worship of foreign deities
4
votes
1answer
94 views
What are the ways of the Amorites?
When we are told not to go in the ways of the Amorites (Shabbat 67a, Yerushalmi Shabbat 6:9), However the practices enumerated there do not seem to be specific to the Amorite people. Were there other ...
3
votes
3answers
249 views
Getting benefit from a church
I recently heard that one is forbidden to get any benefit from a church (or any other place of worship other then a shul). They went on to say that the prohibation included while giving directions ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Asking From Angels Borchuni Lshalom
Jews usaly do not ask angels for help as per the RAMBAM. He writes (in Sanhedrin, Perek 11) in the fifth Yesod ha'Emunah the prohibition against serving Avodah Zarah -- that not only should a person ...
3
votes
2answers
165 views
What to do with the Cross on the Chess King?
Many (perhaps most) Chess sets come with a King piece that has a cross on the top of it. Is there any problem with owning or using such a chess set? Should one break off the cross?
3
votes
1answer
99 views
Would a gentile child that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech?
Would a gentile child - under the age of 13/12 - that sees/touches wine make it into Yayin Nesech? Or can only an adult make it into Yayin Nesech?
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Tattoo of an image of idolatry
According to this exhaustive article on the subject of tattooing in Halachah, there is an important opinion with many ramifications that states that one is only liable for the biblical prohibition of ...
3
votes
0answers
51 views
Selling land to Gentile to build Church
In YD Siman 151 it discusses the things that one is allowed and not allowed to sell to a gentile (for reasons that they might be used for Avodah Zara -- idol worship). I didn't see the following ...
2
votes
4answers
176 views
Is it idolatry to use the english word “God” to refer to Hashem?
Shabbos 67b says "Gad" (גד) was the name of an Amorite idol, and we shouldn't use it. Shouldn't this apply to the name "God" as well?
eg. "God forbid"
2
votes
2answers
288 views
Why use Babylonian calendar instead of our own?
Why did the Hebrews not create their own calendar system instead of copying the pagan Babylonians'?
I find it interesting that they use a pagan calendar which often honours pagan gods. Why is this ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
What if a specific avoda zara looks just like avodas Hashem?
Let us assume there is at least one conventional way to serve any given false deity.
Let us also assume that there is a prohibition against serving false deities in the manner that they are ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Is idolatrous belief forbidden for Jews, or is it just practice?
Suppose a Jew believes that there are multiple gods, but he does not worship them in any way. Is this a violation of the prohibition against idolatry for Jews?
We see from this answer that similar ...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
What are the issues with singing in a secular choir that includes some Christian music?
If one sings in a secular choir (consisting of both Jews and gentiles) that performs in secular locations and contexts (such as concert halls, public plazas, nursing homes, etc), what are the issues ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
May one use the name of an avodah zara?
What is the source for not using the proper name of an avodah zara? How far does this halacha extend? For instance if thousands of years ago people worshipped an avodah zara named "XYZ" but no longer ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
Is Unitarianism considered to be idolatry? [duplicate]
Many Jewish authorities consider Christianity to be idolatry due to their belief in a "Holy Trinity." Is that position universal for all Christians, or is it specific only to particular individuals or ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
Why is hell termed Gehinnom?
Why is the place that that wicked are punished for their sins after death termed Gehinnom? Is there is an association with Gei ben Hinnom where idolatry was performed? If so why was this place singled ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Why does the pasuk describing idols leave out “speaking?”
In Parshas Vaeschanan the Posuk says:
עֲבַדְתֶּם שָׁם אֱ־לֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִרְאוּן וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּן וְלֹא יֹאכְלוּן וְלֹא יְרִיחֻן
Translated as:
And there ...
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Apostate Jew performing mitzvahs
It has been discussed many times on this site that a non-Jew may not observe Shabbat (in addition to various other mitzvot that are prohibited to non-Jews). We have also seen that a Jew who renounces ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
The “Sign of the Horns” and 'Avodah Zarah
Is the "Sign of the Horns" a manifestation or an act of 'Avodah Zarah? What if someone uses the gesture as a pop culture reference (eg., heavy metal), or just jokingly - or even mockingly about ...
2
votes
0answers
96 views
Buying products from store that sells avodah zarah?
What is the Halacha on buying products (not used for Avodah Zarah and not intended) from stores that sell things that can be used for Avodah Zarah?
Assuming that buying such products is forbidden, ...
1
vote
3answers
167 views
Is it true that there was a time when Jews believed in the existence of several Gods instead of just One?
Is it true that there was a time when Jews believed in the existence of several Gods instead of just One? Somebody told me that there was a time when they even worshiped different Gods - even after ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Unkosher sheitel's / wigs?
