Avodah Zarah Archives

It is Minhag Haolam, and unfortunately became a custom among Yidden too L’havdil, to make various pranks on the Secular calendar day today, under the name “April Fools”. is there any Heter to do such a thing? Is this clear out Gneivas Daas? an example, people would say something like “guess what? I won a raffle and I’m going to Eretz Yisroel next week. I have one free ticket. do you want to join?”

It is definitely not Mentshlich and not fit for a Yerai Shomayim to engage in such activities. There may be an exception if the intent is just to make…

I am trying to start business selling Sheitels. Does it require a Hechsher, because of Indian/Avoda Zara hair used? If yes, is there a reliable Hechsher on it?

Most Rabbonim have long ago settled the matter and determined that it is a non-issue. There are some anti-Sheitel zealots* who have jumped on the bandwagon to make another…

Is it permissible to make a Chabad house/Jewish event in a hall that is run by the town called De La Salle Chapel? It looks like that in the early 1900 it was owned by a Catholic school. but no one really connects it to that.

The word "chapel" by definition is a place of christian worship, albeit sometimes in a more private setting that belongs to a parish in a town. Occasionally, it may…

There is a women’s group who do yoga. It is an exercise/workout class with an instructor, and may not be Jewish. A friend mentioned that yoga may be an issue regarding Avodah Zara. Is there a problem to attend?

It is a problem to attend. The Rebbe writes: Inasmuch as the Torah and Mitzvot were given to all the Jews, and to each one individually, for all times and in…

I grew up knowing that there was a Jewish Hamsa and the hand of Fatima, the Arabic Hamsa. My grandmother who lived in North Africa was very adamant not to let the hand of Fatima in our house. The later has 2 thumbs but the Jewish Hamsa has only one thumb. Are there any sources for this? Today all one can find and sees everywhere is the hand with 2 thumbs.

While there are some traditional Jewish sources mentioning the Hamsa, none make the distinction that you have mentioned. Indeed, there are available ancient Jewish Hamsas which have two symmetrical…

Is one allowed to buy and own the little dancing Rabbis and people as art to collect them? I’m referring to the 3D Menshilach they sell in the stores.

If the purpose is not to play with it so that it rolls on the floor, but rather to keep in a display showcase closet, or similarly in a respectful manner,…

When I Shecht for Muslims some of them request that I say “bismila a-rahim a-rhaman” which roughly translates as “in the name of the most merciful G-d”. Am I allowed to do this or is it forbidden because of Chukas Hagoyim?

It should not be done, in absence of extenuating circumstances, approved by a Rov. Sources: ראה שו"ע יו"ד סי' ד' סעי' ז', פר"ח סי' י"ט ס"ק ו', ותבואות שור…

Is one allowed to participate in a Secret S-nta game? There is one happening at my place of work, and it will be very uncomfortable to be the only person not participating.

The Remo and Shach (very end of YD 148) discuss sending presents to a gentile on a religious holiday, and they rule (based on Terumas Hadeshen 195) that there is…

May I use paintings that depict stories of the Torah that were painted by Christians and are used to teach the “old testament”?

Obviously only pics that would be inline with our understanding of the Torah. There would also be no link to the original source of the images. Please see this link…

Someone got possession of a church’s furniture, and donated the tables and chairs to a Shul. The Shul does not know where it came from. Someone who knows the source of the furniture is asking if it’s OK for the Shul to use it, or does he have to tell them where it’s from?

There is no need to notify the Shul. Sources: ראה פמ״ג קנד במ״ז סק״ח שהביא דברי המג״א קנג, טו שספסלים הם בגדר תשמיש קדושה. ועכ״ז כת״ש שעשה מעשה להיתר…