All Questions
Tagged with chukkot-haggoyim or hukot-hagoyim
37 questions
1
vote
1
answer
114
views
Are garden gnomes Chukot Hagoyim
According to Halacha, are garden gnomes classified as Chukot Hagoyim, or not? I ask because on the one hand, they are not associated with idolatry nowadays, however they are a custom of non-Jewish ...
- 4,532
0
votes
1
answer
115
views
St. Patrick’s Day and Chukot Hagoyim
According to Halacha, is the holiday St. Patrick’s Day considered Chukot Hagoyim? So would Jews be prohibited from wearing green or (consensually) pinching somebody not wearing green on that day? What ...
- 4,532
4
votes
1
answer
188
views
Are Jews allowed to benefit from Chukot Hagoyim
According to Halacha, is there an issue with a jew having Hanaah, benefit from the sale of items of Chukot Hagoyim to gentiles? So of course it can’t be idolatry, but can they sell items to gentiles ...
- 4,532
2
votes
1
answer
208
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Ger Toshav and Chukot hagoyim
If somebody is a Ger Toshav (so an observant noahide who accepts and follows the 7 mitzvot, and gets recognized as such by a Beit din), is there any obligation on them within Chukot Hagoyim (...
- 4,532
0
votes
0
answers
542
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Does the Gemara teach that Jews are allowed to kill gentiles but not vice versa?
The Gemara challenges: But wherever there is liability for capital punishment, this tanna teaches it; as it is taught in the first clause: With regard to bloodshed, if a gentile murders another ...
- 257
2
votes
1
answer
427
views
Responsa regarding the tooth fairy or alternatives
I'm looking for halachic opinions regarding actively allowing children to believe in the tooth fairy through giving them prizes for putting teeth under their pillow etc.
I would also like to know if ...
- 807
1
vote
2
answers
115
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Chukkot leshem Avodah Zarah
I was reading the Rashi to Dev. 16:22, in which he says that setting up pillars is forbidden "now" since the Canaanites introduced them into their idolatrous worship.
I was looking for the ...
- 73
3
votes
2
answers
520
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Is there an issue with wearing a cap and gown to graduation?
Is there an issue with wearing a cap and gown? I am thinking perhaps this could be an issue of chukas goyim (dressing like the other nations). Further, is there an issue if the college for which you ...
- 869
2
votes
2
answers
212
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Can I have flowers planted on my grave?
The MY question Why don't Jewish people put flowers on graves?
asks about a visitor leaving flowers on a grave.
The reason we don’t is that it’s “chukas hagoyim”
Does the same logic apply for a ...
- 1,760
2
votes
1
answer
308
views
Are there any halakhic concerns with mustache wax?
Are there halachic concerns with using wax to remove a mustache off of someone's lip?
Does it make a difference if it is for aesthetic appeal or some other reason?
Could this be considered chukat ...
- 143
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is numerology an acceptable Jewish practice?
Is numerology an acceptable Jewish practice, and if so how does one differentiate between it and non-Jewish forms?
According to Wikipedia
Numerology is any belief in the divine or mystical ...
- 444
2
votes
2
answers
297
views
Is it permitted to daven five times a day every day?
Inspired by this comment.
One is allowed to daven more than three times a day, at least during the week (see OC 107). Is one allowed to daven specifically five times a day, with the intention that ...
- 34.7k
7
votes
2
answers
534
views
What is the source for carrying candles down at a wedding?
I know that there are many explanations as to why many Jews have this custom (to commemorate the fire at har sinai, etc.), but where is the original source? Where originally did it come from?
I have ...
- 2,682
1
vote
3
answers
176
views
Why are we allowed to lean at the Passover Seder?
This M.Y. question shows a picture taken from a Roman feast where people lean during their meal. The question states that the way people should lean during the Passover Seder should be similar to what ...
- 71.5k
-2
votes
1
answer
221
views
Purim carnavalistic costumes
On Purim when looking around I see children and even adults wearing superhero, disney and other fantasy clothing, on the other side I see all kind of costumes but often not related to the Jewish ...
- 7,596
2
votes
0
answers
1k
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Practice of avoiding saying "A Freilichin Chanukah"
A Skvere chosid told me today that his minhag and the minhag of other chassidim is not to wish anyone "A Freilichin Chanukah" because they understand it as a copy of the "Merry Christmas" greeting and ...
- 5,147
3
votes
1
answer
356
views
Chukos Ha'goyim at a wedding ceremony
Are there any practices that accompany weddings (and the whole engagement/marriage process) that one has to be careful to avoid because of the prohibition of following in the ways of the non-Jews (...
