Questions tagged [avodah-zarah]
Worship of foreign deities, one of the three cardinal sins.
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Working on space exploration as a Torah-observant Jew - all the names drawn from Avodah Zara
Related: May one use the name of an avodah zara?
Space exploration agencies and intitutions are generally a-religious, but they do have a propensity to use the names of old gods for all their projects....
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How was Rabbi Akiva’s wish to fulfill the commandment of ״בכל נפשך״ actually fulfilled?
The Gemara (Berachos 61b) tells the story of Rabbi Akiva, who was killed for teaching Torah, and before he was killed, he told his students that he was now finally able to fulfill the commandment of ״...
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How come studying the Hebrew letters and Sefirot is not considered idolatry (what is the boundary)?
First, I am not 100% sure what the definition of idolatry is in Judaism. I don't think it applies just to worshipping physical objects (your typical vision of "idols" like human-like statues,...
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Is jewelry with depictions of golems permitted
It only recently hit me that this can be problematic as it sort of has an image of a face on it and can be considered an idol? Does it make a difference if one’s intention is purely for decorative/...
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Was idolatry the sin of the builders of the Tower of Babel?
Many commentators bemoan the fact that the sin of the builders of the Tower of Babel is not mentioned explicitly in the Torah. A plurality (but by no means all) seems to believe they engaged in ...
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Is reading "Journey To The West" Avodah Zarah?
So I'm considering reading the famous Chinese novel Journey To The West, which is about a Buddhist monk, and entails interactions with Taoists and Confucians. From my understanding this book is ...
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Does Judaism care if jesus performed the miracles as reported in the christian testament?
Devarim 13 teaches about a navi sheker that can predict the future accurately and/or perform miracles (real ones—see Rashbam), and yet, as he contravenes the Torah, that we ourselves heard, we're to ...
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Who threw the plate in that made the Egel Zahav עֵגֶל זָּהָב come out?
Yehuda haKohen relays:
The Hebrew worldview associates Yosef with cattle. In Moshe’s brakhot
to the different tribes at the end of Sefer D’varim, we see Yosef
likened to a shor – a bull. Our Sages ...
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Ki Savo: Idols of Wood and Stone [duplicate]
Devarim 28:64 says:
וֶהֱפִֽיצְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ בְּכׇל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ
וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעָבַ֨דְתָּ שָּׁ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר
לֹא־יָדַ֛עְתָּ אַתָּ֥ה וַאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ עֵ֥ץ וָאָֽבֶן׃...
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Can Islamic banking be considered "following their ways"?
Is one allowed to open a bank account in a bank that follows Islamic customs and poses itself as Islamic banking? The card they offer would be not usable for purchases in stores that are designated ...
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Why the prohibition of idolatry doesn't stem from the Mitzvah of loving God?
The second commandment of the Ten, prohibits idolatry out of God's jealousy and harsh multi-generational punishment.
In the current era of romanticism, jealousy usually arises from deep love and ...
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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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If prophecy ended, how come idol worship didn't?
The Vilna Gaon claims that the destruction of the yeitzer hara (evil inclination) for idol worship also removed prophecy.
I want to know, why? It seems there is a connection between the yeitzer hara ...
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Why "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים" uses singular יִהְיֶה?
Regarding singular יהיה in "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים" in both versions of the Ten COmmandments.
Does it mean that "אלוהים אחרים" is singular as in "כִּי מִי־גוֹי ...
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Wisdom and knowledge, G-dly or unG-dly?
I wondered if there are texts and/or explanations that teach us when certain knowledge or wisdom is considered G-dly or unG-dly (occult, pagan, wrong).
To give some context, I recently had a ...
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Responsibility before commandments?
The Midrash has Moses make the argument that God should not punish the Israelites for the Golden Calf, because He never told them not to engage in idolatry:
[Moses] said in front of [God]: Master of ...
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Is it permitted to visit Palermo catacombs in Sicily?
Is a Jew halachically permitted to visit the catacombs in Palermo Sicily?
Are these catacombs beneath the church?
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Practical consequences of a Jew who worships Avodah Zara
Besides for the fact that avodah zara is an aveira, are there any restrictions that come about from a Jew who has this status? To narrow it down, let's say he keeps everything else in the Torah except ...
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Is one allowed to OWN a King James Bible, Koran, etc.?
Halachically speaking (as opposed to a mere Middos Chassidus), is one allowed to own a book or document of another religion? This question can be divided into sub-questions:
1. Would there be a ...
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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 ...
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Punishment for making a statue of YHWH and worshipping/bowing to it
After reading "The Origins of Judaism, An Archaeological Historical Reappraisal" by Dr. Yonathan Adler, I understood that the practice of not making images of God/gods changed rather ...
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What is prohibited in Idolatry: Form or Symbol?
Do the prohibitions related to idolatry, that concern bnei noach, apply to symbol or form?
What I mean by symbol or form:
Symbol: status of a concept that is worshipped
Form: physical being actively ...
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Does a Pyramid Temple need to be destroyed in Chutz LaAretz or can it be made into a Synagogue
BH
Correct me if I'm wrong; I heard that it is forbidden for Avoda Zara temples to exist in Israel. What about in Chutz LaAretz? Must they be destroyed or may one make a synagogue out of it?
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Is one allowed to volunteer in a food pantry affiliated with a church?
