Avodah Zarah

Said R. Jeremiah to R. Zera: It was taught, 'We may buy of them cattle, menservants and maidservants,'  — Is this to be applied to a Jewish servant or to a heathen servant also? — Said he in reply: According to common sense, a Jewish servant [is meant]; for were it to apply to a heathen servant, what [meritorious] use could he make of him?  When Rabin came,  he said in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: It may even apply to a heathen servant; because he brings him under the wings of the Shechinah.  Said R. Ashi: How then could the bringing under the wings of the Shechinah be applied to cattle?  — It is only because of diminishing [the possessions of the idolaters]  that those are permitted; this also is permitted because of its diminishing effect. R. Jacob once bought sandals, while R. Jeremiah bought bread.  Said the one to the other: 'Ignoramus!  would your master act thus?' The other rejoined: 'Ignoramus, would your master act thus?' Both in fact had bought of private men,  but each one thought that the other had bought of a dealer; for R. Abba the son of R. Hiyya b. Abba said: The prohibition was only taught in the case of buying of a dealer of whom tax is exacted, but the buying of a private person of whom no tax is exacted is permitted. Said R. Abba the son of R. Hiyya b. Abba: 'Had R. Johanan been present at the time in that place where taxes were exacted even from private persons he would have forbidden [even such purchase].' How is it then that they made the purchase? — They bought of a private person who was not a permanent resident of the place.  MISHNAH. THE FOLLOWING THINGS ARE FORBIDDEN TO BE SOLD TO IDOLATERS: IZTROBLIN, BNOTH-SHUAH,  STEMS, FRANKINCENSE, AND A WHITE COCK.  R. JUDAH SAYS: IT IS PERMITTED TO SELL A WHITE COCK TO AN IDOLATER AMONG OTHER COCKS; BUT IF IT BE BY ITSELF, ONE SHOULD CLIP ITS SPUR AND THEN SELL IT TO HIM, BECAUSE A DEFECTIVE [ANIMAL] IS NOT SACRIFICED TO AN IDOL. AS FOR OTHER THINGS, IF THEY ARE NOT SPECIFIED  THEIR SALE IS PERMITTED, BUT IF SPECIFIED  IT IS FORBIDDEN. R. MEIR SAYS: ALSO A GOOD-PALM',  HAZAB AND NIKOLAUS  ARE FORBIDDEN TO BE SOLD TO IDOLATERS.