- 5,147
3
votes
0
answers
119
views
Is there a teshuva which speaks about whether Jean pants are Chok Akum? [duplicate]
I was told by someone that there is a Teshuva by the Seridei Eish where there is a discussion of weather wearing denim jeans falls under the category of Chok Akum.
My question:
1) Does this Teshuva ...
- 4,297
4
votes
5
answers
1k
views
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?
4
votes
2
answers
2k
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Is one allowed to visit a temple or place of worship of a religion no longer in existence?
There seems to be an issue with visiting a house of worship or temple or possibly a cemetery of other religions. Where does that come from and what are the parameters of any interdiction?
Assuming ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
244
views
Source that prohibits raising hands during davening
I recall once reading somewhere that perhaps the Zohar, or Ari"zl state that one should not raise one's hands (or wave them around) whilst praying (as it is darchei emori, or some such prohibition). ...
- 2,682
3
votes
0
answers
168
views
Permissibilty of Chanuka bushes, dreidels, gelt, and Chanuka presents
Maimonides codifies the biblical prohibition of keeping gentile customs (Laws of Idolatry 11:1):
אין הולכין בחקות העובדי כוכבים ולא מדמין להן לא במלבוש ולא בשער וכיוצא בהן שנאמר ולא תלכו בחקות ...
- 17.9k
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are Jews allowed to wish each other "Happy Thanksgiving"?
Is there any issue with Jews wishing each other "Happy Thanksgiving" or "Happy Turkey Day"?
- 13.3k
1
vote
1
answer
888
views
What do our Rabbis say about wearing a poppy in the button-hole on Armistice Day?
The British Legion appeals for funds (called the Poppy Appeal) around Armistice Day (11 November) each year. People donate to the activities of the Legion and are given a paper/plastic poppy to wear.
...
- 48.7k
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is a birthday cake celebration forbidden as a non-Jewish custom?
From what I understand the custom to celebrate a birthday with a cake adorned with candles that makes a wish on and blows out stems from a Greek ritual. As such I would like to know if any halachic ...
- 15.3k
11
votes
1
answer
416
views
Aesthetics and chukoseihem
In general, there is a prohibition to adopt practices from other cultures (See, e.g., Maimonides' Laws of Idolatry 11; see also here) if there is no clear, reasonable, non-idolatrous justification for ...
- 17.9k
0
votes
0
answers
78
views
Is going on a pre-marriage 'stag' problematic
Assuming that the activities and setting (etc.) are considered kosher, is there a problem of 'not going in their ways' (or other related issue) by attending a stag party for a man who is getting ...
- 10.5k
4
votes
2
answers
474
views
New Year Eve Fireworks
Is one allowed to go out watching the fireworks in the new year of the common era, is there any reason, why it could be forbidden?!
- 1,190
6
votes
1
answer
268
views
Chanukah Bushes?
Every year, I hear people (typically heterodox or jokers) talking about "Chanukah bushes" (likely a parallel to Christmas trees). Now, beyond the obvious of this not being a traditional practice, ...
- 13.3k
12
votes
1
answer
285
views
Is there a problem 'wearing' a virtual Saint Lucia hat?
Is there any prohibition, perhaps related to lo teileichu b'hukat hagoyim, in "wearing" a virtual hat which celebrates Saint Lucia day?
Related
user6641
3
votes
1
answer
589
views
Jewish dervishes and "Darkeihem"
This photo shows a pair of Jewish dervishes. It has been going around the Jewish-oriented pages of the internet and social media lately, and it got me wondering: would this be a problem of following ...
- 41.9k
4
votes
2
answers
401
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?
- 89
11
votes
1
answer
873
views
Opening an umbrella indoors
Is there anything wrong with opening up an umbrella indoors according to Jewish tradition?
I have met many people who view it as bad luck or possibly rude.
On the other hand we are commanded not to ...
- 5,540
5
votes
4
answers
956
views
Jeans as Hukot HaGoyim
Hukot HaGoyim in this case is something done specifically by gentiles and therefore it would be prohibited (see S"A Yoreh Deah 178). So my question is, would jeans fall under this category?
- 16.8k
36
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Birthdays in Judaism
Is there any significance in Judaism attached to the day someone was born (aside for the 13th year)? Is there anything wrong with celebrating one's birthday? And is it more correct to celebrate the "...
- 38.8k
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
Is there a problem of "chukat goyim" with the bride having "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" at her wedding?
- 136k
14
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What makes something "chukat goyim?"
One of the most famous examples I have heard is that one should not even tie one's shoes like the non-Jews do in times of persecution. That seems rather excessive. What if the Jews started doing some ...
- 8,944