Sanhedrin 60-66 Tidbits

When it comes to idolatry sometimes a person’s intention is crucial and sometimes it doesn’t matter. If a person worships an idol by sacrificing an animal, burning incense, pouring a libation, or bowing no matter whether those are the appropriate ways of worshiping or not, he is guilty of idolatry and liable for the stoning death penalty. If a person worships an idol in a other ways the idol is worshiped, he is guilty of idolatry and liable for the stoning death penalty. However, if a person worships an idol in a way that the idol isn’t worshiped, he isn’t guilty of the sin of idolatry. It’s wrong, but he is not punished.

The Gemara brings a case where a person accidentally worships an idol. “What are the circumstances of unawareness with regard to idol worship? If the transgressor thought that a certain building was a synagogue and bowed to it, and he then realized that it is a house of idol worship, he is certainly exempt, as his heart was directed toward Heaven.” (Sefaria.org translation) Although person has to bring a sin offering for his mistake, he is exempt from punishment.

We know that there are three cardinal sins that you must submit to martyrdom rather than commit them. They are murder, forbidden sexual relationships, and idolatry. Of course the person doesn’t want to worship that idol and in his heart it is nothing; nevertheless, he must commit martyrdom. What’s the difference between accidentally entering a temple of god and being forced to worship an idol. Both have their heart directed toward heaven. The Ritva sees a difference in the latter case. The underpinning reason of the case demanding martyrdom is not idolatry, but rather the public desecration of God’s name.

We’re supposed be serious people all the time; however, there is an exception. “§ Rav Naḥman says: All types of mockery are forbidden, except for mockery of idol worship, which is permitted, as it is written: “Bel crouches down, Nevo stoops…they stoop, they crouch down together, they could not hold back the burden” (Isiah 46:1–2). The verse is interpreted as meaning that they crouch in order to defecate and cannot retain their excrement. “And it is similarly written: “They speak…the inhabitants of Samaria shall be in dread for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people shall mourn over it, and its priests shall tremble for it, for its glory [kevodo], because it has departed from it” (Hosea 10:4–5). Do not read it as “its glory [kevodo]”; rather, read it as its burden [keveido], meaning that the idol is unable to restrain itself from defecating. These are examples of derogatory statements that are permitted only in reference to idols.” (Sefaria.org translation)

When I was Israel this past December, I visited the Lachish archaeological site. Lachish was the second largest city in Israel, only surpassed by Jerusalem. The Assyrian king Sanchairev laid siege and destroyed it. Since he failed to conquer Jerusalem, he created a mural in one of his palaces of the siege and victory. It is the only outside source that corroborates a biblical story.

In a room the archaeologists uncovered a toilet. Obviously it was a bathroom. They also found small little idols there. The archaeologists believe that the Israelites were mocking idolatry by keeping them in an unclean place. We know from our Gemara that the toilet did not help these idols because they were constipated. Here’s a picture of the toilet.

 

The Torah forbids necromancy and sorcery  (Leviticus 19:31) “§ The Sages taught: A necromancer is one who causes the voice of the dead to be heard speaking from between his joints or from his armpit. A sorcerer [yideoni] is one who places a bone of an animal called a yadua in his mouth, and the bone speaks on its own…

“The Sages taught: The category of a necromancer includes both one who raises the dead with his zekhur, which is a form of sorcery, and one who inquires about the future from a skull [begulgolet]. What is the difference between this type of necromancer and that type of necromancer? When one raises the dead with his zekhur, the dead does not rise in its usual manner, but appears upside-down, and it does not rise on Shabbat. By contrast, when one inquires about the future from a skull, the dead rises in its usual manner, and it rises [oleh] even on Shabbat…

 

“With regard to the statement that the dead do not rise on Shabbat, the Gemara relates: The wicked Turnus Rufus, the Roman governor of Judea, asked this question of Rabbi Akiva as well. Turnus Rufus said to him: And what makes this day, Shabbat, different from other days? Rabbi Akiva said to him: And what makes this man, referring to his interlocutor, more distinguished than other men? Turnus Rufus said to him: I am more distinguished because my master the emperor wants it that way. Rabbi Akiva said to him: Shabbat too is unique because my Master wants it that way, as he has sanctified that day.

 

”Turnus Rufus said to him: This is what I mean to say to you: Who is to say that now is Shabbat? Perhaps a different day of the week is Shabbat. Rabbi Akiva said to him: The Sabbatyon River can prove that today is Shabbat, as it is calm only on Shabbat. A necromancer can also prove this, as the dead do not rise on Shabbat. The grave of his father, referring to Turnus Rufus’s father, can also prove this, as it does not emit smoke on Shabbat, although smoke rises from it all week, as during the week he is being punished in Gehenna. Turnus Rufus said to him: You have demeaned my father, you have publicly shamed him, and you have cursed him by saying that he is being punished in Gehenna.” (Sefaria.org translation)

 

“According to rabbinic literature, the Sambation (Hebrew: סמבטיון) is the river beyond which the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel were exiled by the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V (Sanchairev).

“In the earliest references, such as the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, the river is given no particular attributes, but later literature claims that it rages with rapids and throws up stones six days a week, or even consists entirely of stone, sand and flame. For those six days the Sambation is impossible to cross, but it stops flowing every Shabbat, the day Jews are not allowed to travel; some writers say this is the origin of the name.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambation)

Another little tidbit. Before going to battle, King Saul forced the witch Endor to make the prophet Samuel rise from the dead in order to seek his advice. This meeting did not end well for King Saul (I Samuel 28:3-25) If you remember the old Bewitched television show, Samantha’s mother’s name is Endora!