All Questions
Tagged with avodah-zarah gentiles
56 questions
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Were the idolatrous kings of Yisrael no longer Jewish? [duplicate]
In Rambam's Mishneh Torah, Laws of Idolatry 2:5 he states
יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעָבַד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי הוּא כְּעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים לְכָל דְּבָרָיו וְאֵינוֹ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ ...
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3
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Avodah Zarah and non-Jewish houseworkers
Does a Jewish homeowner need to be concerned that non-Jewish maids might perform idol worship with his possessions?
Would this make any of the things in his house forbidden, or no?
What precautions is ...
1
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1
answer
119
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Are gentile shrunken heads assur to own
According to Halacha, is it assur to own a gentile Shrunken head? The reason I ask is because my understanding is Halacha prohibits Jews from owning things made like the human form, even if not actual ...
- 4,532
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votes
1
answer
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Medium Consultation For Gentiles
Are gentiles allowed to consult mediums or talk to spirits?
The prohibition of witchcraft and the like is not explicitly mentioned in the Noahide laws as far as I'm aware, but I could see it going ...
- 151
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0
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113
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Can you volunteer at a library, even if you must shelve books about idol worship?
Large university libraries probably hold books about religions which contain idol worship. (They might also hold books about sexual immorality and murder.)
Libraries make books available to the ...
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0
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201
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Would either of these scenarios make it acceptable to gift a mezuzah to a non-Jewish friend?
Non-Jews aren't meant to have mezuzot. You are forbidden from gifting one to a non-Jewish friend for this reason.
My question is regarding two scenarios and whether either of these scenarios would ...
- 1,413
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1
answer
110
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Modern application of avoiding Gentile idolatry
The children of Israel were commanded not to join with the Canaanites nor to learn their ways, lest they be led astray from the pure worship of Hashem into worshipping the idols of the nations. (...
- 143
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1
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137
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Is Deism avoda zara? [closed]
Is Deism avoda zara? It would seem that deists, like Muslims, fall into the category of righteous gentiles, Noahidism. Like Islam, Deism only accepts that there is but one God. Famous American ...
- 391
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1
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Is insincere idolatry permitted?
The Talmud reports the following view about Gentiles who live outside Israel:
דאמר רבי חייא בר אבא אמר רבי יוחנן גוים שבחוצה לארץ לאו עובדי עבודה זרה הן אלא מנהג אבותיהן בידיהן
These sages seem to ...
user19234
1
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1
answer
102
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Can Gentiles practice idolatry if their lives are in danger?
Can Gentiles do idolatry in case they are compelled by someone or a law of the land? And if so, if he doesn't, would that be seen by God as suicide or a good thing for not surrendering to idolatry? I'...
- 577
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4
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266
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What is the היתר to have long bangs and hairdos nowadays?
I remember hearing that there were gentiles from years ago (not sure what time period) that used to leave a lot of hair on the front of their heads and would have the rest of their hair either shaved ...
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2
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725
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Belief-with worship only towards HaShem - in the real existence of intermediaries between the Almighty and the Gentile Nations
I am an Italian Noahide.
There are several discussions in this forum about shituf, understood as associating other entities with HaShem.
Unless I am mistaken, it is generally held that on the halachic ...
- 2,646
3
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2
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372
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Rav Moshe Sternbuch's position on the belief in HaShem for Gentiles
Among the answers to the following question in this forum:
Is it permitted for a Ben-Noach be an atheist?
I read that, according to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, as he writes in Teshuvos Vehanhagos 3: 264 and ...
- 2,646
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3
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What is the reasoning for not entering churches and other non-Jewish places of worship?
There are multiple questions about entering churches here, most of which are marked as duplicates and pointed to this one. What none of them address, however, is why in the halacha it is forbidden to ...
6
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2
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268
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Sources used by Maimonides in Mishneh Torah-Avodat Kochavim 1:1
In Mishneh Torah-Avodat Kochavim 1:1 Rambam states:
"During the times of Enosh, mankind made a great mistake, and the wise men of that generation gave thoughtless counsel. Enosh himself was one ...
