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AVODAH ZARAH 53
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SUMMARY

1. If a Nochri and a Yisrael are joint owners in an Avodah Zarah, the Nochri can nullify his portion of the Avodah Zarah. The Yisrael cannot nullify his portion.
 
2. If a Nochri cuts off the tip of the ear, nose, or finger of an Avodah Zarah, or disfigures its face with a hammer, it is nullified.
 
3. If a Nochri sells his Avodah Zarah or gives it away as a collateral, according to Rebbi it is nullified. The Rabanan disagree.
 
4. If a Nochri sells to a Yisrael coins for scrap and an Avodah Zarah is found among them, the Yisrael may return the coins if he has not yet paid for them.
 
5. If a Nochri borrows money using his Avodah Zarah as collateral, or if the Avodah Zarah is buried under rubble or stolen by bandits, it is not nullified.
 
6. If a Yisrael propped up a brick in order to bow down to it, and a Nochri subsequently bows down to it, the brick is forbidden as an Avodah Zarah.
 
7. The Asheirah trees which were found after the Bnei Yisrael conquered Eretz Yisrael were forbidden even though Eretz Yisrael was an inheritance from the Avos.
 
8. If Nochrim permanently abandon an Avodah Zarah in peacetime, it is permitted; in wartime, it is forbidden.
 
9. Stones placed in the path of a king when he travels, and which are used as a base for an Avodah Zarah, are permitted.
 
10. If a stone which was used as a base for an Avodah Zarah is broken, there is a disagreement about whether it is permitted.
 
11. If a Mizbe'ach which was used for an Avodah Zarah is broken, it is permitted only if most of the stones are broken.

A BIT MORE

1. Even when the Nochri nullifies his portion, the portion of the Yisrael is not nullified. A Yisrael worships the Avodah Zarah on his own accord and even if the Nochri no longer worships it, the Yisrael continues to worship it.
 
2. If the Nochri spits at the Avodah Zarah, urinates in front of it, or drags it through the mud, it is not nullified. In spite of his present anger at the Avodah Zarah, he likely will go back to worshipping it.
 
3. According to one opinion, the disagreement between Rebbi and the Rabanan is in a case when he sells it to a Nochri welder. If he sells it to a Jewish welder, everyone agrees that it is nullified. According to a second opinion, the disagreement is in a case when he sells it to a Jewish welder.
 
4. He is permitted to return the coins, because the Kinyan that he made was in error and is considered a Mekach Ta'us. However, once the coins have been paid for, they may not be returned. Even though the Kinyan was made erroneously, it would appear as though he is selling the Nochri an Avodah Zarah.
 
5. If the owner travels overseas and leaves his Avodah Zarah at home, if he plans to return it is not nullified.
 
6. Since the Yisrael did an act to demonstrate that he is making it into an Avodah Zarah, he showed that he wanted it to be worshipped. Thus, when the Nochri worships it, the brick is forbidden even though it does not belong to him. The Nochri is acting as an emissary of the Jew, and thus the brick is prohibited.
 
7. The trees are forbidden even though Eretz Yisrael belonged to the Bnei Yisrael and, normally, a person who worships the item of his friend cannot prohibit the item to its owner. Since the Bnei Yisrael worshipped the Egel ha'Zahav, it was apparent that they had a desire for multiple gods. Accordingly, the Nochrim who worshipped the trees were acting as emissaries of the Bnei Yisrael.
 
8. The tower built by the Dor Haflagah is permitted. Although the Dor Haflagah was scattered against their will, they could have returned. Since they did not return, the tower is considered to have been nullified.
 
9. The stones are used only temporarily as a base for the Avodah Zarah at the time that the king travels. Sometimes the king travels on a different path and the stones are abandoned. Consequently, they are not regarded as items used in the service of an Avodah Zarah.
 
10. According to Rav and Shmuel, the broken stone is forbidden even according to the opinion that the Nochrim do not worship a broken Avodah Zarah. They do not worship a broken Avodah Zarah because it is degrading. It is not degrading, however, to use a broken base for an Avodah Zarah. According to Rebbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish, even according to the opinion that the Nochrim worship a broken Avodah Zarah, a broken base is permitted. They worship a broken Avodah Zarah because once it is worshipped they are reluctant to nullify it, but they will not use a broken base for an Avodah Zarah.
 
11. There is a difference between a Mizbe'ach and a Bamah. A Bamah is one stone which is used as a base for an Avodah Zarah. A Mizbe'ach is made of many stones on which sacrifices are brought.

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