Avodah Zarah

GEMARA. [But by acting as directed in the Mishnah], he enlarges the space for the shrine! — R. Hanina of Sura said: He should use [the four cubits] for constructing a privy. But it is necessary to safeguard modesty!  — He should make a privy for use at night. But behold a Master has said: Who is modest? He who relieves himself at night in the same place where he relieves himself by day!  And although we explain that [in that statement] the phrase 'in the same place' is to be understood as 'in the same manner,'  still it is necessary to safeguard modesty! — He should, then, make [a privy] for children; or let him fence in the space with thorns and shrubs. MISHNAH. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF SHRINES:  A SHRINE ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR IDOLATROUS WORSHIP — BEHOLD THIS IS PROHIBITED.  IF A MAN PLASTERED AND TILED [AN ORDINARY HOUSE] FOR IDOLATRY AND RENOVATED IT, ONE MAY REMOVE THE RENOVATIONS.  IF HE HAD ONLY BROUGHT AN IDOL INTO IT AND TAKEN IT OUT AGAIN, [THE HOUSE] IS PERMITTED. GEMARA. Rab said: If one worshipped a house, he has rendered It prohibited. Conclude, then, that he holds that an object which is not fixed in the ground and subsequently becomes fixed is like an unfixed object.  But the Mishnah deals with a shrine built [originally for idolatry]!  — [The prohibition applies to a shrine] built [originally for idolatry] although nobody has yet worshipped in it, and to one in which somebody worshipped although he had not built it.  If that be so, the three types [mentioned in the Mishnah] should be four!  — Since the reference is to the subject of annulment,  the erection [of a shrine] and worshipping there are considered one and the same thing. MISHNAH. THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF [IDOLATROUS] STONES:  A STONE WHICH A MAN HEWED ORIGINALLY TO SERVE AS A PEDESTAL [FOR AN IDOL] — BEHOLD THIS IS PROHIBITED. IF A MAN [MERELY] PLASTERED AND STUCCOED [A STONE] FOR IDOLATRY, ONE MAY REMOVE THE PLASTER AND STUCCO, AND IT IS THEN PERMITTED. IF HE SET AN IDOL UPON IT AND TOOK IT OFF, BEHOLD [THE STONE] IS PERMITTED. GEMARA. R. Animi said: [It is only prohibited] if he plastered and stuccoed in the stone itself.  But surely it is, as we learn, analogous to a house; and  in the case of a house [the plastering] was not inserted into the material and yet it is prohibited!  — Also with the house there is [that kind of plastering] in the space between the bricks. [Since, however, the Mishnah does not mention this,] may we not be dealing with the circumstance where he plastered [a house not for idolatry] and then re-plastered it [for idolatry]?  — Therefore, if R. Ammi's teaching is quoted it must be with reference to annulment,  and although the man plastered and stuccoed in the stone itself, if he removes the renovation, it is all right — For  what you might have said was that since he plastered and stuccoed in the material of the stone, it is analogous to a stone which had been originally hewn for idolatry and the whole of it is prohibited. He consequently informs us [that it is not so].