155. Mixtures of Idolatrous and Non-Idolatrous Items
Avodas Kochavim 7:9
An idol, its accessories, and the things offered to it are prohibited in any size or amount. For example, if an idol got mixed up with other statues - even if it’s just one out of several thousand – all of them must be cast into the Dead Sea. Similarly, if a goblet used for idolatry got mixed up with other goblets, or if a piece of sacrificial meat got mixed with other meat, all of them must be cast into the Dead Sea. Similarly, if a hide that has a hole through which the heart was removed for idolatry got mixed with other hides, it is forbidden to benefit from any of them.
If someone violates the law and sells an idol, one of its accessories, or something that was offered to it, one may not derive benefit from the money received. If this money gets mixed with other funds, they are all prohibited regardless of how much or how little of the total amount came from the sale of idolatry. Deuteronomy 7:26 says, “So you should not become cursed like it.” From this we derive that anything that comes from an idol, from one of its accessories, or from anything offered to it is subject to the same restrictions as the thing itself.
Avodas Kochavim 7:10
When an idol or an asheira tree is burned, it is prohibited to derive benefit from the ashes. A coal taken from an idol is forbidden but a flame is permitted because it has no actual substance. If there is a doubt as to whether or not an object has been used for idolatrous purposes, it is prohibited. If there is a double doubt, it is permitted. An example of a double doubt is as follows:
A goblet used for idolatry fell into a room of full goblets. In such a case (single doubt), all the goblets are prohibited because an idol and its accessories prohibit in any amount. But if one of the cups from this mixed group gets mixed in with two other cups, then the new mixture is permitted because of a double doubt.
If a ring used for idolatry got mixed with 100 other rings, and then two of them fell into the Mediterranean Sea, it is permitted to use all of them, relying on the assumption that the forbidden ring was one of the two that were lost.
Let’s say that a ring of idolatry got mixed with 100 other rings, which were then divided into batches of 40 and 60. Next, the entire batch of 40 got mixed with still another group of rings. In such a case, it would be permitted to use all the rings under the assumption that the idolatrous ring was among the majority. If the batch of 60 got mixed with another group of rings, they are all prohibited.