Avodah Zara 37: Permissive Yosi

At the very start of today's daf, Rabbi Yehuda Nesi'ah says, "Last night we permitted Gentile oil".  Putting the content aside, it still feels exciting when a rabbi refers to himself and the process of Gemara.  What we are reading is an actual translation of what was said two thousand years ago. Rabbi Simla'i then says that Rabbi Yehudah Nesi'ah would even permit Gentile bread.  The response again captures the reflexive questioning of our ancestors.  Rabbi Yehudah Nesi'ah says, "No, because we would be called a permissive beit din".  

A new Mishna teaches that Yosi ben Yo'ezer testified that ayil kamtza, a type of grasshopper, is permitted, that blood and water as liquids in the mikdash's courtyard are ritually pure, that one who touches a corpse is ritually impure, and that they called him "permissive Yosi".   This turns into a much longer conversation about Rabbi Yehudah Nesi'ah permitting a conditional get.  The conditions discussed are meant to ensure that the process of giving the get is actually completed within a reasonable amount of time - perhaps less than one year.

We learn more about Yosi ben Yo'ezer and his lenient rulings.  He permitted the grasshoppers, said that liquids in the courtyard were ritually pure, and that one who touches a corpse is ritually impure.   

The rabbis wonder whether the grasshopper in question is a long-headed insect, whether it is permitted, and whether the wingspan covers the grasshopper.  The Sages forbade those insects. Then they discuss liquids like blood and water in the Temple's courtyard.  If they are ritually pure, do they impart ritual impurity?  Can they become ritually impure?  Were these Torah-based or rabbinically-based halachot?  Then the rabbis note that contracting ritual impurity from touching a corpse is a stringency and it is based in Torah text.  They wonder whether the question might refer to the ritual impurity contracted by one who touches one who touched a corpse.  That status only lasts one day and not one week.

Finally the rabbis look at bishul alkum, a forbidden food cooked by Gentiles.  We know that we are not permitted to drink Gentile water that has not been changed - food could be similar.  But we are allowed to eat Gentile wheat that was dried in an oven.  Also, we are permitted to drink their water in its natural form - perhaps we may eat their food in its natural form.  Similarly, changes could be made through fire.