Hands of Peace? (Need Jewish answer please)?

Question

I am taking part in a program called Hands of Peace. For two weeks American, Israeli, and Palestinian Xtians Muslims and Jews have dialogue sessions, team-building courses, all sorts of different things to give us all a different perspective on the conflict. Part of this peace-fostering type project is attending worship services on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for each of the three religions. As you know, according to law we are not to enter most religious dwellings of other religions. I think a mosque is okay, because it doesn't have statues and there is no J*sus or anything like that.

But according to halacha, isn't it a form of avodah zara to enter a Xtian church? I was reading up on some laws and I gathered that it is illegal to enter the place of worship, but it is okay to stand in the back part of the building where services are not held.

I am observant and will be one of the few Jews (apart from the Israelis) on the program. I do not want to go into the church at all but I do not want to seem like I am not accepting of the beliefs of the Xtians--the whole program is about learning and peace. It seems hypocritical to me to be able to enter the synagogue, and the mosque, and to invite the Xtians into my synagogue, but when they invite me into their church it seems rude not to go.

However, violating halacha and avodah zara is not an option for me whatsoever. Does anyone have any resolutions or ideas or opinions on this?

Answer 1

I am not frum, so take this with a grain of salt...

as you said, a mosque is ok because there is no idol worship and the prayers are all in accordance to what we are allowed to hear

but a church is a completely separate issue...

from what I have been reading it IS a form of avodah zara...

the idols, the crucifixes, the prayers that invoke the false god or direct prayers to him...all of this must be avoided and yet to tell them that what they practice and believe is wrong will offend at the very least...

this is a very difficult situation you have gotten yourself into, but the point of the whole thing is to create bridges of understanding, correct?

so maybe you can, with the help of a rabbi, open a discussion prior to the church service about exactly what it is Jews believe in concerning halacha in regards to avodah zara and why we think Christianity and churches are an issue and why you cannot morally go to services.

there are so many misunderstandings about what Jews believe, this could be a real opportunity to relay the Orthodox perspective

and too, the Muslim students might also have been struggling with this very issue and might appreciate your own battle to not offend and yet still remain true to your beliefs

let us know how it goes!

I will be thinking of you and hoping you find the way to handle this with the least amount of offense given

Answer 2

Based on discussions with rabbis, I have gotten the impression that entering the place of worship for another religion is forbidden, but only if there are symbols or pictures of idols or holy symbols. For this reason, mosques are acceptable to enter because they do are not decorated with such images. However, most churches are. If the symbols could be covered with something like blankets or tablecloths, you could enter, but I doubt that anyone would actually do that. You could attend an outdoor service, but that may be to difficult to organize, especially if it rains.

Here are the ideas that make the most sense to me:

1. Have each religion hold its services in an unaffiliated chapel. These buildings are places of worship used by different faiths at different times. They can be found on just about every college campus in the country.

2. Hold services in a non-religious building. Find a local auditorium and bring in lots of bibles, torahs, etc.

3. Just go to the Church. Let's face it, attempting to achieve world peace and understanding throughout various cultures is more important than a minor technicality about entering a Church. I understand that you don't want to sin, but you are focused on a minor detail. This Hands of Peace program has the power to prevent people from becoming intolerant and extremist, thereby preventing violence between religious groups. Hindering Hands of Peace from doing what it does could lead to bigger problems than walking into a decorated building. In short, participating in the Christian service would be a lesser evil than making a fuss about doing so.

Just remember that whatever you do regarding the Christian service, you should do for all 3 of the services. It would not be fair if you attended the Muslim service but refused to go to the Christian one.

Answer 3

This is a difficult question, and I certainly suggest you discuss this with your LOR. Having said that, given the nature of the program you're on an argument might be made in favor of shalom bayit, not just for the group you're with but for the greater community as a whole. This might override avodah zara but I'm not sure. Some of the answer might also depend upon where you are standing with respect to the Xtians as they are praying.

Yes, Ivri_Anokhi--I know what shalom bayit means--poor choice of terms. I was trying to get across the actions of someone like Hillel, "be of the disciples of Aaron, seeking peace and pursuing it." That would have been a more appropriate phrase. I still think you should go in.

Answer 4

I would ask my Rabbi.
Different Jewish movements may have different views regarding entering churches. I wouldn't say that by entering a place that worship Jesus you violate any law, but I guess it is a matter of personal belief.
The best thing you can do is ask someone of your close religious circle about it.

Anyway, Hands of Peace is a great program. Two of my friends (Israelis) attended it two years ago and enjoyed the experience very much. They still have some Muslim and Christian friends.