We all know that going in a church is assur. But what about going into a building associated with a church? E.g. let's say a place like Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries, which appears to just offer ...
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Is a dead person forbidden from communicating with a live person?
A live person is forbidden from using necromancy to communicate with a dead person.
But is the reverse true?
Is the dead person permitted to initiate the contact?
If the live person contacted the dead ...
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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 ...
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Plagues of Egypt mocking their gods
I've heard from a Christian that each of the plagues that Hashem brought upon Egypt corresponded to a different Egyptian god. That is to say, to mock that particular god.
For example, heqet, the ...
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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 ...
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Is calling someone a god Avodah zarah
In slang nowadays, it’s very common to call someone a god, such as “he’s such a god at this game” or “I’m such a god at baseball.” Is this considered Avodah zarah and/or assur, or is it permitted ...
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Praying on a reflective floor
It's forbidden to pray in front of a mirror, as it can appear like you're praying to your own reflection. What about standing on a mirrored floor (or some other reflective surface), where it can look ...
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What kinds of statues does the Rambam mean we shouldn't put our mouths on?
B"H
In hilchos avodas kochavim chapter 3 halacha 8 the Rambam says:
8 A person should not place his mouth over the mouths of statues which
serve as fountains that are located before false ...
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Would Torah consider kundalini awakening as Avoda Zara or is there a kosher equivilant that can be found in Jewish mysticism also?
BH
Is kundalini awakening considered Avoda Zara or is there a kosher equivalent that can be found in Jewish mysticism also?
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Can Noachide apostasy lead to delaying of the Moshiach
Can an individual who committed to being a Noachide, not before any rabbi but to himself and to G-D delay the coming of the Messiah by giving up the Noachide laws and renouncing G-D? What if the ...
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Can a Messianic Jew (Christian) be counted in a minyan? [duplicate]
There are a group of people who claim to be "Messianic Jews." This is a group of people who are either natural born Jews who adopted Jesus as their messiah and other Christian practices or ...
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Yemeni manuscripts about the Hebrew expression - in Mishneh Torah Hilchot Avodah Zarah 9:4 - translated as "idolaters"
I am an Italian Noahide.
in Mishneh Torah Hilchot-Avodah Zarah 9:4-, Rambam states that Christians are idolaters.
Now, in various editions of the work, including the one available on the Chabad ...
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Permissibility of digital art of celestial bodies
According to Halacha, for Jews, there is a prohibition of portraying Celestial bodies in art, even if not for idolatry. (Generally, for noahides there is some concern, but the rules for what might be ...
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Working for a church
Is it muttar to work for a church? Does it matter if you are an employee or a contractor?
The example I'm thinking of is an accountant hired to do a churches taxes.
I saw someone asked a similar ...
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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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Thanking Christian for his prayers
Taking into account that Christianity is Avoda Zara I would like to ask the following question.
I met a missionary last night who started off the conversation saying that he prays for Israel and then ...
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Is Christianity Avodah Zara?
It is commonly accepted that Islam is not Avodah Zarah (idolatry) since Islam has a clear monotheistic theology with a belief in Allah that parallels our view of "kail" or Hashem. It is even ...
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If I don't think that someone would leave Christianity, is it recommended to guide them to more monotheistic/non-Trinitarian Christianity? [closed]
Let's say as a hypothetical: I'm in an argument with a typical trinitarian Christian and they are absolutely stubborn. I can show them all the proofs of the incoherence of the topic of trinity and ...
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Is it permitted to have an American Flag on a flagpole with an Eagle on top in a Synagogue?
American Flag on pole, topped with an Eagle.
Is this permitted in the Synagogue?
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Who is an idolater?
In Chullin 13b, we read:
Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Gentiles outside of Eretz Yisrael are not idol worshippers. Rather, they are just following the customs of their ancestors that were transmitted to them......
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Is the use of beads as a meditation tool acceptable if they aren't an item of idolatry?
Beads have a history of use in different religions. They also have a general use in human society as a whole detached from religion.
One simple example of the nonreligious version is the Greek ...
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How does halacha deal with idolatrous parents?
Query coming from some of the answers to this question:
How should one prioritize honoring parents in comparison with other laws?
'Rabbi Eliezer was asked: “How far does the honor of parents [extend]”?...
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Is the board game "Snakes and Ladders" kosher?
It appears to be a game based on the Hindu religion. Here is an excerpt from wikipedia:
The game was popular in ancient India by the name Moksha Patam. It was
also associated with traditional Hindu ...
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Does the fact that "Elohim" is plural indicate that parts of the Tanakh hearken from a pre-Jewish polytheistic culture?
(disclaimer, I am a gentile and don't know how to type in square script)
My question applies to the whole Tanakh, but I'm specifically curious about Genesis. Translating strictly literally (ie, ...
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Was Pinchas related to Yithro? How?
Rashi states that there were suspicions of an avoda zara worshiper in Pinchas lineage. Was he related to Yithro?
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Can a Jew visit the main attractions in Rome
Can a Jew visit the main attractions in Rome? Including the Vatican, the Vatican museums, the Pantheon, St Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. It's a two-part question, first of all, are these ...
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Is encouraging Islam amongst the gentiles considered a positive act or a negative act? [closed]
Islam is considered a pure monotheism according to Judaism. It's famously the only religion a Jew can convert to in the name of their survival because it doesn't require idolatry to do so. Contrast ...
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