Avodah Zarah Archives - Page 6 of 7

There is a Giyores in my community whose daughter isn’t well. Her daughter is also Giyores, but they weren’t Nisgayer together. Her daughter was Nisgayer when she was 18. Should this girl be called Bas Sarah, or use her mother’s name?

Also, for someone in the process of conversion (and someone not Jewish) how would we say the name in Tehilim? Would we use the mother's name? Also, a Giyores…

We are looking to change our school location. One of the locations in question is attached to a church and rent is paid directly to the church itself. Is this a Halachic problem?

If the money goes directly to the church, then it is not permissible, unless we know that the money is going to fund their social work and not for…

Can one buy chairs from a church?

If the money goes directly to the church, then it is not permissible, unless we know that the money is going to fund their social work and not for…

While on Mivtzoyim, a couple of non-Jews gave us money for Tzedakah. Can we treat that money like regular Tzedakah? If not, what should we do with it?

In this case, as long as they didn't give it in the name of their Avodah Zara, there is no issue. The money should be used to pay for…

Can a baby boy wear gender neutral clothing that a baby girl has worn before?

Yes. However, the very first garment after birth should not be one that the opposite gender has worn before. In today’s day and age where mothers give birth in the…

Tzivos Hashem has identical sweatshirts and caps for boys and girls. Is there a problem with this?

There is no problem with clothing which by nature are the same for men and women. Nonetheless there should be other ways to identify between man and woman when…

Is it permissible to attend an iftar feast with other Muslims in a mosque for the sake of interfaith in the community.

There are two questions here. First, if one can eat together with non Jews. Second, if it's OK for a Jew to enter a mosque. A Jew is not…

I visit a man on Mivtzoyim that may have a little warped beliefs in relation to Yoshke, do I need to be concerned to lay Tefillin with him?

Full Question: In one of the offices I visit on Mivtzoim on a weekly basis there's a gentleman that may have a little warped beliefs in relation to Yoshke,…

Riding an Uber with a cross in it, and learning Torah inside

Q. Is one allowed to ride with an Uber when a cross is dangling from the driver's mirror? A. Yes. Q. Is there a problem to daven and…

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…

May I participate in a party before a wedding of a Jewish woman who is not yet Frum, if there won’t be so much Judaism going on there, just fun party games? (the religious women are making sure everything is 100% kosher- made by us and everything is according to Halacha).

Additional Question: At the party I want the Kallah to make the Bracha on Challah dough to get her to do a Mitzvah before her wedding. A. She will…

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…

האם השיער שלמעלה מהאוזן נחשב לחלק מהפיאה? והאם מותר לספר שם עם המכונה במספר אפס (דהיינו בלי החלק מפלסטיק ששמים על המכונה שזה קובע את המספר של התספורת)?

עד המקום שאם ימשוך את האוזן יגיע אליו - נחשב חלק מהפאה, ואסור לספר שם במספר אפס, אלא בשיעור לכוף ראשו לעיקרו, והיינו - שמשאיר אורך שערה של לערך 6…

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…

Can I Say “Thank G-d”?

Question: I work in a field where I interact almost exclusively with Goyim. When a client asks me "How are your doing" is it Mutar to answer "Thank G-d"?…

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…

Are Magic Shows Permissible?

It is permissible to perform, watch, or bring out a magician (when done in a Tznius fashion) only if the magician explains to the audience that everything is slight…

Can I Shecht for Muslims?

Question: 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…

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…