Dear Recipient,

Thank you for accepting this inquiry. May God give you long life and health so that you can keep learning and teaching.

AZ daf 14a explains that one may sell a large bundle of merchandise to an idolater despite the commandment that one may not sell small amounts as that would amount to a transgression of Lifnei Iver.

The thinking is that where there is a bulk sale, there is less of a worry about Lifnei Iver because the purchaser is not buying for personal use. It is a wholesale purchase for resale. The resale is not our concern because "Lifenei d'Lifenei" is too attenuated to be our concern.

The question: Often, a business person buying inventory for his business will take some of his product for personal use. Example - Imagine someone who purchases pallets of water bottles for his water bottle supply business. It is highly likely that he will take a few cases of water off one pallet for himself and his family. Suppose we translate that scenario to selling frankincense to a wholesale purchaser. In that case, a Jew might sell a large amount, and the purchaser may keep some frankincense for himself and his family for idol worship. That is not Lifnei d'Lifenei. The Jewish seller of the frankincense is directly involved in abetting the purchaser's idol worship, even if the purchaser bought wholesale amounts. How is such a situation dealt with?

Albert Yakobashvili, Staten Island, USA