Non-Jews and Other Religions Archives

14 07, 2026

Counting Visitors for Minyan Without Investigating Jewish Status

July 14th, 2026|Minyan, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Orach Chayim, Status, Tefillah|

QUESTION

In a tourist town with only one synagogue, many visitors — both Jewish and non-Jewish — may attend services. Is there an obligation to ascertain the Jewish status of visitors before counting them toward a minyan? Or does the general principle apply that, absent specific grounds for doubt, one may rely on a person’s statement that he is Jewish without investigating further?

ANSWER

The general principle applies. The fact that non-Jewish visitors also attend services does not change this. If a person says that he is Jewish, he may be counted for a minyan. Without specific grounds for doubt (leidat ha-safek) regarding

6 04, 2026

Donating Chametz to a Food Pantry before Pesach and Volunteering There on Pesach

April 6th, 2026|Non-Jews and Other Religions, Orach Chayim, Pesach|

QUESTION

One of the local Reform shuls here runs a wonderful food pantry. They partner with a local organization and mainly serve non-Jews.

Our communities are very connected, and people from our shul volunteer there and donate food items. Can people donate chametz there before Pesach? I reached out to their Rabbi, but I’m not even sure what we would require, if anything. (Meaning does the shul own the chametz?)

Also, no one has asked me this, but I was curious: Can one volunteer there over Pesach?

ANSWER

The question is, as you note, who really owns the food in the food pantry.

27 02, 2026

Hashavat Aveidah for Lost AirPods at Packed Theater

February 27th, 2026|Choshen Mishpat, Hashavat Aveidah, Non-Jews and Other Religions|

Question

A congregant went to see a show a few weeks ago, and her husband lost his AirPods there. He called the venue and left a voicemail describing the lost AirPods, and they said they had them. His brother went and picked them up. The husband got them, and they were the same make and model; however, when he opened them, he saw they were registered to someone else.

It’s not possible to figure out to whom the AirPods are registered, so they went to the

30 07, 2024

Non-Mevushal Wine Touched by a Non-Jew During the Chuppah of a Convert

July 30th, 2024|Even HaEzer, Geirut and Geirim, Kashrut, Kiddushin and Ketubah, Marriage and Family, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Status, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Israel

I conducted a wedding ceremony for a converted bride, and the wine was not mevushal (this is rare, but it happens). I forgot that her mother is a non-Jew and continued as usual, so after the birkat eirusin, I gave the groom to drink, took back the cup, and gave it to the mother of the bride and said, “Mother, please give the dear bride to drink”.

Then, after I had already handed the cup to the mother of the

25 02, 2024

Handling a Tanach Translated by a Heretic

February 25th, 2024|Non-Jews and Other Religions, Sefer Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzah, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Canada

I recently found a copy of a Hebrew-English Tanach translated by Christian David Ginsburg in a local beit midrash. How should this be handled? Should it be disposed of? If so, how so? If it were to be of historical importance to someone, could it be sold to them?

ANSWER

The starting point of this discussion is the Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 6:8) who writes that one may not burn a Torah,

28 01, 2024

Jewish Single Woman Considering Embryo Adoption: Halakhic Clarification on Child’s Jewish Status

January 28th, 2024|Birth, Even HaEzer, Family, Geirut and Geirim, Lifecycles, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Shulchan Arukh, Status, Women|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

A Jewish single woman considering embryo adoption wants to know if she needs to look for Jewish embryos, or if it will be sufficient for her to be the gestational mother to have the child be considered Jewish. My understanding is that there are differing opinions, and because so much is at stake I would like to be crystal clear on the halakha. Thank you so much.

ANSWER

This is such a major debate

Understanding One’s Personality through Zodiac Signs

5 05, 2023

Understanding One’s Personality through Zodiac Signs

May 5th, 2023|Non-Jews and Other Religions, Yoreh De'ah|

https://pixabay.com/photos/astrology-star-sign-horoscope-2792352/

QUESTION

New York

I was informed by someone that there are ways to understand one’s personality based on the zodiac signs. This involves looking at not only the astrological sign, but also the time and location of birth, as well as the position of the moon, stars, and planets. I don’t actually believe in this, but I am curious to explore it with my student who does very much believe in this.

I’m concerned about any kind of divination issurim. From my understanding, you could stop before you get to predicting the

23 04, 2023

Designing Text for a Catholic Shrine

April 23rd, 2023|Non-Jews and Other Religions, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

A member of our community works in the museum industry. Her firm was hired by a local Catholic shrine to design the accompanying text that will be placed on the railings in the Shrine of St. Jude (a chapel/room in a larger church containing a statue of St. Jude and a relic of St. Jude (a piece of his arm).

The text she would be asked to write would not be about the history of the artwork or the architecture

15 01, 2023

Refusing Delivery to Allow Delivery Driver to Keep Non-Kosher Wine

January 15th, 2023|Kashrut, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION
NEW YORK, NY

Bottles of non-kosher wine are on their way to me as a holiday present. In the past, we have accepted them, dumped the contents and recycled the bottles since I understand that I can’t give them away. Assuming that’s correct, do we have any ability to not accept the shipment and allow the UPS driver to keep it? Is it too late if it is left on our doorstep?

As clarification, assume that I’m sefardi or following the Rema’s “tov l’hachmir” (good to be strict) position, as this was an unexpected gift from a business I use.

Thank you for

9 01, 2023

Using Antique Serving Dish with Image of Hindu Deity

January 9th, 2023|Non-Jews and Other Religions, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

New York

A member of my community recently acquired an antique brass serving tray. After acquiring it, someone pointed out that the engraving appears to be a scene including a Hindu deity. Can he keep the tray? Can it be used for serving if it is covered?

Does this change at all if the actual tray in question has been used to place offerings on in the past? (It is 100 years old. At the time this would have been its use.)

ANSWER

If this is merely ornamental and not meant to be

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