Translation:Shulchan Aruch/Yoreh Deah/148

Contains twelve Seif.

Three days before the festival of idolaters, it is forbidden to buy from them or sell to them anything that endures. However, it is permitted to sell them perishable items up until the day of their festival, such as vegetables or cooked food. It is also forbidden to lend to them or borrow from them, or to repay or collect a loan from them if it is documented or secured by collateral. But an oral loan may be collected from them, since it is considered as rescuing one’s money from them. And when their power is dominant, even a documented loan is considered as rescuing. If the loan involves interest, even if secured by collateral, it is considered as rescuing.

If one transacted business with them on the day of their festival, the benefit from that transaction is forbidden. But if the transaction occurred during the three days prior to the festival, the benefit is permitted.

If the idolaters’ festival lasts several days—three, four, or ten—all those days are considered as one, and the prohibition applies to all of them, including the three days before.

This applies in the Land of Israel. But in other lands, the prohibition applies only on the day of the festival itself.

It is forbidden to send a gift to an idolater on the day of his festival, unless it is known that he does not believe in or worship idols. Likewise, if an idolater sends a gift to a Jew on his festival, the Jew should not accept it. If he fears enmity, he may accept it but should discard it in front of him into a pit or a place of destruction in an indirect manner.

A day on which idolaters gather to appoint a ruler, offer sacrifices, and praise their gods is considered one of their festivals and is treated like their other holidays.

If an idolater makes a personal festival for himself and praises his gods on the day of his birth, the day he shaves his beard or hair, the day he emerged from the sea, the day he was released from prison, or the day he made a feast for his son—such days are forbidden only for that individual and only on that specific day.

A festival is forbidden only for those who worship on that day. But idolaters who rejoice, eat, drink, or observe the day out of custom or respect for a ruler—but do not believe in it—may be engaged in business.

It is forbidden to enter the house of an idolater on his festival day or to greet him. If one meets him outside, it is permitted to greet him, but only in a subdued tone and with seriousness.

It is always forbidden to return a greeting to an idolater. Therefore, it is better to greet him first so that one does not have to return his greeting.

If idolaters are traveling far to their festival, it is forbidden to do business with them on the way there. But those returning are permitted, provided they are not traveling in a group. If they are traveling together, they may intend to return. If a Jew is traveling there, it is permitted to do business with him on the way there, but not on the way back. If the Jew is an apostate who worships idols, it is forbidden even on the way there.

Some say that all these laws apply only in earlier times. But nowadays, since idolaters are not well-versed in the nature of idolatry, it is permitted to do business with them on their festival day, to lend to them, and all other matters.

Gloss::Even if the money is given to priests, they do not use it for offerings or decorations for idols, but rather for food and drink.

Also, there is concern for enmity if we separate ourselves from them on their festival day, since we live among them and must interact with them throughout the year. Therefore, if one enters a city and finds them rejoicing on their festival, he may rejoice with them to avoid enmity, as a form of flattery (all this is from the Tur). Nevertheless, a pious person should avoid rejoicing with them if he can do so without causing enmity (Beit Yosef citing the Ran). Likewise, if one sends a gift to an idolater on their festival day, and it is known that the gift will arrive on that day, he should send it the day before if possible. If not, he may send it on the festival itself (Terumat HaDeshen §195).