- 2,646
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2
answers
293
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If there is no longer any Avodah Zarah, why do we need to follow the relevant halachah?
If it is accepted that Avodah Zarah has effectively ceased to exist, as suggested elsewhere on this site, why do we need to follow any of the relevant halachah, that applies to social relationships ...
- 103
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Is Brahmoism Avodah Zarah?
Sometime during the eighteenth century, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, an educated revenue officer from West Bengal who was influenced by Christianity of the East India Company, founded the "anusthanic"...
- 1,518
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4
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Is it possible to be a Noahide and a Christian at the same time?
Rambam states that for gentiles who wish to have a place in the world to come, they don't need to convert to Judaism. All they need to do is keep the 7 laws of Noah because they were mandated by ...
- 316
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189
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Is there an analogy between the concept of "sefirot" and that of Hindu "devataas"? [closed]
I am an Italian noahide.
I recently discovered that relevant rabbinic authorities have changed the traditional orientation of the Jewish position towards the Hindu faith, considered in the past to ...
- 2,646
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0
answers
143
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Can a Jew encourage non-Jews to convert to other monotheistic religions?
Would it be permissible for a Jew to encourage or help a non-Jew convert from a faith that involves avodah zara to one that does not? For example a Christian (on the notion that Christianity is avodah ...
- 533
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0
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215
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Standing in the presence of an idol / entering a room which has an idol
The question is remarkably simple (even though the answer may not be so).
Is it allowed by halacha to stand in the presence of an idol or enter a room where an idol is present ?
Specifically, I'm ...
- 316
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3
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325
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Is it allowed to live in a place which has brazen Avodah Zarah?
Is a Jew allowed to live in a place which has brazen Avodah Zarah? I'm talking about places such as India, China and Cambodia. While Christians worship idols as well they say that doing so is wrong.
I'...
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2
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1k
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Source for it being a mitzvah to make fun of Avodah Zarah?
I've heard from multiple Rabbanim that it is a mitzvah to make fun of Avodah Zarah. I have been performing this mitzvah with pleasure for many years and I would like to know the source for it.
- 785
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1
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219
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Death over sins & idolatry for gentiles?
As we know there are certain sins a Jew cannot commit like murder or idol worship. A Jew should rather die than commit these sins. Does this apply to gentiles as well?
- 125
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1
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510
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Do good christians go to heaven when they die (Gan Eden)? [duplicate]
Will Christians have a share in the world to come if they truly did not know that Judaism was true, and were brought up with Jesus their whole lives? And can that same concept be applied to atheist as ...
- 21
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45
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What to do with idol worship relics or impure objects
Once knowing the truth of the Torah, and the seven noahide laws,I disposed of many things. I want to know how exactly are you to dispose of these things.( Parashat Re'eh) gives a set of instructions ...
- 159
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448
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Ramban and Shituf. What is his position?
The Ramban on Devarim 7:6 says:
בך בחר ה' אלהיך להיות לו לעם סגלה שאין לך קצין שוטר ומושל בכל מלאכי מעלה אבל אתה סגולת ה' תחת ידו ולכך לא תטעה לעבוד ע"ז מאלהי העמים וכבר הזכרתי זה פעמים רבות
...
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2
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0
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107
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Have there ever been inter-faith debates between Jews and Zoroastrians? [closed]
There are records of many inter-faith debates (disputations) between Jews and Christians even up to modern times. However I have never heard of similar such debates between Jews and Zoroastrians. Are ...
user14881
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7
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4k
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Is Islam Avodah Zara?
Is Islam avodah zarah? The reason why I ask is because in Mecca, at the Kaaba there is a black stone which the Muslims kiss and believe is holy.
Is kissing the stone and believing it's holy a problem ...
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5
answers
1k
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Pagan practice to clink glasses?
Is it a pagan practice for two (or more) people to clink glasses together (e.g. when making a toast)? Do any Biblical or Talmudic sources discuss this practice?
