Questions tagged [avodah-zarah]
Worship of foreign deities, one of the three cardinal sins.
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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 ...
6
votes
1answer
336 views
Depiction of the Menorah, the *Shulchan* and *Kadosh HaKadoshim* on ancient coins?
On some rare ancient coins of Matityah Antigonus, there are depictions of what seem to be the Menorah and the Shulchan (one obverse die even seems to show the Lechem HaPanim).
This coin has an ...
14
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3answers
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What is the red string all about?
Where did the concept of wearing a red string come from? I have heard different opinions ranging from "you should definitely wear it" to "its forbidden like idol worship" - who is right?
7
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2answers
665 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 ...
asked Jun 25 '12 at 23:52
not-allowed to change my name
11.7k1 gold badge28 silver badges76 bronze badges
4
votes
1answer
164 views
How would anyone ever “worship idols out of love or fear”?
It says in the Gemara (Krisus 3a) that if one worships an idol without accepting it as a god, he isn't liable to even bring a chatas. This opinion seems to held according to everyone.
Yet, the Gemara ...
7
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4answers
424 views
How can people who dress in “only” black lead tefillah, the Mishna warns us against those “machmir” about colors?
We learn in Mishnah Megillah 4:8 that if someone insists on wearing only one color when they pray we do not let them be the "shliach tzibor" (prayer leader).
This is because we suspect he is involved ...
8
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1answer
315 views
Are there any ill-effects for mis-directed prayers?
Inspired by the end of this answer:
Just remember that all non-Jews don't follow the Sheva Mitzvot and could [even] be in Avodah Zarah and then would...a blessing [of theirs] matter? It might even ...
4
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0answers
160 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
284 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, ...
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3answers
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Is a Jew allowed to be knighted? Problem with kneeling?
Is there any halachik problem with going through the knighting (or Damehood for women) process of kneeling etc?
The current ceremony does not contain many of the Christian or pagan overtones of the ...
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3answers
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the tangled web of prophecy
The sages removed the inclination for idol worship (gemarah in Yoma) and subsequently prophecy ceased. It is postulated that the two are interconnected. Meaning that in order to maintain free will if ...
2
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3answers
362 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 ...
11
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2answers
669 views
Are Jews permitted to martyr themselves?
Are Jews permitted to martyr themselves? For example, if it is a question of converting or being killed, is the Jew permitted to sacrifice himself rather than convert?
Separately: which would be ...
15
votes
1answer
488 views
Nullifying Ancient Israelite Idols
Following up on a question raised on the Avodah list (see here & here under the subject āDestroying Idolsā).
Archaeologists often dig up idols whose worshipers have abandoned them over the ...
17
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1answer
931 views
Is kneeling and bowing down in Kung Fu an idolatry (Avoda Zarah)?
I am exercising at Kung Fu's dojo and wonder whether kneeling and bowing down is an idolatry (Avodah Zarah)? The floor has soft mats. The reason explained to me is that it's done as a form of greeting ...
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5answers
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Did the Rambam believe in magic?
If you read through Chapter 11 of the Rambam's laws on Idol Worship, you'll see what seems to be the Rambam forbidding anything that even resembles magic, all while calling such practices foolish and ...
6
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2answers
748 views
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 ...
10
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1answer
656 views
How does Judaism regard the different denominations of Christianity vis-a-vis Avoda Zara?
There's been lots of talk about whether Christianity is Avodah Zara.
Are there any distinctions between denominations, say which ones have more statues?
6
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2answers
882 views
Avodah Zarah in other religions
Picking up on some of the discussions recently, which religions are Avodah Zarah and why? How does that translate into our relationships with them?
14
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2answers
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Dipping fingers in Havdalah Wine
What is the source or origin of the custom to dip one's fingers in the wine poured over the candle to extinguish it at the conclusion of Havdalah?
As a side note, and a reason I'm tagging it this way,...
2
votes
1answer
386 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 ...
7
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2answers
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No yetzer hora of idolatry, so no nevuah?
I remember learning in a shiur (sorry, can't think of the reference) that Chazal was able to essentially destroy the yetzer hora of avodah zora but with the side effect that there wouldn't be nevuah ...
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4answers
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What happened to Avraham's students?
We read how Avraham was going around convincing people to believe in one G-d and of his many students. Yet we don't hear of those students (or their descendants) ever again.
What happened to them ...
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1answer
152 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 ...
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4answers
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Is there sufficient evidence to support the theory that ancient Israel practiced monolatry?
I just came across this Wikipedia article on monolatrism that says some people believe ancient Israel practiced monolatry.
The highest claim to be made for Moses is that he was, rather than a ...
6
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2answers
191 views
Talking to objects and Avoda Zara
This question inspired by This question here at programmers.se
There is a concept in some programing circles called "Rubber Ducking", where one expresses a problem to a rubber ducky and through that ...
3
votes
4answers
344 views
Is it idolatry to use the english word “God” to refer to Hashem?
Shabbos 67b says "Gad" (××) 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"
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votes
2answers
257 views
How could Yaakov name his children Gad and Dan?
Shabbos 67b says Gad was the name of an idol of the Amorites, and Dan was an idol of Samaria. If we're not supposed to even say the name of idols, how could Yaakov name his sons after them? (or is it ...
