Avodah Zarah Daf 33 עבודה זרח דַף 33

An Arab once seized the leather flasks of Rav Yitzchak bar Yosef, and after using them for his wine, returned them. Rav Yitzchak asked about them in the Beis Medrash, and was told that Rebbe Ami ruled: ממלאן מים שלשה ימים ומערן – one fills them with water for three days and empties them out. Rava adds that they must be emptied מעת לעת – every twenty-four hours. They thought this method was only effective for the above case of a Jew’s flask, since the flasks had first absorbed kosher wine, but would not be effective for the flasks of idolators. However, Reish Lakish taught that it even is effective for an עכו"ם’s flasks. Furthermore, Rav Ashi taught that this is even effective for קנקנים – earthenware jugs, although they are more absorbent. A Baraisa teaches regarding an idolator’s earthenware jugs, חדשים גרודים – if they are new and smooth (not absorbent), they are permitted. If they are old, or מזופפין – lined with pitch (and absorbent), the Jew puts water in them for three days to remove their wine flavor. Alternatively, he can put in ציר – brine or מורייס (made of fish oil and bits of fish), whose sharpness destroys the wine flavor. This method is valid even לכתחילה.

The household of Parzak the viceroy seized wine casks from Jews in פומבדיתא, and after using them for his wine, he returned them. Rav Yehudah ruled: דבר שאין מכניסו לקיום הוא – [A cask] is an item in which one does not place wine for storage; therefore, משכשכן במים והן מותרין – he merely rinses them with water, and they are permitted. Rav Avira ruled about the חצבי שחימי דארמאי – red pitchers of Arameans (made from clay), כיון דלא בלעי טובא – since they do not absorb much, they are permitted through merely rinsing with water. Rav Pappa ruled the same way regarding the earthenware utensils of בי מיכסי, which are not absorbent.

Regarding כסי – earthenware cups used for drinking, Rav Assi prohibits them, and Rav Ashi permits them. The Gemara clarifies: אי שתי בהו עובד כוכבים פעם ראשון – if the idolator drank from them for the first time (i.e., before the Jew did), all agree they are prohibited (and must be filled and emptied for three days), because the new cups absorb the עכו"ם’s wine. Their argument is if the עכו"ם used it the second time, and the cup had already absorbed the Jew’s kosher wine (therefore, Rav Assi holds it does not absorb the עכו"ם’s wine). Alternatively, they agree if the עכו"ם drank from it the first or second time, it is prohibited, and their argument is where he drank from it the third time. The halachah is that if he used it the first or second time it is prohibited, but if he used it the third time, it is permitted.