Is it permissible for a married woman to wear a wig if the hair was sacrificed to an idol or foreign deity? There is a temple in India, dubbed the "Richest temple in the World" where pilgrims shave ...
1
vote
1answer
139 views
Is it allowed to make paintings of living creatures?
Among the Ten Commandments is:
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Idol as a reference point for location
לִפְנֵי פִּי הַחִירֹת בֵּין מִגְדֹּל וּבֵין הַיָּם לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן
There is a Halacha that says you may not say "let's meet by such and such an Idol" yet here the Torah does it Why?
1
vote
1answer
167 views
Would it be permissible to believe that Jesus is the messiah if that belief otherwise entails no rejection of halakha or Jewish tradition?
"Messianic Judaism" is generally speaking Christianity repackaged in a Jewish veneer, so they have the same beliefs on the Torah and the divinity of Jesus/Trinity as mainstream Christianity. But ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
Who is the author of “תוספות ”אילמלי on כתובות ל״ג עמ׳ ב׳?
תוספות on ("כתובות ל״ג עמ׳ ב׳ "אלמלי) explains that the גמרא assumes that חנניה, מישאל, & עזריה were not forced to actually worship idolatry, but merely to bow down to a meaningless statue ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Decorating of the Beitzah
Somebody told me in Israel some have the custom of decorating the egg for Pesach (like an Easter egg). Wouldn't that be considered chukas hagoyim or avoda zara?
0
votes
4answers
141 views
Are those who reject idolatry Yahudim (Jews)?
I found the following quote referencing Gemara from a book on converts in Judaism:
The Gemara (Megillah 13•) states that we find the appellation “Yehudi”
in Nach only three times: once for ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Why do people say that Abraham and his family were idolaters at first?
A common idea these days, is that Abraham, his father and their families were supposed to have worshipped idols, until the true Creator, the LORD, called him from Ur of the Chaldees to give unto him ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is the expression “we do not rely on 'bar elahin'” a reference to Christianity?
The prayer Brich Shmeh from the Zohar Vayakhel 206a, which is recited during the Torah service, contains the statement ולא על בר אלהין סמיכנא. All the translations I've seen render "bar elahin" as ...
0
votes
1answer
137 views
Examples of Destruction of Idolatry in a Pagan Land
Idolatry is a great abomination which G-d wants abolished or nullified, hence I want to know whether the believing people of the past took an action against it even if they were in the minority.
Are ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Difference between idol worship and Shrine worship
What is the Jewish doctrinal difference between an Idol housed in a temple and a grave housed in Mausoleum or Shrine with all or some of the following activities carried out by the visitors in both ...
0
votes
2answers
235 views
Hashem is here, Hashem is there…REALLY?
The song "Hashem is here, Hashem is there..." seems to pose many interesting theological problems. What concerns would you have with this song? How would you educate your child on the challenges this ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
What is special about Molech?
What is unique about the worship of Molech that distinguishes it from other avodah zara enough that it deserves discussion and specific prohibition in the Torah? We see it specifically discuessed ...
0
votes
0answers
11 views
Demolishing Idolatry sneakily?
As an extension to this question which makes it obligatory to demolish idols, is it equally virtuous to demolish places of idolatry sneakily as we see examples from the story of Abraham?
0
votes
0answers
91 views
Singing or listening to non-Jewish religious music
Is it permissible to listen or sing non-Jewish religious music so long as praise and worship is only expressed to Hashem and this is clear and/or your intention is only to praise G-d and no one else?
-1
votes
1answer
130 views
Do jews find it blasphemy to be judged by religious laws of the pagan country they live in
Does being judged by non judaic religious law in a non judaic , pagan country considered to fall into the category of Shituff (Associating partners with God) . As jews belive that only God has the ...
-1
votes
2answers
17 views
Does demolishing idolatry require specific authority?
Is a command from legal authorities required to demolish idols? Moreover, what counts as a legal authority in such a case?
e.g: You may find many Idols of Jesus in churches in the biblical Israel , ...
-1
votes
1answer
89 views
How does Halacha view someone who converts to Islam? [duplicate]
What is the halachic status of the person who converts to Islam, does he remain a Jew in spite of conversion? I am specifically asking the Muslim case since they don't deny the Torah and believe it to ...
-10
votes
3answers
244 views
Did the Rambam say it's OK for a Jew to convert to Islam? [closed]
I read that the Rambam considered a Jew who converts to Islam NOT to be an Apikorus(אפיקורוס)\heretic or an ovdei avodah zarah, as opposed to a convert to Christianity who he considered to be heretic ...
