Avodah Zarah Daf 48 עבודה זרח דַף 48

The next Mishnah lists three types of אשירה: (1) if one planted it initially for idolatry, it is forbidden. (2) גידעו ופיסלו לשם עבודת כוכבים – If he pruned or trimmed [the tree], intending the future growths to be for idolatry, he removes the new growths, and it is permitted. (3) If he set up an idol underneath, he removes the idol and the tree is permitted. Shmuel said: המשתחוה לאילן תוספתיה אסורה – if one bows down to a tree, its additional growth (after the bowing) is forbidden, but not the tree itself. Rebbe Elazar asked that the Mishnah implies that only pruning or trimming prohibits new growths, not bowing alone!? The Gemara answers that the Mishnah is the Rabbonon, who hold worshipping a previously planted tree does not prohibit it, and Shmuel holds like Rebbe Yose bar Yehudah who says it does. Rav Ashi objects that perhaps they argued only about prohibiting the tree itself, but everyone would agree with Shmuel that merely bowing prohibits new growths.

A Mishnah states: לא ישב בצילה – one may not sit in the shade of [an אשירה], but if he did, he remains tahor. ולא יעבור תחתיה – And he may not pass under [the tree itself], ואם עבר טמא – and if he did, he is tamei. The Gemara explains that there is surely a תקרובת עבודת כוכבים – idolatrous offering buried underneath, and this Tanna holds such items are metamei with אהל (in this case, the tree). The Mishnah concludes: היתה גוזלת את הרבים – if [the אשירה] is stealing from the public, because its branches hang over a public walkway, ועבר תחתיה – and one passed under it, he remains tahor. The tumah is מדרבנן, and does not apply where it disrupts a public thoroughfare. The Gemara asks if it is permitted to walk under the tree in this case, or if it is only not metamei one who did. It concludes that דאיכא דירכא אחרינא – where there is an alternate route, he may not pass under the אשירה even in a public walkway (but remains tahor if he did), but if there is no alternate route, it is permitted to walk under an אשירה which hangs over a public walkway.

The next Mishnah permits planting vegetables under an אשירה during the winter, when its shade harms the plants, but not during the summer, when the shade benefits them. Rebbe Yose prohibits planting even during the winter, מפני שהנביה נושרת עליהן – because the leaves fall on them and fertilizes them. The Gemara asks if Rebbe Yose holds זה וזה גורם אסור – where this [forbidden component] (e.g., the shade) and that [permitted component] (e.g., the soil) cause a result, the product is forbidden, and the Rabbonon hold זה וזה גורם מותר. This contradicts their machlokes on Daf 43b, where Rebbe Yose rules to grind an idol and throw the powder into the wind, and the Rabbonon are concerned it may fertilize someone’s plants!? The Gemara answers to reverse their opinions in our Mishnah. Alternatively, the Rabbonon in our Mishnah hold מה שמשביח בנביה פוגם בצל – what [the אשירה] improves with its leaves, it damages with its shade, so the sum total is not beneficial. The Gemara also suggested an answer for the contradiction in Rebbe Yose, but eventually proves on the next Daf that he always holds זה וזה גורם מותר, even regarding עבודה זרה. It will explain that Rebbe Yose in our Mishnah was speaking according to the Rabbonon’s opinion.