Today's Mishnah Yomi
Avodah Zarah 1:4 - 1:5
The Mishnah Yomi for Sunday, April 20, 2025 is Avodah Zarah 1:4 - 1:5
Mishnah 1
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Mishnayos Avodah Zarah Perek 1 Mishnah 4
עבודה זרה פרק א׳ משנה ד׳
In the case of a city in which there is active idol worship, it is permitted to engage in business transactions with gentiles who live outside of the city. If the idol worship is outside the city, it is permitted to engage in business within the city. What is the halakha with regard to traveling there, a place where a pagan festival is being celebrated? When the road is designated only for that place, it is prohibited to use the road, as onlookers will assume that the traveler intends to join the festival. But if one were able to travel on it to arrive at another place, it is permitted to use the road to reach the place that is observing the festival. With regard to a city in which idol worship is practiced and in which there are stores that are adorned for the sake of idol worship and there are others that are not adorned, this was in fact an incident that occurred in Beit She’an, and the Sages said: With regard to the adorned shops, it is prohibited to buy from them, but in the case of those that are not adorned it is permitted.
עִיר שֶׁיֶּשׁ בָּהּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, חוּצָה לָהּ מֻתָּר. הָיָה חוּצָה לָהּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, תּוֹכָהּ מֻתָּר. מַהוּ לֵילֵךְ לְשָׁם. בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַדֶּרֶךְ מְיֻחֶדֶת לְאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם, אָסוּר. וְאִם הָיָה יָכוֹל לְהַלֵּךְ בָּהּ לְמָקוֹם אַחֵר, מֻתָּר. עִיר שֶׁיֶּשׁ בָּהּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהָיוּ בָהּ חֲנֻיּוֹת מְעֻטָּרוֹת וְשֶׁאֵינָן מְעֻטָּרוֹת, זֶה הָיָה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּבֵית שְׁאָן, וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים, הַמְעֻטָּרוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת וְשֶׁאֵינָן מְעֻטָּרוֹת מֻתָּרוֹת:
Bartenura
עיר שיש בה ע״ז. שיום איד [יש] לבני העיר היום לע״ז שבעיר:
חוצה לה. ואפילו סמוך לעיר מאד מותר לשאת ולתת עם היושבים חוץ לעיר, שאין נמשכים אחר אותה ע״ז. שכן מנהגם יום איד של אלו אינו כיום איד של אלו:
מהו לילך שם. באותה העיר ביום ע״ז שלהם:
בזמן שהדרך מיוחדת לאותה העיר. שהדרך הכבושה מכאן לאותה העיר, מיוחדת לאותה העיר לבדה. אסור לילך שם, מפני שנראה כמהלך שם לעבוד ע״ז. ואם היה דרך מסלול הולך גם לעיר אחרת, מותר, שהרואה אומר למקום אחר הוא הולך:
היו בה חנויות מעוטרות. וסימן הוא להם שאותם חנויות של ע״ז, ליטול הכומרים מהם מכס:
ושאינן מעוטרות מותרות. דבאותם שאינם מעוטרות לא שקלי מיניה מכס לע״ז ולא מטי לע״ז הנאה מנייהו. ולמזבן מנייהו דבר המתקיים, שרי ביום אידם, שסתמו המוכר עצב ולא אזיל ומודה:
Mishnah 2
Mishnayos Avodah Zarah Perek 1 Mishnah 5
עבודה זרה פרק א׳ משנה ה׳
These are the items that it is prohibited to sell to a gentile at any time of year, as they are used specifically for idol worship: Itzterubalin, benot shuaḥ, petotarot, frankincense, and a white rooster. Rabbi Yehuda says: It is permitted to sell a white rooster to a gentile provided that it is sold along with other types of roosters. But when it is sold by itself, one should cut off its toe and sell it to the gentile, because they do not sacrifice a defective animal to their object of idol worship. And with regard to all remaining items, without specification it is permitted to sell them, but with specification it is prohibited to sell them. Rabbi Meir says: Even in the case of a good palm tree, ḥatzav, and naklav, it is prohibited to sell them to gentiles.
אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים אֲסוּרִים לִמְכֹּר לְגוֹיִם, אִצְטְרוֹבָּלִין, וּבְנוֹת שׁוּחַ וּפְטוֹטְרוֹתֵיהֶן, וּלְבוֹנָה, וְתַרְנְגוֹל הַלָּבָן. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, מֻתָּר לִמְכּוֹר לוֹ תַּרְנְגוֹל לָבָן בֵּין הַתַּרְנְגוֹלִין. וּבִזְמַן שֶׁהוּא בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, קוֹטֵעַ אֶת אֶצְבָּעוֹ וּמוֹכְרוֹ לוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מַקְרִיבִין חָסֵר לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. וּשְׁאָר כָּל הַדְּבָרִים, סְתָמָן מֻתָּר, וּפֵרוּשָׁן אָסוּר. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, אַף דֶּקֶל טָב וַחֲצָב וְנִקְלִיבָם אָסוּר לִמְכֹּר לְגוֹיִם:
Bartenura
אצטרובלין – fruit of the cedar.
בנות שוח – it is prohibited for an Israelite to sell a kind of the species of the large white figs to an idolater.
