Avodah Zarah Daf 20 עבודה זרח דַף 20

The Mishnah on the previous Daf states: אין מוכרין להם במחובר לקרקע – we may not sell plants which are attached to the ground to [idolators]. Rebbe Yose bar Chanina provides the source: "לא תחנם", which we interpret: לא תתן להם חנייה בקרקע – do not give them a holding in the land. The Gemara asks that this passuk is needed to teach two other prohibitions: (1) לא תתן להם חן – you shall not grant them favor, i.e., praise them, and (2) לא תתן להם מתנת של חנם – you shall not give them a free gift. The Gemara answers that the particular formulation of the word "תחנם" indicates all three interpretations.The Gemara notes that the prohibition to give a gift to a gentile is Rebbe Yehudah’s opinion, but Rebbe Meir permits it. The prohibition against “granting favor” to an idolator supports Rav, who forbids saying, כמה נאה עובדת כוכבים זו – “How beautiful is this idolatress!” The Gemara asks that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel once saw an exceptionally beautiful עובדת כוכבים and declared, מה רבו מעשיך ה' – “How great are Your works, Hashem!” It answers that he was praising Hashem for the beauty He created, as a Baraisa states: הרואה בריות טובות אומר – one who sees beautiful creatures should say: ברוך שככה ברא בעולמו – “Blessed [are You]…Who created such in His world.

The Gemara wonders how Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel saw the idolatress’s beauty: ולאסתכולי מי שרי – is it permitted to gaze at her? But a Baraisa states: "ונשמרת מכל דבר רע" – and you shall beware of any evil thing, teaching: שלא יסתכל אדם באשה נאה ואפילו פנויה – that a man may not gaze at a beautiful woman, even an unmarried one, באשת איש ואפי' מכוערת – [nor] at a married woman, even an ugly one, ולא בבגדי צבע [של] אשה – nor at a woman’s colorful clothing, nor at animals while they are mating. The Gemara answers that Rabban Shimon saw her בקרן זוית – at a corner and saw her inadvertently. Shmuel says the prohibition to gaze at a woman’s clothing is even where they are spread on the wall, and she is not wearing them. Rav Pappa added: ובמכיר בעליהן – this only applies where he recognizes their owner, and gazing at her clothing may bring him to think about her. Rav Chisda says the prohibition only applies to “old” clothing (i.e., which she once wore), but not to “new” clothing which she never wore. Otherwise, one could not give clothing to a launderer, since he gazes at the clothing when he works! However, the Gemara proves that since he is בעבידתיה טריד – preoccupied with his work, he will not come to improper thoughts.

A Baraisa darshens: "ונשמרת מכל דבר רע" – and you shall beware of any evil thing, teaching: שלא יהרהר אדם ביום – that a person should not think immoral thoughts by day ויבוא לידי טומאה בלילה – and come to tumah at night (through seeing קרי). Based on this, Rebbe Pinchas ben Yair said: תורה מביאה לידי זהירות  - learning Torah brings one to heedfulness; זהירות  brings one to זריזות – diligence; זריזות  brings one to  נקיות – spiritual cleanliness; נקיות  brings one to פרישות – ascetism; פרישות  brings one to טהרה – purity; טהרה  brings one to חסידות – piety; חסידות  brings one to ענוה – humility,ענוה  brings one to יראת חטא – fear of sin; יראת חטא  brings one to קדושה – holiness; קדושה  brings one to רוח הקודש; רוח הקודש  brings one to תחיית המתים. The Baraisa concludes: וחסידות גדולה מכולן – and piety is greater than all of them. This disagrees with Rebbe Yehoshua ben Levi, who said ענוה is the greatest.