’aretz*], who** later **marries a *ḥaver*, and likewise the daughter of an *am ha’aretz* who marries a *ḥaver*, and likewise the slave of an *am ha’aretz* who is sold to a *ḥaver*, must all accept** upon themselves the commitment to observe **the matters** associated with ***ḥaver* status. But the wife of a *ḥaver* who** later **marries an *am ha’aretz*, and likewise the daughter of a *ḥaver* who marries an *am ha’aretz*, and likewise the slave of a *ḥaver* who was sold to an *am ha’aretz*,** these people **need not accept** upon themselves the commitment to observe **the matters** associated with ***ḥaver* status *ab initio*.** This is **the statement of Rabbi Meir.**


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:18
[Avodah Zarah 39a:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:18)

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אַף הֵן צְרִיכִין לְקַבֵּל דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוּת לְכַתְּחִלָּה. וְכֵן הָיָה רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: מַעֲשֶׂה בְּאִשָּׁה אַחַת שֶׁנִּשֵּׂאת לְחָבֵר, וְהָיְתָה קוֹשֶׁרֶת לוֹ תְּפִילִּין עַל יָדוֹ, נִשֵּׂאת לְמוֹכֵס, וְהָיְתָה קוֹשֶׁרֶת לוֹ קִשְׁרֵי מוֹכֵס עַל יָדוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yehuda says: They too must accept** upon themselves the commitment to observe **the matters** associated with ***ḥaver* status *ab initio*. And similarly, Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar would** illustrate this point and **say:** There was **an incident involving a certain woman who married a *ḥaver* and would tie for him phylacteries on his hand,** and she later **married a tax collector and would tie for him tax-seals on his hand,** which shows that her new husband had a great influence on her level of piety.


###### Avodah Zarah 39a:19
[Avodah Zarah 39a:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/39a:19)

אָמַר רַב: חבי״ת אָסוּר בְּחוֹתָם אֶחָד, חמפ״ג מוּתָּר בְּחוֹתָם אֶחָד. חָלָב, בָּשָׂר, יַיִן, תְּכֵלֶת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Rav says:** The substances represented by the acronym ***ḥet*, *beit*, *yod*, *tav* are prohibited** if they were deposited with a gentile while they were sealed **with** only **one seal.** Those represented by the acronym ***ḥet*, *mem*, *peh*, *gimmel* are permitted** if they were deposited with a gentile while they were sealed **with one seal.** The Gemara elaborates: **Milk [*ḥalav*], meat [*basar*], wine [*yayin*],** and **sky-blue dye [*tekhelet*]**