Uncensored Printings for Avodah Zarah

As we begin masechet Avodah Zarah, I noticed that our Talmudic texts are censored, and that this can impact our understanding of various sugyot. Specifically, in the Vilna Shas, several terms were mapped to ovedei kochavim, meaning star worshipers. In this way, these texts don’t reference gentiles generally, including Christians. Now, while Rishonim do discuss whether certain statements do or do not extend to Christianity, the way that this censorship occurs obliterates distinctions in terms. Thus, there are terms for:

• goyim / goy — Biblically referring to various nations, here often referring to a specific group of non-Jews or a single non-Jew.

• oved avodah zarah — a idol worshiper

• nochri — literally foreigner, here non-Jew, but we might be able to find distinctions

• umot ha’olam — nations of the world

If we are to understand these texts, we need to have a precise version of the text. And, Vilna doesn’t do this, but follows the censor. And Artscroll does not fix it, but carries on Vilna. Rav Steinsaltz often fixes this, but I think only in the main column of actual gemara, but not in Rashi and Tosafot.

Here is an example from the opening daf of the masechet. The Vilna Shas:

Thus, the Mishnah has Festivals of Idolators. Rashi simply quotes “before the Festivals of Idolators”. Tosafot mentions that in masechet Sanhedrin it dealt with Oved Kochavim Umazalot, a worshiper of stars and constellations.

Compare with what we see in the Venice printing:

So, the Mishnah discusses Festivals of Gentiles. Rashi then quotes and clarifies, “Before the Festivals of Gentiles [that is to say, who are] Worshipers of Avodah Zarah, idolatry.” If this is correct, we miss out on Rashi making this distinction about it being a function of idol worship. So, too, in Tosafot, it is עובד עבודה זרה. The Christian censor didn’t like this term because it might encompass any foreign worship, whereas worshiping stars sounds more primitive and non-applicable. But then see what Tosafot continue to discuss about applying this in their days.

Examples of such important distinctions about. For example, consider this from the top of daf 3a:

וְלָא? וְהָתַנְיָא: הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ גּוֹי וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁהוּא כְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם״, כֹּהֲנִים לְוִיִּם וְיִשְׂרְאֵלִים לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״הָאָדָם״, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ גּוֹי וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה הֲרֵי הוּא כְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל.

The Gemara asks: And are they not rewarded for fulfilling those mitzvot? But isn’t it taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir would say: From where is it derived that even a gentile who engages in Torah study is considered like a High Priest? The verse states: “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances, which if a person do, and shall live by them” (Leviticus 18:5). It is not stated: Priests, Levites, and Israelites, but rather the general term “person.” From here you learn that even a gentile who engages in the study of Torah is like a High Priest. This demonstrates that gentiles are rewarded for fulfilling mitzvot, despite the fact that they are not commanded to do so.

The point being made is that lineage or personal identity does not matter. It is not only a Jewish person who is elevated by the action of learning Torah, nor a Levi or a Kohen. This is universal to all humanity.

However, the background assumption is that this persons actions don’t otherwhile disqualify him. This would be a non-Jew who keeps the seven Noachide laws, which includes refraining from idolatry. Yet, the Vilna Shas here, and in Tosafot’s discussion (also on Sefaria: - משמע הכא דעובדי כוכבים נמי…) the phrase is oved kochamim, which Artscroll renders as idol worshiper. That is misleading and is not true to the text.

That is why I recommend the following. On Sefaria on the Web, as opposed to the app, when you click on any text on any page, a sidebar pops up. On the resource sidebar, there is a hyperlink for Manuscripts:

Under Manuscripts, they list Munich 95, Bomberg (Venice), and Vilna:

Click on Venice to get a full page image of that amud. Then, look at it online or print it out. That way, you have access to an uncensored tzurat hadaf.