Avodah Zarah

THIS IS THE GENERAL RULE: WHATEVER DERIVES ADVANTAGE [FROM YEN NESEK BY ITS] IMPARTING A FLAVOUR etc. Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: Such is the legal decision.  Further declared Rab Judah in the name of Samuel: This teaching only applies when [the vinegar] fell into hot split beans;  but if it fell into cold split beans  and he then warms them  the effect is to improve them and only in the end are they deteriorated, and therefore they are prohibited. Similarly when Rabin came [from Palestine] he reported that Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Johanan: This teaching only applies when [the vinegar] fell into hot split beans; but if it fell into cold split beans and he then warms them the effect is to improve them and only in the end are they deteriorated, and therefore they are prohibited. There was a similar report from Rab Dimi when he came [from Palestine, and he added] that they used to do this  on Sabbath-eves in Sepphoris and they called them cress-dish. R. Simeon b. Lakish said: When [the Rabbis] use the phrase 'it imparts a worsened flavour,'[they do not mean] that we are to say that a certain dish lacks salt or is oversalted, or lacks spice or is over-spiced;  but [what they do mean is] any food which is not lacking in anything and is not eaten because of this.  Another version is: R. Simeon b. Lakish said: When [the Rabbis] use the phrase 'it imparts a worsened flavour', we do not attribute [the bad flavour to the fact that] a certain dish lacks salt or is oversalted, or lacks spice or is over-spiced, but [we declare that] now only it has deteriorated [owing to the mixture]. R. Abbahu said in the name of R. Johanan: Whenever the flavour and substance [of the prohibited element in a mixture are perceptible] it is prohibited [and one who eats it] is liable to the punishment of lashes; and that is a quantity equal to the size of an olive [of the prohibited element mixed] with a quantity equal to half a loaf.