Is there a problem to walk by, or look at, a church?

 

Question:

Is there a problem to walk by a church? Is it best to cross the street? What if crossing the street is out of your way?

Also, there is an inyan to avoid looking at a church, correct?

 

Answer:

The custom by Jews was to take detours to avoid passing in front of a church, and Jewish mothers taught their children to not even look at a cross.

(Parenthetically, the Rebbe mentioned this in regards to having a TV, and said that by having a TV one is bringing the church, priest and cross into the house R”L (see Likkutei Sichos vol. 18 pg. 460)).

In practice, we saw the Rebbe walking past the church on Brooklyn Ave without crossing over.

One may not look at a church unnecessarily.

 

 

#17958