Chullin 6: Trusting Kutim, Trusting Parents-in-Law

Today's daf tells us about "a certain elder": Rabbi Meir went to fetch some wine from the Kutim.  He was met by a certain elder who said, "Put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite".  This was a warning to leave the Kutim. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar returned and reported to Rabbi Meir.  He asked why.  Rabbi Nachman bar Yitzchak said that they found a figure of a dove on the top of Mount Gerizim and they worshipped.  

Who is the certain elder?  Tosafot say that this is Eliyahu HaNavi in some situations, for his words are respected.  The rabbis discuss the possibility that this story happened after the Bar Kochba revolt was quashed.  At that time a pagan temple was built on Mount Gerizim and some Kutim became idol worshippers.  The dove was probably a symbol of the goddess Aphrodite.  Because most Kutim assimilated into pagan culture, the Sages decided that they were not to have full Jewish status.  

Today's daf also shares a number of situations where mothers-in-law or fathers-in-law meddle in their children's lives with good intentions.  For example, a mother-in-law might replace her daughter-in-law's  vegetables for better vegetables so that they can eat better food.  Should we be concerned about the source of those vegetables and whether they might be forbidden because of the laws of terumah or other negative commandments?