Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avodah Zarah/Chapter 2/1
Introduction[edit]
Hebrew Text[edit]
- אין מעמידין בהמה בפונדקאות של גויים, מפני שהן חשודין על הרביעה.
- ולא תתייחד אישה עימהן, מפני שהן חשודין על העריות.
- ולא יתייחד אדם עימהן, מפני שהן חשודין על שפיכת דמים.
- בת ישראל, לא תיילד את הנוכרית; אבל הנוכרית, מיילדת את בת ישראל.
- בת ישראל, לא תניק בנה של נוכרית; אבל הנוכרית, מיניקת את בנה של ישראלית ברשותה.
English Translation[edit]
One should not leave cattle in gentile inns, for they are suspect in regard to bestiality. A woman should not be alone with them for they are suspect in regard to fornication. A man should not be alone with them, for they are suspect in regard to spilling of blood. A daughter of Israel should not be a midwife to a gentile woman. But a gentile woman may be a midwife to a daughter of Israel. A daughter of Israel may not suckle a child of a gentile, but a gentile may suckle a Jewish child, in her domain.
Explanation[edit]
This mishnah is based on the slippery slope principle: because idol worshippers break one of the Noahide laws (not to worship idols), they are suspected of breaking others, including bestiality, inappropriate/forbidden sexual relations, and murder. Further, Jews should not deliver or suckle a child of a non-Jew because the child will grow up to worship idols. A non-Jew may deliver or suckle a Jewish child, but only in the Jew's domain, as if this were done in a non-Jewish location, there is suspicion of murder.
The Talmud further clarifies this including an explanation of the case in which a Jewish midwife is a professional midwife.