8. Men must not sell to them bears or lions, or anything in which there is peril to the multitude. They must not build with them royal halls,(441) judgment-seats, and stadiums,(442) and bemas.(443) But men may build with them altars and baths. When they reach to the arching in which they place their idol, it is forbidden to build farther.
9. And Israelites must not make decorations for idols, necklaces, and nose-rings, and rings. R. Eleazar said, “for pay it is allowed.” Men must not sell to them what is fastened to the ground. But one may sell it after it is cut down. R. Judah said, “one may sell it to a heathen on condition that he cuts it down.”
10. “Men must not let to them buildings(444) in the Land of Israel, and it is needless to say fields. But in Syria they may let to them buildings, but not fields. But out of the Land they may sell to them buildings, and may rent to them fields.” The words of R. Meier. R. José said, “in the Land of Israel men may let to them buildings, but not fields. But in Syria they may sell buildings and rent fields to them, and out of the Land they may sell both.” However, where they said to let, they did not say a dwelling-house; since a heathen can bring inside of it an idol, as it is said, “Thou shalt not bring in abomination into thy house.”(445) And everywhere a man must not hire to a heathen his bath, because it is called by his name.
1. Israelites must not put cattle in the stables of idolaters, because of their evil habits. And a woman must not be alone with them, because of their evil habits. And no man should be alone with them, because they are apt to shed blood.
2. A daughter of Israel must not attend an idolatrous woman, because she helps the birth of a child for idolatry. But an idolatress may attend a daughter of Israel. A daughter of Israel must not suckle a child of an idolatress; but an idolatress may suckle a child of a daughter of Israel, under her observation.
3. “Israelites may take from them medicine to cure property; but not to cure persons. And they are not to be shaved by them anywhere.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “under public observation it is allowed, but not entirely alone.”
4. These things of the idolaters are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden; wine, and vinegar of the heathen which was at first wine, and Hadrian’s mixture(446) with its fragments, and hides of animals with their hearts(447) (torn out). Rabbi Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “when the rent is round, it is forbidden, when lengthwise, it is allowed.” “The flesh brought in for idolatry is allowed; but that which is brought out is forbidden, because it is the sacrifice for the dead.” The words of R. Akiba. It is forbidden to do business with those who go to worship the Penates; but with those who return from them it is allowed. “The skin-bottles of the idolaters and their jugs into which Jewish wine is poured, are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “every use of them is not forbidden.” “Grape-stones and grape-skins of the idolaters are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “when moist, they are forbidden; but when dry, they are allowed.” “Fish-brine and the cheese from Bethuniki,(448) a village of the idolaters, are forbidden, and every use of them strictly forbidden.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “every use of them is not forbidden.” R. Judah related, that R. Ishmael asked R. Joshua, as they were journeying along the road—he said to him, “why do they forbid the cheese of idolaters?” He replied to him, “because they cause it to ferment with the stomach of a carcass.” R. Ishmael said to him, “and is not the stomach of a burnt-offering of more importance than the stomach of a carcass,” and it was said, “the priest who was so minded supped the milk that was in it,” but the Sages did not agree with him, and they said, “the priests do not use it, and they are not guilty.” He changed the conversation, and said to him, “because they ferment it with the stomach of a calf (devoted) to idolatry.” He said to him, “if so, why do they not forbid it for every use?” He turned to another subject, and said to him, “brother Ishmael, how do you read, ‘For thy love is better than wine,’(449) or ‘For thy love is good’?” He replied to him, “For thy love is good.” He said to him, “it is not so, since the next verse explains it, ‘Because of the savor of thy good ointments.’ ”