Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avodah Zarah/Chapter 2/1

Hebrew Text

אין מעמידין בהמה בפונדקאות של גויים, מפני שהן חשודין על הרביעה.

ולא תתייחד אישה עימהן, מפני שהן חשודין על העריות.

ולא יתייחד אדם עימהן, מפני שהן חשודין על שפיכת דמים.

בת ישראל, לא תיילד את הנוכרית; אבל הנוכרית, מיילדת את בת ישראל.

בת ישראל, לא תניק בנה של נוכרית; אבל הנוכרית, מיניקת את בנה של ישראלית ברשותה.

English Translation

One should not leave cattle in gentile inns, for they are suspect in regard to bestiality. A woman should not be alone with them for they are suspect in regard to fornication. A man should not be alone with them, for they are suspect in regard to spilling of blood. A daughter of Israel should not be a midwife to a gentile woman. But a gentile woman may be a midwife to a daughter of Israel. A daughter of Israel may not suckle a child of a gentile, but a gentile may suckle a Jewish child, in her domain.

Explanation

This mishnah is based on the slippery slope principle: because idol worshippers break one of the Noahide laws (not to worship idols), they are suspected of breaking others, including bestiality, inappropriate/forbidden sexual relations, and murder. Further, Jews should not deliver or suckle a child of a non-Jew because the child will grow up to worship idols. A non-Jew may deliver or suckle a Jewish child, but only in the Jew's domain, as if this were done in a non-Jewish location, there is suspicion of murder.

The Talmud further clarifies this including an explanation of the case in which a Jewish midwife is a professional midwife.