Judaism
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- See also [Jews]].
Contents
Avoda Zara, Christians
Christians, Generally
- Giving gifts to non-Jews is forbidden, because you aren't supposed to help them.
One is forbidden to give a free gift to a non-Jew.[1] Some explain that this by all non-Jews except for a ger toshav.[2] Others explain that this only applies to idolaters[3] Others explain that this only applied to the seven nations that inhabited the land of Israel in the days of Yehoshua.[4] The prohibition is not about the act of giving, but the non-Jew benefiting. Therefore, it only applies if the non-Jew receives the benefit.[5] One is permitted to accept a gift from a non-Jew.[6] Some prohibit one from donating blood in a country that is mostly non-Jews.[7] Nowadays many permit donating blood.[8] Exceptions If you have a relationship with the non-Jew and may receive something in return, one is permitted to give gifts.[9] It is permitted to give a gift for an ulterior motive.[10] If you are giving a gift in order to maintain a peaceful environment, it is permissible.[11] Therefore, one may[12]: Give charity to a non-Jew. Visit a non-Jew who is ill. Bury and eulogize non-Jew. Comfort a non-Jewish mourner. One may tip a taxi driver, even though you’ll never see him again.[13] Some allow giving a gift if it is out of compassion for a non-Jew struggling.[14]
- "Why-Do-We-Not-Count-Jews," ::" What happened there was that prior to beginning the prayer service, they did a final count to make sure all ten people were in the room.
I imagine he was counting to ten by using Psalms 28:9, which is comprised of exactly ten words.1 Typically, one person recites the verse word by word while pointing at each person in the quorum. When he reaches the last word, everyone knows that there are ten people in the room, and prayers can begin. This stems from an ancient tradition not to count Jews with numbers.
When the Jews escaped from Egypt and began their journey through the desert to the Land of Israel, G‑d requested that a census be carried out. However the actual counting of the Jews was not done in the conventional way. G‑d commanded each person to give a half of the ancient shekel coin in a nationwide collection, following which Moses would count the coins and know how many Jews there were. In Exodus 30:11–13 we read: “And G‑d spoke to Moses, saying: When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to G‑d an atonement for his soul when they are counted, then there will be no plague among them when they are counted. This they shall give, everyone who passes through the counting, half a shekel [coin] . . .”"
- midrash: Intelligent, well written on avonya zaih from the talmud. ramnban stuff. gentile duty
Animosity towards Christians
- See "Uncensored: Recovering Anti-Christian Animosity in Contemporary Rabbinic Literature," Karma Ben Johanan, Harvard Theological Review , Volume 114 , Issue 3 , July 2021 , pp. 393 - 416.
Christmas
- Avodah Zarah, the relevant passage.
- Haaretz newspaper (2012):
Some rebbes used to mark the Gentile holiday by ripping up toilet paper for every Shabbat for the rest of the year. This was not just a simple show of contempt for those who believe in the Holy Trinity – it was a serious show of contempt. The books of the kabbalah treat Christianity as waste detached from the nation of Israel. The custom of ripping toilet paper has only dwindled because now it's possible to buy it pre-ripped.