Answer 5

You ask a very good question. Personally, I think you should do it. I don't think you should be adamantly walking about the church, but I think you should at least go and watch. To be honest, I've never seen how Christians pray, aside from in the movies and I think every Jew should see how others do it.

It could be a chillul HaShem, yes, but on the other hand, all the other people and Jews there know why *you're* there. Its to make the world a better place, isn't it?

Do you think by refusing to enter it really fulfills that purpose? I think, even moreso, that refusing to enter the chruch is a bigger chillul HaShem, because it'll seem like you're saying "Oh, I'm so Jewish I can't enter the Church, its against my personal beliefs." It'll seem that you think because you're Jewish (and frum) that you're better than they are and you can't go in the Chruch.

Under any other circumstances, I'd say to avoid going in there. But for this, when the main purpose is specifically understanding other religions and theological views, I'd say its a good thing to do this. However, I'm going to double-check with my Rav and see what he says.

Answer 6

Let me tell you what any normal rabbi would tell you (please trust me-I go to a yeshiva, and have been going to one since I was born): You should definitely go into the church. Why? Because it says that THE worst thing a Jew could do is make a bad impression on Hashem (chillul Hashem) as a Jew. By not agreeing to go in there, you're not exactly making a bad impression, but you may cause the Christians and others to have bad thoughts about us Jews, thinking "we want to make peace, and they don't agree to go into our worshipping place?!" or something like that.

Besides, you know you're not going to actually worship anything in there-that's not at all the reason why you're there. You're there to learn and to make peace, so, being that you have a completely different reason for going in there, it should be fine.

Go ask a rabbi if you want. When are yall leaving? Some days of the week (Sundays, usually) there are rabbis available online on http://askmoses.com\ where you can chat live, or they'll just send you an email with your answer or something.

Try it out. Behatzlacha במצלחה! Have fun! Shavuah tov!

Oh yea, PS: If you want to argue/talk about it, I could even ask my rabbi's opinion on it, and you could IM me or contact me-I'm free from about 7:00-8:30 pm on IM.

Answer 7

maximum Jews do no longer believe that Jesus is their Messiah except they're a Jewish convert, i.e. Messianic Jew. so as that ought to correctly be why they don't adhere to the hot testomony (or New Covenant that Jesus favourite even as He walked on earth) those that (as a lot as this aspect) have nevertheless no longer everyday Jesus as their Messiah are nevertheless waiting for the Messiah to come back. Israel as a rustic is considered God's chosen human beings, both nationally and spiritually. Nationally, because the Jewish everybody is the persons God chosen to have his Son Jesus (The Savior) descend from. all the provides you that he gave to Abraham belong to them too. even as Jesus (their promised Savior) got here, a lot of them rejected Him because He wasn't what the anticipated. They were looking ahead to a potent Warrier, no longer a Peacefull Servant. On a non secular aspect it really is applicable to them because God became first printed to the Jews then the Gentiles (non-Jews). some thing of the international (or the Gentiles) received the invitation after Christ died and rose back. We who're no longer Jewish yet are Christians are "ingrafted" into the Vine (Christ) Romans 11:17 The Jew's who had real faith in God were already area of the vine. Now we because the Gentile believers have the invitation prolonged to us to hitch that Vine. desire it really isn't any longer too complicated. it should be complicated. also, pray that the Lord ought to offer you revalation in this. each and every each and every now and then in hassle-free words God can help you recognize the ???'s of the Bible :-)

Answer 8

tough question...

If it was simply going into a Church then I would say its not a big problem IE to see the architecture.

but you are specifically going to the worship service which is different...

one could argue that by not going you might be creating a hillul HaShem in front your group, but on the other hand your right about going into a place that could be considered a house of Avoda Zorah.

This is way to complicated for me....

If you want I can ask someone who is more knowledgeable, but I would suggest you ask a Halachic authority you trust.

Answer 9

Stay away from it.

You must not violate halakha, and certainly not to participate in an assimilation-promoting activity.

In any event, the person to ask is your LOR, and not Yahoo Answers people.

A few comments. The fellow who mentioned shalom bayit should learn what the term means. The fellow who has been going to yeshiva since he was born should ask his rosh yeshiva and then edit his answer here accordingly. I have no doubt that the RY would not agree with his pupil on this issue.


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Answer 10

Let's put it this way:
You have a very good friend who just died. Service is at his/her church. Would you go in or not at all??

Yes, you can go in and stay in the back.. You do not have to follow anyone. Just stand or seat there (in the last row) and no one will notice.
and btw, will be good experience for you. You can visit christians churches in Israel, no what the big deal.
all Simcha's to you