23
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3answers
2k views
Why do we bow down in the direction of the ark?
This is a question I've had for many years, to which I've never received a satisfactory answer:
In Hebrew school, we were taught that idolaters bowed to a idol of their god. They would claim that ...
20
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6answers
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Have Jews believed that Ezra was the son of God?
In reading the Qur'an, I noticed this passage:
Qur'an 9:30 The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah ." That is their statement from their ...
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4answers
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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 ...
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4answers
734 views
Asking non-Jews to pray for someone
Is it appropriate to ask non-Jews to pray on behalf of someone in dire straits (sick, wrongfully imprisoned, trapped, etc.)?
Edit: If it's appropriate, would it be inappropriate if the person being ...
10
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4answers
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What is the exact definition of Shituf (vis a vis 'Avodah Zarah)?
"Shituf" is the heretical idea of some sort of co-mingling of something with G-d (Has VeShalom). According to many rabbinic opinions, Christianity is Shituf (cf., Is Christianity Avodah Zara?), and ...
14
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4answers
774 views
Why is the idea of sefirot not shituf?
Why are the sefirot not considered a problem of Shituf? Is there anything wrong with believing in sefirot?
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4answers
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Why isn't the Kabbalistic doctrine of Sefirot considered Shittuf if the Christian Trinity is?
From the answers to this question it seems that most if not all Jewish sources treat Trinitarian Christianity (in particular, their doctrine of the Trinity) as either Shittuf or outright Avoda Zara, ...
23
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9answers
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Is practicing Yoga against Torah?
What does Halacha and Halachic Authorities have to say about the permissibility of a Jew practicing Yoga? Is it Avodah Zarah?
If it is problematic, are there methods of doing it where it would be ...
6
votes
2answers
615 views
Greek Mythology in Jewish Day Schools
Is there any issue with the general studies department of a Jewish day school teaching Greek mythology to the students?
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9answers
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If Christianity is avodah zarah and Islam is not, why has the Christian world triumphed over the non-Christian, and why do Jews prefer to live among Christians and not Muslims?
The Rambam quite clearly considered Christianity to be avodah zarah. He did not feel the same way about Islam, however, going so far as to condone praying within a mosque, and many Orthodox Jewish ...
17
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2answers
317 views
Calling a Jew a “guru”?
Is it appropriate to use the term "guru" to refer to an expert in matters of Judaism or Jewish law on the assumption that it will be understood as the second definition here, or is it inappropriate no ...
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vote
2answers
103 views
Idol as a reference point for location
×Ö“×¤Ö°× Öµ× ×¤Ö“Ö¼× ×Ö·×Ö“××ØÖ¹×Ŗ ×ÖµÖ¼×× ×Ö“×Ö°×Ö¹Ö¼× ×Ö¼×Öµ×× ×Ö·×ÖøÖ¼× ×Ö“×¤Ö°× Öµ× ×Ö·Ö¼×¢Ö·× ×¦Ö°×¤Ö¹×
(Shmot 14:2)
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. ...
15
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1answer
898 views
Can a Christian “Grace” invalidate food?
Suppose there's a communal meal in a secular workplace, at which some of the food is reliably kosher. Now suppose that right before anyone takes any food, one of the participants, to general assent, ...
6
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4answers
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Is there any problem with thanking a non-Jew by saying “God bless you?”
If your neighbor/coworker/etc. is a religious non-Jew and they do you a favor, is there a problem to say "thank you, God bless you?", assuming you think they'd appreciate hearing that?
4
votes
5answers
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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 ...
5
votes
1answer
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Buddha at Indian Restaurants
Is the Buddha statue (or Hindu statues) a problem at Kosher Indian restaurants?
(This is different than the cat question since the cat is only a good-luck superstition and these are actual idols)
8
votes
2answers
551 views
Is the cat figurine thing a problem at kosher Chinese restaurants?
It seems like all kosher Chinese restaurants have this cat-statue thingy in the front:
Is there any Halachic problem with that? I assume not, if they're all kosher-certified; but why not?
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Why does the pasuk describing idols leave out “speaking?”
In Parshas Vaeschanan the Posuk says:
×¢Ö²×Ö·×Ö°×ŖÖ¶Ö¼× ×©Öø×× ×Ö±Ö¾×Ö¹×Ö“×× ×ַעֲשֵ×× ×Ö°×Öµ× ×Öø×Öø× ×¢Öµ×„ ×Öø×Ö¶×Ö¶× ×ֲשֶ××Ø ×Ö¹× ×Ö“×ØÖ°××Ö¼× ×Ö°×Ö¹× ×֓שְ××Ö°×¢×Ö¼× ×Ö°×Ö¹× ×Ö¹××Ö°××Ö¼× ×Ö°×Ö¹× ×Ö°×ØÖ“××Ö»×
Translated as:
And there ...
6
votes
3answers
804 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 "...
4
votes
2answers
274 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 ...
52
votes
16answers
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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 ...
10
votes
6answers
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How to Resolve Kiddush Levana and Celestial Worship, (Avodas Kochavim)?
In general Kiddush Lavanah has always seemed to me to be akin to "Avodas Kochavim" - so does anyone know of a satisfying answer that works with Occam's razor?
More specifically:
We say Just as I can ...