Constructing and Keeping Idols In addition to the prohibition of worshipping an idol, the Torah prohibits one from even constructing an idol[1] even if one will not worship it himself[2] as a means of distancing us from performing idolatry.[3] Whether one receives Malkot for doing so is subject to debate.[4] It is similarly prohibited to construct an idol for someone else, whether it be a Jew or non-Jew who’s instructing it be made.[5] One may not even instruct another person to construct an idol for, and it even entails a punishment of Malkot.[6]
T herefore, one who constructs an idol for himself receives twice Malkot.[7]
All of these Issurim apply to all human beings, Jews and Non-Jews, regardless of gender.[8] If one finds an object that might be an idol (a “Tzelem,” which might be a “Pesel” / Avodah Zarah), if it is commonly worshipped in that area, he may not keep it. The status of the cross is debated in this contex.[9]
- Halichpiea says:
Benefitting from Avoda Zara It is forbidden to look at a beautiful Avoda Zara or even artwork or decorations of Avoda Zara.[8] Religious artwork which is not meant to decorate an avoda zara and is not served is not forbidden from benefit and can be looked at.[9] It is forbidden to listen to musical instruments that are used to play for religious Avoda Zara services[10] or even people singing songs in honors of avoda zara.[11] It is permitted to walk in a place that one might see artwork for the avoda zara or hear songs for the avoda zara as long as one doesn't intend to benefit.[12] It is forbidden to play music in front of avoda zara even if one is hired and paid for it.[13] It is forbidden to sit in the shade of avoda zara. If one is walking without intending to benefit from the shade it is permissible to pass by in the shade.[14] It is forbidden to look at icons of avoda zara.[15] It is forbidden to look at and benefit from anything artistic or decorative that is meant to beatify avoda zara. If a person is passing by such art or decorations and one does not intend to look to benefit from it he may pass that way.[16] Some say that he needs to actually close his eyes while walking there.[17]
- Halchipedia says,
The Rambam (Avoda Zara 9:4) considers Christianity to be avoda zara. There is a large discussion within the opinion of Tosfot (Sanhedrin 63b s.v. asur) whether Christianity is considered avoda zara for non-Jews considering that they believe in the Trinity, which is a slight deviation from narrow monotheism. The opinion of Tosfot is cited by Rama OC 156. Pitchei Teshuva Y.D. 147:2 cites the Nodeh BeYehuda YD 148 who writes that the opinion of Tosfot is that Christianity is avoda zara just not for the purposes of swearing by the name of a pagan God. Rav Soloveitchik (Nefesh HaRav p. 230) quoted Rav Chaim as supporting the approach of the Nodeh BeYehuda.
- The Rambam (Maachalot Asurot 11:7) considers Islam not to be avoda zara. Ritva Pesachim 25b s.v. vktav od disagrees and holds Islam is avoda zara. Radvaz 4:92 holds that even according to the Rambam one still would need to give up one's life before submitting to the beliefs of Islam and following all of their ways.
- Avoda Zara itself says,
MISHNA: And these are the festivals of gentiles: Kalenda, Saturnalia, and Kratesis, and the day of the festival of their kings, and the birthday of the king, and the anniversary of the day of the death of the king. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. And the Rabbis say: Every death that includes public burning is a festival that includes idol worship, and any death that does not include public burning is not a festival that includes idol worship. But in the case of the day of shaving his, i.e… Avodah Zarah 8a:5
- Mosiac (2024):
Kratsmikh (the kh is sounded like the ch in “Bach”) is a jocular pun, although one whose overtones are not entirely pleasant, on “Christmas” and Yiddish krats mikh, “scratch me.” It’s an expression that is clearly native to the Yiddish of America, since the pun only works with the English word “Christmas,” and the rationale for it is not jocular at all. Indeed, it’s very much the same rationale as that given for the many prohibitions in Avodah Zarah, namely, that by taking part in an aspect of Gentile religion—in this case, calling Jesus “Christ,” a word that comes from Greek khristos, “anointed one,” a literal translation of Hebrew mashiah, “Messiah”—one is committing, however unwittingly, an act of idolatry.
In these days when the Gentiles are celebrating their holiday [of Christmas], a Jew is strictly warned against calling it by its name. Rather, it is customary to refer to it pejoratively as Kratsmikh. There are those who hold that this is a madly narrow-minded practice on the part of hyper-religious fanatics. “That’s not at all how I use the word when I converse with a Gentile and wish him a Merry ——,” thinks your “enlightened” individual. But the Shulhan Arukh [the authoritative codification of Jewish law] explicitly rules that one must not utter an idolatrous word in the name of a Gentile holiday, which should be referred to by a jesting alternative. “Kratsmikh” is not some hasidic or extremist invention. It’s a cut-and-dried halakhic practice mandated by rabbinic tradition.