2
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0
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115
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Does the first Noahide Law prohibit idolatry or being an atheist? [duplicate]
Does the first Law of Noach prohibit idolatry or being an atheist, or both?
In some formulations of the 7 Noahide Laws, the first law is given as "Denying G-d" (or similar). In others, it is ...
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answer
430
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Names with origins of avoda zara
I gave my daughter a second name after my father's, for which I came up with a female version. I saw that the name does exist, but I never bothered to see the origin for some reason. Now, after five ...
- 221
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0
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176
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Non-Jew using a Jew's stuff for idol worship
It is forbidden for Jews to benefit from anything used for avodah zarah (idol worship). (Rambam Hilchot Avodah Zarah 7:2) In halacha #4 there, he gives the rules for when something becomes classified ...
- 23.3k
4
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0
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110
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Questions regarding selling "mitzvah" items to Christians for use in their Church service
My understanding is that one is not aloud to intentionally sell anything to an oved avodah zarah ("idol worshipper") if he knows that he will use that item for his idol worshipping purpose.
There are ...
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1
answer
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Can a Jew drink wine of a ger toshav?
I've heard it said that a Jew cannot drink the wine of a non-Jew. Can a Jew drink the wine of a ger toshav?
It appears to me that the reason a Jew cannot drink from a non-Jew's wine is that it is ...
- 1,348
2
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1
answer
483
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Christianity as a test for jews
I was looking for sources demonstrating Christianity as a test for Jews. My search began when I was reading Rambam in Mishneh Torah (Laws of Kings 11:4; English):
[...] Can there be a greater ...
- 7,084
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1
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504
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Does Judaism appreciate the wanton destruction of idolatry done by Islamic groups?
Many of the idolatrous heritage sites like Bamiyan Buddha, Sufi shrines, and Hindu idols are being destroyed by Islamic fundamentalists around the globe. Does Judaism allow a non Jew to demolish such ...
- 99
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2
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737
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May I give non-mevushal wine to a non-Jew?
If I know that non-mevushal wine is available to be used for avodah zarah (as in http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/5211.htm) and that the prohibition against lifnei iver includes non-Jews[1], then am I ...
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0
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Is property belonging to a human god considered tashmishei avoda zara?
If a non-Jew who is worshipped as a god wants to bring a korban, can we accept it? Normally non-Jews can bring any sacrifices to our God which they want and are not limited to the Temple Mount while ...
- 5,341
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4
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Poti-phera's Title/Job Description
Genesis 41:45 JPS
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
...
- 233
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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 ...
- 2,013
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1
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294
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Is idolatrous belief forbidden for gentiles, or is it just practice?
Suppose a non-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 gentiles?
- 25.1k
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1
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503
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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 ...
- 16.2k
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2
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509
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Reading foreign literature: perspectives and experiences
I'd like to hear how people make their decisions about reading, watching, and listening to materials that express non-Jewish ideas and imagery... both for study, and for entertainment.
This question ...
- 2,020
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7
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6k
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May a Jew be a Freemason?
According to what I've been told by several people who have inquired of "practicing" (is that the right word?) Freemasons, and supported by Wikipedia, "Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it ...
- 41.9k
7
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2
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608
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Business with Christians during their holiday periods
According to those who hold that Christianity is avodah zarah, may Jews do business with Christians within three days of Sunday (or if you want, within 3 days of Dec. 25 or Easter) in light of the ...
- 6,946
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1
answer
1k
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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?
- 2,179
6
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1
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437
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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 ...
user1668
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5
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2k
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Is it permitted for a Ben-Noach be an atheist?
Avoda zarah is one of the things prohibited by the Seven Noachide Laws. But what about atheism? I know that the 7 Laws are often taken to include a larger number of halachot from the Torah, so would ...
- 25.1k
6
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2
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1k
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Shituf and Avodah Zara
While the various opinions about shituf have been discussed already.
Somewhat recently, however, I heard a Rav speak on the topic who seemed to take it for granted that shituf was only permitted when ...
- 13.5k