Sunday 29 July 2018

Zevachim 106: Consequences for Avoda Zara, Idol Worship

Many forms of idol worship are punishable:
  • sacrificing
  • burning incense
  • offering a libation
  • bowing down
  • saying "you are my G-d"
Other behaviours are forbidden but are not considered truly idol worship:
  • hugging or kissing the idol
  • washing or cleaning the idol, etc.
  • urinating in front of the the idol Peor
  • throwing a stone to the idol Markulis
These last two actions are acts of avoda zara specific to those particular idols.  Of note is Steinsaltz's commentary about Markulis, the Hebrew name for Mercury


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