Avodah Zarah Daf 34 עבודה זרח דַף 34

Regarding מאני דקוניא – glazed earthenware vessels used for an עכו"ם’s wine, Rav Zevid permitted white and black ones on the previous Daf, but prohibited green ones, because they contain an absorbent material (cracked ones are all prohibited). Mereimar permitted all colored vessels. The Gemara asks why this is different from chametz on Pesach, about which Mereimar had observed they sweat, indicating their absorption, and as such are forbidden, because התורה העידה על כלי חרס שאינו יוצא מידי דופנו לעולם – the Torah testified about an earthenware vessel that [its absorbed flavor] never entirely leaves its walls. Why, then, did Meriemar declare all glazed vessels used for idolators’ wine permitted? It cannot be because chametz is Biblically prohibited, whereas an עכו"ם’s ordinary wine is only Rabbinically forbidden, because כל דתקון רבנן כעין דאורייתא תקון – everything the Rabbis enacted, they enacted similarly to the Biblical law!? The Gemara answers: זה תשמישו בחמין – this vessel used for chametz was used with hot things (and absorb more), וזה תשמישו בצונן – whereas this vessel used for wine was used with cold things.

Rebbe Akiva visited Ginzak, and they posed three questions to him, including if קנקנים – earthenware jugs of idolators are permitted. He presented the question to the בית מדרש, and they answered: הלכתא קנקנים של עובדי כוכבים לאחר י"ב חדש מותרין – the halachah is that earthenware jugs of idolators are automatically permitted after twelve months, without any purging or rinsing necessary. The Gemara proceeds to name other items which are permitted after twelve months. In the Mishnah on Daf 29b, the Chochomim ruled regarding חרצנים – grape seeds and זגים – grape peels that לחין – moist ones are prohibited, and יבשים – dry ones are permitted. Shmuel said that they are considered dry after twelve months. [Rebbe Yochanan taught that the moist ones are prohibited even in benefit, and the dry ones are permitted even in consumption.] Rav Zevid permitted דורדיא דחמרא דארמאי – sediment of Aramean wine after twelve months. Various Amoraim permitted the following items after twelve months: גולפי – jugs, אבטא דטייעי – leather canteens of travelers, פורצני דארמאי – Aramean grape pomace, and גולפי שחימי ואוכמי – red and black jugs.

In the Mishnah on Daf 29b, Rebbe Meir said that גבינת בית אונייקי – cheese of Beis Unyaki is prohibited in benefit, but the Chochomim say it is permitted in benefit. Reish Lakish explained why they prohibited גבינת בית אונייקי even in benefit according to Rebbe Meir: מפני שרוב עגלים של אותה עיר נשחטין לעבודת כוכבים – because most calves of that city are shechted for idolatry, and this cheese may have been produced with their rennet. The Gemara asks that even if the minority of calves are shechted for idolatry it should be prohibited, דהא ר"מ חייש למיעוטא – because Rebbe Meir is concerned about the minority!? It answers that if a majority of calves are not shechted for avodah zarah, the cheese would be permitted, because since איכא נמי שאר בהמות דאין נשחטין לעבודת כוכבים – there are also other animals which are not shechted for idolatry (whose rennet is also used for making cheese), ה"ל מיעוטא דמיעוטא – it is thus a minority within a minority of animals shechted for idolatry, and even Rebbe Meir is not concerned for a מיעוטא דמיעוטא.