REVACH L'DAF

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AVODAH ZARAH 12
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SUMMARY

1. If there is a religious holiday in a city, one is permitted to engage in commerce immediately outside the city.
 
2. According to Rebbi Meir, one may not travel to and from a city which is celebrating a religious holiday on that day. The Chachamim maintain that it is forbidden only when the road that one uses leads exclusively to that city.
 
3. One may not bend down in front of an Avodah Zarah for any reason, because it appears as though he is bowing to the Avodah Zarah.
 
4. If a person bends down in front of an Avodah Zarah in such a way that it does not appear as though he is bowing to the Avodah Zarah, he is permitted to bend down to remove a thorn or to pick up money.
 
5. If water is spouting forth from an idol, one may not place his mouth on it in order to drink.
 
6. Any act which is prohibited by the Chachamim for the sake of appearances is forbidden even when done in seclusion.
 
7. When there is a religious holiday in a city, one may not patronize the stores which are decorated.
 
8. According to Reish Lakish, if the store is decorated with flowers, one is forbidden to patronize the store. When one smells the flowers, he benefits from the Avodah Zarah.

A BIT MORE

1. According to Rava, one is permitted to engage in commerce even on the religious holiday itself, even very close to the city. Rabah bar Ula maintains that one is forbidden to engage in commerce very close to the city on the religious holiday of the city, as some of the residents outside the city may also celebrate the religious holiday. Nevertheless, within the three days prior to the religious holiday, it is permitted.
 
2. According to Rebbi Meir, one is forbidden to travel to that city because people may suspect that he is traveling there in order to worship Avodah Zarah. The Chachamim say if the road that he is using also leads to other cities, or if there is a road from that city to other cities, he is permitted to travel to that city.
 
3. If a person has a thorn in his foot, or he dropped money in front of the Avodah Zarah, or if there is a spring in front of the Avodah Zarah, he may not bend down in front of it to remove the thorn, to pick up the money, or to take a drink.
 
4. For example, if a person bends down with his back or side to the Avodah Zarah, it does not appear as though he is bowing down to the Avodah Zarah.
 
5. Doing so gives the appearance that he is kissing the Avodah Zarah.
 
6. Therefore, one may not bend down in front of an Avodah Zarah to remove a thorn or pick up money even when no one is looking.
 
7. However, one is permitted to patronize the undecorated stores even though it is a religious holiday, because the prohibition against engaging in commerce on a religious holiday includes only selling items to the Nochrim, but not buying items from them, because a Nochri buyer is happy when he acquires a new item and will give thanks to his Avodah Zarah. When he sells a non-perishable item, he is not happy.
 
8. It is forbidden to derive benefit from flowers which were placed in front of Avodah Zarah. However, if the store is decorated with fruit, then even if the fruit was placed in front of the Avodah Zarah, one is permitted to patronize the store since the customer does not benefit from the fruit in any way. Even though the money that he gives the proprietor for the purchase provides benefit to the Avodah Zarah, Reish Lakish maintains that there is no prohibition to provide benefit for an Avodah Zarah.

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