Road to Redemption
The Gemara in Avodah Zara (2a-b) opens with a scene so grand—a story that has not yet occurred but waits just beyond the curtain of redemption.
Seder Nezikin · dafim 2–76
Avodah Zarah
Finished September 2, 2025 in this cycle. 19 articles, 9 stories
Map of the dafim
Articles, in daf order
All Roads Lead To . . . Yerushalayim
The Gemara in Avodah Zara (2a–b) relates a fascinating story, albeit one that hasn’t happened yet. It will take place sometime after Mashiach comes.
Happy Birthday
At the end of elementary school, one young student resolutely decided to stop celebrating birthdays, feeling it was a frivolous custom reserved for little kids, like tagging along with the family to the zoo on Chol…
Horsing Around
If you enjoy halachah riddles, this article is for you. 1. There is a general rule that if melachah on Shabbos is done in an abnormal manner, there is no transgression of a Torah injunction; if one violates a Shabbos…
Rebbe Meir and the Power of “Eloka d’Meir Aneini”
Rebbe Meir’s wife, Bruriah, had a sister who was kidnapped and held captive. At Bruriah’s urging, Rebbe Meir resolved to rescue her. He reasoned that the captive sister’s righteousness would bring about a miracle to…
Accounting For All
Every Yom Kippur, Jews all over the world recite Viduy, the confession. Some of the sins listed may be familiar to the person reciting them, and those certainly deserve mention.
Keeping the Faith
As Houthi rebels continue targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, some ships have resorted to an unusual tactic: claiming to be Muslim to avoid being attacked.
A Moment of Reflection
An astute observer might notice that many Chassidishe wedding halls do not have mirrors in the men’s restrooms. The source for this practice can be traced to Masechta Avoda Zara.
Mirror Image
An astute observer might have noticed that chassidishe wedding halls often do not have mirrors in the men’s restrooms. The source for this practice can be found in Avodah Zara.
Don’t Make a “Pour” Decision
A kosher bottle of wine was sold with a label that stated in Hebrew “Lo Mevushal” (not cooked). However, in English, it stated “Mevushal” (cooked). How can wine be both mevushal and non-mevushal simultaneously?
Mevushal or Lo Mevushal: That Is The Question
A kosher bottle of wine is being sold with a label that states in Hebrew “Lo Mevushal.” However, in English it states “Mevushal” (see accompanying photo). How can wine be both mevushal and non-mevushal simultaneously?
Top-seeded Treat
The Kol Bo writes that there is a custom to eat zironim on Purim night. Zironim is commonly translated as legumes or seeds. The seeds are reminiscent of the food that Daniel, Chananya, Mishael, and Azariah ate when they…
Over the Moon
The Gemara in Avodah Zarah discusses the fact that Rabban Gamliel owned pictures of the moon. These images facilitated the questioning of witnesses who came to testify about the new moon.
'Draw' Your Own Conclusion
The Gemara in Avodah Zarah discusses the fact that Rabban Gamliel owned pictures of the moon. The images facilitated the questioning of witnesses who came to testify about the new moon.
Water Works
I was visiting a New Jersey suburb one summer and noticed that all the lawns were brown — save one. The house where I was staying had a luscious green garden in front.
Chametz for Sale
There is a well-known and widely used technique to free oneself from violating the prohibition of owning chametz on Pesach — selling one’s chametz to a gentile. Famously, the Vilna Gaon was against this practice.
The Halacha Up in the Air
The Air Up water bottle is a reusable drinking bottle designed to make plain water taste flavored through scent-based technology. It uses special “aroma pods” that sit on the mouthpiece and release natural scents as you…
Pasta Imposter
Miriam strolled into the pasta aisle, wheels turning on her cart and in her head. Tonight was lasagna night, and she was ready to make a great meal. Her eyes landed on the familiar blue Ronzoni boxes.
Tevilas Keilim: Clearing The Confusion
The daf yomi cycle finished Mesechta Avodah Zara over Pesach. The end of the mesechta discusses the biblical mitzvah of tevilas keilim.
Stories in Avodah Zarah
Rome Claims Its Reward at the End of Days
In the future, Hashem offers reward to all who busied themselves with Torah, and Rome claims its markets, bathhouses and gold were all for Israel's learning.
Rabbi Meir Rescues Bruriah's Sister
Rabbi Meir bribes a guard to free his wife Bruriah's captive sister and teaches him to call out "G-d of Meir, answer me," which stops vicious dogs and later saves the guard.
The Martyrdom of Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon
Rome sentences Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon and his wife to death and his daughter to disgrace. The Gemara explains each one's fate and his wife's acceptance of it.
Rabbi Meir Escapes by Faking a Non-Kosher Meal
Hunted by the Romans after freeing his sister-in-law, Rabbi Meir dips one finger in non-kosher food and sucks another, so his pursuers decide he can't be the famous rabbi.
The Brisker Rav Checks His Tefillin in a Mirror
Told that the Divrei Chaim called checking tefillin in a mirror the mark of an am ha'aretz, the Brisker Rav said he would rather be one and wear them right.
Rav Henoch Leibowitz and the Lowered Mirror
Rav Henoch Leibowitz stood on tiptoe to check his tefillin in a small hallway mirror, until a bochur quietly put up a lower mirror for his Rosh Yeshiva.
Shmuel Drinks Wine with Avleit
Avleit, a gentile scholar, avoids touching Shmuel's wine so it won't be forbidden, but Shmuel tells him not to worry: the wine is cooked, mevushal.
Shmuel Drinks Cooked Wine With Avleit
Avleit, a gentile scholar, is careful not to touch the bottle so that Shmuel can drink, but Shmuel tells him it makes no difference: the wine is cooked.
Rav Dovid Feinstein Buys Challah After Pesach
Rav Dovid Feinstein, strict about chametz sold over Pesach, buys a bakery's challos the day after Yom Tov: she was closed nine days and needs parnassah.