Wednesday, July 04, 2007

ASKARAH AMONGST GENTILES - Yevamos 62 - Daf Yomi

The Gemara in Shabbos (33a) offers various reasons for the disease known as Askarah, identified with diphtheria, a disease that affects the throat. One opinion maintains that Askarah comes because people do not separate Maaser. A second opinion states that Askarah comes because of slanderous speech.

The Gemara then quotes the opinion of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who maintains that Askarah comes because of the neglect of Torah study, and this is why the mouth is affected, because the mouth does not vocalize words of Torah. The Gemara challenges this opinion, as we find that women are also affected with this disease The Gemara resolves this challenge by stating that women are also susceptible to Askarah because they cause their husbands not to study Torah. The Gemara then questions this opinion from the fact that the disease also affects gentiles. The Gemara answers that gentiles are also affected with Askarah because they cause the Jews not to be able to study Torah. The Gemara then questions this opinion from the fact that children who are too young to study are afflicted with Askarah. The Gemara answers that children are afflicted with Askarah because they cause their fathers not to study Torah.

The difficulty with the Gemara is that according to the opinions that Askarah comes because of slanderous speech or because people do not separate Maaser, how do we understand why gentiles are affected with Askarah? Gentiles are not commanded to refrain from slanderous speech, nor are they commanded to separate Maaser.

The Ben Yehoyada answers that when one slanders someone else, the ensuing result may be bloodshed. A gentile is also prohibited from killing, so they are certainly liable for the end result of slanderous speech. Furthermore, if a Jew who does not separate Maaser is afflicted with Askarah, then it follows that a gentile who steals produce would be afflicted with the same disease. For this reason, the Gemara only challenges the opinion that maintains that Askarah comes because of neglect of Torah study.

The Maharsha suggest an alternative answer to this question. Gentiles have the option of refraining from slanderous speech and they can separate Maaser from their produce, although they are not obligated to do so. Regarding Torah study, however, a gentile is forbidden to study Torah, and if he studies Torah, the Gemara in Sanhedrin states that he is liable the death penalty.

by Reb Ben Adler top of the line promotions

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