“I Don’t Want to Work for a Jew”
1 min read
We have a small room dedicated as a makeshift synagogue on our college campus. However, there is a Christian who comes occasionally to use it as well. He doesn’t do any obvious Chrisian practices such as crossing himself, but he does bring a New Testament for his prayers. Is this something we should object to?
It’s fine to have a non-Jew pray in a synagogue. This was even done in the Temple itself. When King Solomon dedicated the Temple, he specifically asked that God hear the prayers of non-Jews who come to the Temple to pray (I Kings 8:41-43). Thus, as long as the visitor believes in a monotheistic religion such as Christianity or Islam – so that he’s praying to the same God as we, there is no reason to object to his prayers. (See also Shulchan Aruch O.C. 156:1.)
→ Ask the Rabbi a Question ← Click here to comment on this article
