## Avodah Zarah Daf 47b

###### Avodah Zarah 47b:1
[Avodah Zarah 47b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:1)

נִידּוֹן מֶחֱצָה עַל מֶחֱצָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
the area **is treated** as **half and half** with regard to withdrawing into his property before rebuilding the wall; he may build the wall four cubits from the middle of that space.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:2
[Avodah Zarah 47b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:2)

אֲבָנָיו, עֵצָיו וַעֲפָרוֹ — מְטַמְּאִין כְּשֶׁרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The stones of** the fallen wall, **its wood, and its dust, transmit impurity like a creeping animal,** i.e., one who touches them becomes impure like one who touches a creeping animal, **as it is stated:** “And you shall not bring an abomination into your house, and be accursed like it; **you shall detest it [*shakketz teshakketzennu*],** and you shall abhor it; for it is a proscribed item” (Deuteronomy 7:26). The term *shakketz* is used in a different form, *shekketz*, with regard to creeping animals.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:3
[Avodah Zarah 47b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:3)

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: כְּנִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ״, מָה נִדָּה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא, אַף עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְטַמְּאָה בְּמַשָּׂא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Akiva says:** Those items transmit impurity **like a menstruating woman, as it is stated: “You will put them far away as a menstruating woman; you shall say to it: Go away”** (Isaiah 30:22). **Just as a menstruating woman transmits impurity by carrying,** as one who moves a menstruating woman, even without touching her, becomes impure, **so too,** objects of **idol worship transmit impurity by carrying.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:4
[Avodah Zarah 47b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:4)

**גְּמָ׳** וְהָא קָא מַרְוַוח לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה! אָמַר רַב חֲנִינָא מִסּוּרָא: דְּעָבֵד לֵיהּ בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The mishna teaches that one must rebuild his wall at a distance from the house of idol worship. The Gemara asks: **But** how may one do so? **Isn’t he creating more space for the** house of **idol worship? Rav Ḥanina of Sura said:** This is not a problem, **as he converts** the empty space into **a bathroom.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:5
[Avodah Zarah 47b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:5)

וְהָא בָּעֵי צְנִיעוּתָא! דְּעָבֵד לֵיהּ בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא דְּלַיְלָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Since the mishna teaches that no wall may be built in that space, the bathroom is apparently not enclosed. The Gemara asks: **But doesn’t** a bathroom **need** to be in a place of **modesty?** The Gemara answers: This is not a problem, **as he converts it** into **a bathroom for nighttime,** when no one can see him.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:6
[Avodah Zarah 47b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:6)

וְהָא אָמַר מָר: אֵיזֶהוּ צָנוּעַ? הַנִּפְנֶה בַּלַּיְלָה בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּפְנָה בַּיּוֹם, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאוֹקֵימְנָא בִּכְדֶרֶךְ, מִיהוּ צְנִיעוּתָא בָּעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But didn’t the master say** in a *baraita*: **Who is a modest person? One who defecates at night in** the same **place that he defecates during the day,** i.e., in a place where no one can see him? **And although we interpreted** the *baraita* as referring not to location but to conduct, teaching that one must conduct himself at night **in the same manner,** i.e., with the same degree of modesty, as he does during the day with regard to removing his clothing when defecating (see *Berakhot* 62a), **nevertheless,** it can be inferred from here that even at night one **is required to observe** the dictates of **modesty.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:7
[Avodah Zarah 47b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:7)

דְּעָבֵד לֵיהּ לְתִינוֹקוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: This is not a problem, **as he converts it** into a bathroom **for children,** who are not required to observe the same level of modesty.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:8
[Avodah Zarah 47b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:8)

אִי נָמֵי, דְּגָדַיר לֵיהּ בְּהִיזְמֵי וְהִיגֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests a different answer to the problem of enlarging the space used for idolatry: **Alternatively,** one can answer **that he fences** in the four-cubit space **with thorns and shrubs,** thereby preventing its use.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:9
[Avodah Zarah 47b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:9)

**מַתְנִי׳** שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּתִּים הֵן — בַּיִת שֶׁבְּנָאוֹ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר. סִיְּידוֹ וְכִיְּידוֹ לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְחִידֵּשׁ — נוֹטֵל מַה שֶּׁחִידֵּשׁ. הִכְנִיס לְתוֹכָהּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהוֹצִיאָהּ — הֲרֵי זֶה מוּתָּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** With regard to idol worship **there are three** types of **houses,** each with its own *halakhot*. **A house that one built initially for** the purpose of **idol worship is forbidden,** i.e., it is prohibited to derive benefit from such a house. If one **plastered** a house **or cemented it for** the purpose of **idol worship, and he** thereby **added** a layer to the walls of the house, one **removes that which he added,** and the rest of the house is permitted. If one **brought** an object of **idol worship into** a house temporarily **and** then **removed it,** the house **is** then **permitted.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:10
[Avodah Zarah 47b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:10)

**גְּמָ׳** אָמַר רַב: הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְבַיִת — אֲסָרוֹ. אַלְמָא קָסָבַר תָּלוּשׁ וּלְבַסּוֹף חִבְּרוֹ כְּתָלוּשׁ דָּמֵי, וְהָאֲנַן ״בְּנָאוֹ״ תְּנַן!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **Rav says: One who bows to a house has rendered it forbidden.** The Gemara infers: **Evidently,** Rav **holds** that an item that was **detached and** that **one subsequently attached is considered as** if it were still **detached.** Consequently, a house, which is attached to the ground but was built with materials that were detached from the ground, can become forbidden through worship. The Gemara asks: **But didn’t we learn** in the mishna that if a house was initially **built** for the purpose of idol worship, it is forbidden? This indicates that the house becomes forbidden only when it is initially constructed for idolatrous purposes.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:11
[Avodah Zarah 47b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:11)