ופטוטרות – with their stems (Talmud Avodah Zarah 13b) it is stated, meaning to say, with their stalks/peduncles by which they are suspended, for undefined, the idolater wants to offer them as a [sacrificial] offering to idolatry.
תרנגול לבן בין תרנגולין – an idolater bought from an Israelite many chickens, it is permitted to sell amongst them a white chicken and since another person took them, It was not for idolatry that he wanted them.
ופירושן אסור – if he explained/specified that it was for idolatry that he needed them, it is prohibited. And it was necessary for our Mishnah [to specify this] for you might think that I would say that this person wanted them not for idolatrous purposes, and when he said this, he holds that just as that this person clings to it (for idolatrous purposes), everyone also clings to it, and I would say this for [just as] he would give it to me, it to teach us [that the reverse is to be taught].
דקל טב – [fruits] of a superior date which are regularly used for sacrificial purposes to idolatry.
נקב – reeds that they make from them sugar.
ונקליהם – a kind of very superior herb/grass, and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Meir.
אצטרובלין. פירא דארזא:
בנות שוח. מין ממיני התאנים הגדולים הלבנים. אסור לישראל למכור אלו לעובדי ע״ז:
פטוטרות. בפטוטרותיהם קאמר, כלומר בעוקצין שלהם שהם נתלין בו. דמסתמא העובד ע״ז רוצה להקריבן תקרובת לע״ז:
תרנגול לבן בין התרנגולין. לקח העובד ע״ז מישראל תרנגולים הרבה, מותר למכור ביניהם תרנגול לבן. דכיון דשקיל אחריני לאו לע״ז בעי להו:
ופירושן אסור. אם פירש דלע״ז בעי להו, אסור. ואצטריך למתני, דסלקא דעתך אמינא האי גברא לאו לע״ז בעי להו, והאי דקאמר הכי, סבר כי היכי דההוא גברא אביק בה כולי עלמא נמי אביקו, ואימא הכי כי היכי דליתבו לי, קמשמע לן:
דקל טב. פירות דקל משובח שפירותיו רגילין להקריב מהן לע״ז:
וחצב. קנים שעושין מהן הצוקר״א:
ונקליבם. מין עשב משובח מאד. והלכה כר׳ מאיר:
Mishnah Yomi FAQ
What is Mishnah Yomi?
Mishnah Yomi is a daily study program where participants study two mishnayot (individual teachings from the Mishnah) every day. By following this program, one can complete the entire Mishnah in about six years.
What is the Mishnah?
The Mishnah is the first major written collection of Jewish oral traditions, forming the basis of the Talmud. It dates back to around 200 CE and consists of teachings and discussions of Jewish law by various rabbis.
Who started the Mishnah Yomi program?
In 1934, the Kozoglover Gaon, Rav Aryeh Tzvi Frommer, who took over from Rav Meir Shapiro (the founder of Daf Yomi) as the head of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, initiated the Mishnah Yomi cycle, focusing on Seder Zeraim and Seder Taharos. After World War II, in 1947, Rav Yonah Sztencl, a disciple of Rav Frommer, expanded the program, advocating for a comprehensive study of Shishah Sidrei Mishnah. The idea of studying two Mishnayos daily gained the support of figures like Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, the Tchebiner Rov, and the Gerer Rebbe, marking the formal inception of Mishnah Yomi.
How long does it take to complete the Mishnah with Mishnah Yomi?
Following the Mishnah Yomi program, one can complete the Mishnah in approximately six years.
Can anyone join Mishnah Yomi?
Yes, anyone interested in studying the Mishnah can start the Mishnah Yomi cycle. There’s no need for prior knowledge; beginners are welcome.
Do I need to know Hebrew to study Mishnah Yomi?
While the Mishnah is originally in Hebrew, there are numerous translations and commentaries available in various languages, making it accessible to anyone interested in studying.
Is there a specific time of day to study Mishnah Yomi?
There’s no designated time. Participants can choose a time that best fits their schedule.
Can I study Mishnah Yomi with a group?
Yes, many communities and synagogues organize group study sessions for Mishnah Yomi. Studying in a group can enhance understanding and foster camaraderie.
What if I miss a day?
If you miss a day, you can catch up by studying the missed mishnayot alongside the current day’s study or by dedicating some extra time until you’re back on track.
עיר שיש בה ע"ז – that the day of their festival the people of the city have a day for idolatrous worship who are in the city.
חוצה לה – and even very near the city, it is permissible to engage in business with those who dwell outside the city, for they are not drawn after that idolatry, and such is their practice. The day of their festival [of those in the city] Is not like the day of the festival [of those outside the city].
מהו לילך שם – in the same city on the day of their idolatrous worship.
בזמן שהדרך מיוחדת לאותה העיר – that the paved road from here to that city, is unique to that city alone, it is forbidden to go there, because it appears as one who is going there for idolatrous worship, and if there was a course of the road also goes to another city, it is permitted, for one who sees it states, “he is going to another place.”
היו בה חנויות מעוטרות – and the sign for them is that those stores are idolatrous, to collect taxes from them.
ושאינן מעוטרות מותרות – and those which are not wreathed, they don’t take taxes from him for idolatry, and they don’t bring to the idolatry any benefit from them, and to purchase from them something of value, is permissible on the day of their festival, for generally one who sells is sad [when he sells something he values] and does not go and praise [idolatry].