Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Yoreh Deah/139

Laws of Idol Worship

Laws regarding idols, their nullification, their servants, and their utensils

Containing fifteen Seif:

An idol is prohibited for benefit, its use, its adornment, and its offerings, whether from a gentile or from a Jew. However, that of a gentile is immediately prohibited, while that of a Jew is not prohibited until it is worked and its use and adornment, whether from a gentile or from a Jew, are not prohibited until they are used, and its offering, when brought before it and made into an offering, is prohibited (a Jew who bows to it and worships it, the idol is prohibited) (Glosses of Ashiri, chapter of Rabbi Yochanan and Rambam, chapter 8 of the laws of idol worship, law 3, and Talmud, chapter of all the idols, page 43, end of the first side, and chapter of Rabbi Ishmael, page 53, second side).

An idol of a Jew has no nullification, but that of a gentile and its use and adornment can be nullified, and its offering has no nullification.

What is considered adornment and what is considered an offering? For example, if one lights candles before it or spreads fine garments and beautiful utensils before it for adornment, and any offering that is brought upon the altar, like all kinds of food such as meat, oils, flour, water, and salt, if placed before it for the sake of an offering, is immediately prohibited. However, something that is not offered inside is not prohibited unless it is made into a form of slaughter or a form of sprinkling that is customary for its worship, even if it is not the customary way to worship in this matter. For example, an idol that is worshipped by shaking a stick before it, and if one breaks a stick before it, it is prohibited because breaking the stick is similar to slaughter. But if they do not worship it with a stick at all and one breaks a stick before it, they are not liable and it is not prohibited. If they worship it by shaking the stick, and that is its way of worship, they are liable and it is not prohibited. Similarly, in any matter that they worship it in its customary way, whether it is in a manner of honor or in a manner of disgrace, and it is not like the inside, they are liable and it is not prohibited. But if they did not worship it with a stick in its customary way but threw it before it, they are not liable and it is not prohibited.

If one slaughters a grasshopper before it, it is prohibited even if there is no customary way to worship with a grasshopper at all.

Anything that is similar to it that is offered inside, if found before idols or found inside the partition spread before it, is prohibited, for we assume that it was brought there for the sake of an offering. Even water and salt, which are not in a manner of honor, and anything found outside the partition, if it is in a manner of honor, is prohibited due to adornment, and if not, it is permitted. And regarding Peor and Merkolis (the meaning of idols whose worship was the throwing of stones, and Kolis is its name, and it was called Merkolis as a term of disgrace, meaning a substitute for praise, for so "mer" means substitute), everything found with them, even in a manner of disgrace outside, is all prohibited.

What is seen being brought into the idols of a gentile and has not yet entered is permitted, for it has not yet become an offering.

If one finds coins, garments, and utensils on its head, if they are found in a manner of honor, they are prohibited, but if they are in a manner of disgrace, such as a pouch hanging from its neck or a garment folded on its shoulder, and a covered utensil on its head, they are permitted.

Here is the translation of the text to English:

The offerings given to the priests (of hers) are permitted, as they are not sacrificed to idols but are designated for the priests.

Candles made of wax that are lit for their beauty are prohibited, but if they are sold or given to a Jew, they are permitted, since the intention was for personal use, which nullifies their status.

Pieces of wax given for beauty are permitted, as they are not for beauty (themselves) and do not require nullification.

The garments worn by the priests when entering the house of idols are for their beauty and not for the beauty of the idols, and they do not require nullification, although some say that nullification is necessary. (Mordechai, chapter of Rabbi Yitzhak in the name of Rabbi Meir) (However, what they wear for the actual service of idols is considered beauty and requires nullification) (in the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol and in the glosses of Maimonides, chapter 7, and in Mordechai, chapter of Rabbi Yitzhak).

Utensils held in hand and the pan used for incense are their service and require nullification, and if they are sold to an idolater or given to a Jew, that is their nullification, although some say that this is not their nullification.

Candles and wax of idolaters are prohibited for the Sabbath and Hanukkah candles and for the synagogue, and likewise, the ornaments of the priests (such as the cloaks worn by the priests) should not be used to make prayer shawls or any other items of commandment, as they are considered repulsive. (See Orach Chaim, section 154).

A Jew should not write on the books of idolaters unless he erases them so that their markings are not noticeable, and some say that even so, he should not write on them words of prayers and supplications, as a prosecutor cannot become a defender.

Books of idolaters in the hands of a Jew: some say there is no prohibition to sell them.

Rema: And some say it is forbidden to sell them to any idolater if they are books related to their idol worship (Beit Yosef in the name of the Sefarim, Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, and Tosafot, chapter 1 of Avodah Zarah, page 14, and the Rambam and the Kol Bo). And some say it is only forbidden to sell to priests but not to other idolaters (Piskei Maharai, section 27). And one who is stringent will be blessed, and even to sell them cards and ink to write religious books, there are those who are stringent to prohibit them (Glosses of Ashiri, chapter 1 of Avodah Zarah and Piskei Maharai, section 112).

And some say it is forbidden to lend for the purpose of building a house of idols of idolaters or for their ornaments or their service, and certainly to sell them utensils such as pans, and one who refrains from this will succeed. And it is not permitted to bind books of idolaters except for the books of judges and scribes, and if there is concern for animosity, anything that can be avoided should be avoided. (See below, section 151).