Do permitted substances combine with forbidden substances to create prohibition? TB Nazir 36

Today’s daf TB Nazir 36 introduces us to the consequences of a mixture that contains both permitted and forbidden things (הֶיתֵּר מִצְטָרֵף לְאִיסּוּר). Rabbi Yoḥanan holds the view that the permitted substance does not combine with a forbidden substance to create a violation (אֵין הֶיתֵּר מִצְטָרֵף לְאִיסּוּר) except in the case concerning a nazir. “Rabbi Abbahu says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: With regard to all prohibitions that are written in the Torah, a permitted substance does not combine with a forbidden substance. If one eats a permitted food with a forbidden food and together they constitute the minimum prohibited measure, he is exempt from punishment for this act of consumption. This principle applies to all halakhot except for the prohibitions of a nazirite, who is liable for eating a mixture of that kind, as the Torah said with regard to a nazirite: “Neither shall he drink anything soaked in grapes” (Numbers 6:3). This verse indicates that a nazirite is prohibited from consuming not only wine and vinegar, but also any food that was soaked in these liquids.” (Sefaria.org translation) 

The Gemara goes on to show that other sages like Ze’eiri and Rabbi Eliezer disagree with Rabbi Yoḥanan by showing that there are other cases that the permitted substance does combine with the forbidden substance to create a prohibition ((הֶיתֵּר מִצְטָרֵף לְאִיסּוּר)

Rav Dimi, who traveled between the land of Israel and Babylonia and brought the Torah of Eretz Yisrael to the Babylonian yeshivot, quoted Rabbi Yoḥanan’s position of Jewish law that the permitted substance does not combine with a forbidden substance to create a violation (אֵין הֶיתֵּר מִצְטָרֵף לְאִיסּוּר) except in the case concerning a nazir. Abaye immediately questions whether this is a faithful rendition of Rabbi Yoḥanan’s position. He brings a Mishna from massekhet Tavul Yom and from two baraitot that Rabbi Yoḥanan seemingly contradicts himself. Each time Rav Dim shows how that Rabbi Yoḥanan doesn’t contradict himself by explaining away the problem.

This sugiya continues tomorrow when we shall learn basic laws of kashrut when it comes to mixtures.