daf bit: Avodah Zarah 32

[cellio]

The mishna teaches that it is forbidden to have any business dealings with idolaters who are going on a pilgrimage. In the g'mara Shmuel clarifies: with idolaters going on a pilgrimage it is forbidden because they will go and offer thanks to their idols, but on their return trip it is permitted because "we let bygones be bygones" (it won't aid and abet idolatry at that point). However, if an Israelite goes on such a pilgrimage we reverse it: we can do business with him on his way there because he might change his mind and not go, but on his return trip we cannot do business with him because he has already become attracted to idolatry and he will keep going. (32b)

(I'm not sure why the returning idolater, who has already become attached to it, is ok but the returning Israelite now in that same state isn't, unless there is also a punative aspect to this ruling.)

Comments

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

The way I read it was:

* non-Jew going: whatever business you do will either enable him to do A"Z or will give him something additional to be grateful to his gods for.
* non-Jew returning: the A"Z is done, nothing you do now will contribute to it.

* Jew going: if you do business with him it will reinforce his connection to am Yisrael and may cause him to repent before he actually does A"Z. (I believe this only applies to one who will be a first-time transgressor)
* Jew returning: he's already made up his mind to A"Z, if we facilitate his return trip then that will make it easier for him to do the next time.

So the chiddush here is that lifne iver applies to the newly apostate Jew on his return but not on his way there.

[cellio]

Thank you! Yes, it makes sense that the leniency with the Jew would apply only once.