בְּנָאוֹ — אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לוֹ, הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה — אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא בְּנָאוֹ. אִי הָכִי, הָנֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה — אַרְבָּעָה הָווּ!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers that there are two cases where the house is rendered forbidden: If one **built it** for purposes of idol worship, **even if he did not bow to it,** or if **he bowed to it, even if he did not build it** for purposes of idol worship; it is forbidden in either case. The Gemara asks: **If so,** why does the mishna list only **these three** types of houses, when **there are** really **four?**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:12
[Avodah Zarah 47b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:12)

כֵּיוָן דִּלְעִנְיַן בִּיטּוּל, בָּנָה וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה חַד קָא חָשֵׁיב לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **Since with regard to** the **revocation** of their idolatrous status there is no difference between a house that one **built** for idolatrous purposes **and** a house that one **bowed** down to, the mishna **considers them** as **one.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:13
[Avodah Zarah 47b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:13)

**מַתְנִי׳** שָׁלֹשׁ אֲבָנִים הֵן — אֶבֶן שֶׁחֲצָבָהּ מִתְּחִלָּה לְבִימוֹס — הֲרֵי זוֹ אֲסוּרָה. סִיְּידָהּ וְכִיְּידָהּ לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה — נוֹטֵל מַה שֶׁסִּיֵּיד וְכִיֵּיד, וּמוּתֶּרֶת. הֶעֱמִיד עָלֶיהָ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְסִילְּקָהּ — הֲרֵי זוֹ מוּתֶּרֶת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** With regard to idol worship **there are three** types of **stones,** each with its own *halakhot*. **A stone that** one **initially hewed for** use in **a platform [*bimos*]** for an idol **is forbidden.** If one **plastered** a stone **or cemented it for the sake of idol worship, one removes that which he plastered or cemented and** the stone **is permitted.** If one **erected** an object of **idol worship upon** a stone **and** subsequently **removed it,** the stone **is** then **permitted.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:14
[Avodah Zarah 47b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:14)

**גְּמָ׳** אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: וְהוּא שֶׁסִּיֵּיד וְכִיֵּיד בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל אֶבֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The mishna teaches that one may not derive benefit from a stone plastered or cemented for the sake of idol worship. **Rabbi Ami says: And** that **is** the *halakha* provided **that one plastered or cemented within the stone itself,** by carving or engraving into it. If the plaster or cement was merely appended to the outside of the stone as an external ornament, the stone is not forbidden.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:15
[Avodah Zarah 47b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:15)

וְהָא דֻּומְיָא דְּבַיִת תְּנַן, וּבַיִת לָאו בְּגוּפֵיהּ הוּא, וּמִיתְּסַר! בַּיִת נָמֵי אִיכָּא בֵּינֵי אוּרְבֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But didn’t we learn** in the mishna the *halakha* with regard to stones immediately following the *halakha* with regard to a house utilized for idol worship? This indicates that the *halakha* of a stone is **similar to** the *halakha* of **a house. And** in the case of **a house** that was rendered forbidden when it was plastered or cemented for idol worship, that plastering was **not** done **within the house itself,** but on the exterior of its walls, **and** even so it is **rendered forbidden.** Accordingly, even external plastering should render the stone forbidden. The Gemara answers: In the case of **a house** it can **also** be explained that the plaster or cement was added to the house itself, as **there is** space **in between the bricks** that can be filled in.


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:16
[Avodah Zarah 47b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:16)

מִי לָא עָסְקִינַן דְּשִׁייעַ, וַהֲדַר שַׁיְיעֵיהּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: As the mishna does not specify, **are we not dealing** even with a house **that one plastered** with no idolatrous purpose **and** then **plastered again** on top of that layer for the sake of idol worship, rendering the house forbidden even without affecting the house itself?


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:17
[Avodah Zarah 47b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:17)

אֶלָּא כִּי אִתְּמַר דְּרַבִּי אַמֵּי — לְעִנְיַן בִּיטּוּל אִתְּמַר, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּסִיֵּיד וְכִיֵּיד בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל אֶבֶן, כִּי נָטַל מַה שֶּׁחִידֵּשׁ — שַׁפִּיר דָּמֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: Rabbi Ami was not explaining at what point a stone plastered for idolatry becomes forbidden; **rather, when Rabbi Ami’s** statement **was stated, it was stated with regard to revocation** of the stone’s idolatrous status, **and** he taught that **even if one plastered or cemented within the stone itself, when one removes that which was added,** it is **permitted.**


###### Avodah Zarah 47b:18
[Avodah Zarah 47b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/47b:18)

דְּמַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: כֵּיוָן שֶׁסִּיֵּיד וְכִיֵּיד בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל אֶבֶן, כְּאֶבֶן שֶׁחֲצָבָהּ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה דָּמְיָא, וְתִיתְּסַר כּוּלַּהּ, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains Rabbi Ami’s ruling: **Lest you say** that **since one plastered or cemented within the stone itself, it is equivalent to a stone that one initially hewed for idol worship, and** therefore the **entire** stone is **forbidden,** Rabbi Ami **teaches us** that the stone can become permitted by the removal of the additional layer of plaster.