[Avodah] Looking Jewish

[Rabbi Meir G. Rabi via Avodah]

 Gemara AZara 58a
- R Yochanan b Arza and R Yosiy b Nehuroi, were drinking wine
- they requested someone nearby to fix their drinks.
After he fulfilled their request
they realised he was not Jewish.

May they drink the wine, is the Gemara's Q.

But how could they make such a mistake?
And how might the wine be permitted?

the Gemarah 58b explains
it was clear to the G that the Sages were Jewish,
it was also clear that he thought that they knew he was not Jewish,
and it was also clear that he as a non-J knew
that if he handled the wine, they wold not be permitted to drink it

So he thought - they MUST be drinking mead
[which he may handle and mix for them]
so even though he was actually handling wine,
thinking it was mead, he would not make his usual pagan worship
and so it did not become disqualified.

So here is the tough part
HE was CERTAIN they knew he was not J
[that's why he was certain that they were drinking mead and not wine]
however the truth was
they DID IN FACT THINK he was J
[and that is why they did invite him to fix their wine drinks]

could this happen today?
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