Rabbi Yosef Kushner Question: In cases where it would be forbidden to rent to a house of avodah zara, would it be permitted to purchase a multiunit property that already has an existing church?    Answer:  If the church is…

Rabbi Yosef Kushner Question: I have a building and I’m looking for a tenant. A church contacted me and wants to rent it. Am I allowed to rent to them?  Answer:  While it is forbidden to derive any benefit from…

Rav Yosef Kushner   Question: We said that it is forbidden to enter a house of avodah zara. What about a house of “meenus”, heresy, such as a Conservative temple?  Answer:  The word “meenus” is used to refer to a…

Rabbi Yosef Kushner Question:  A Jew who purchases a building that contains a church may not enter the church. Is he allowed to send his worker to enter the church in his stead?  Answer: If the worker is Jewish, he…

Rabbi Yosef Kushner   Question: We all know that a Jew shouldn’t enter a house of avodah zara. But what if he is going in for reason unrelated to religion, such as to meet someone there? Is that also prohibited? …

Rav Yosef Kushner Question: Is there a general approach a Jewish person should have about doing business with houses of avodah zara?  Answer: There is a common phrase used by many Poskim – including the Shach, Taz and Rav Moshe…

Rabbi Yosef Kushner   Question :  How would we define what constitutes avodah zara today? Answer: To give a broad definition: Avodah zara means any religious worship to any deity other than Hashem. In today’s times, this generally refers to Christianity. …