considers the location of the spatial boundary in relation to the celebration
of a Gentile holy day.
When? What? Who? Where? These are all simple and straightforward
definitional issues pertaining to the identification of overlapping areas
between the commercial and Gentile-cultic spheres. Whether or not the
Mishnah’s definitions accord with any lived social reality is unknown and
beside the point. These definitional issues are simply the logical-theoreti-
cal ones pertaining to overlapping social spheres; in each of which, consid-
ered separately, different and opposing rules about social segregation and
boundary maintenance apply.
When we turn now to t. Avodah Zarah1:1ff, it is important to note that
theTosefta,while imitating many aspects of Mishnaic rhetoric, falls far
short of replicating it. As stated earlier, the practical consequence of this dif-
ference is that the Toseftaseems far less rhetorically restricted in the range
of issues, information, and supplementary materials it may introduce at any
one juncture. And, again, as noted above, Toseftan authors use this licence
to engage in a much higher degree of social differentiation than their Mish-
naic counterparts. Given the issues of primary interest in this book, the
Toseftais therefore a boon. Tosefta Avodah Zarah1:1–3 (ed. Zuckermandel)
reads as follows (my translation):
T.1:1
A. Nahum the Mede says:
B. [For] one day, in the Diaspora, prior to their holy days—
C. with respect to what are these things stated?
D. With respect to fixed holy days [i.e., with fixed calendar dates].
E. But with respect to their holy days which are not fixed,
F. It is forbidden [to buy from and to sell to Gentiles] only on that day
exclusively.
G. And even though they said:
H. [For] three days, it is forbidden to buy [from] and to sell [to] them—
I. with respect to what are these things stated?
J. With respect to something which endures [that is, non-perishables].
K. But with respect to something which does not endure [that is, per-
ishables],
L. it is permitted [to buy from or sell to Gentiles during the days prior
to the holy day].
M. And even with respect to something which endures—
N. [if] one bought or sold [it during the three days prior to the holy day],
N. lo, this is permitted [after the fact].
P. Rabbi Joshua b. Korhah says:
Q. Any loan secured by written contract (øèùáù)—My Rival, My Fellow 95