Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Beware of Dog

July 10, 2025

Q A pet-shop owner made a donation to our shul. May we use the money?

A The Torah says, “You shall not bring a harlot’s fee (esnan zonah) or the price of a dog (mechir kelev) to the house of Hashem, your G-d” (Dvarim 23:19). These items may not be offered as a korban in the Bais Hamikdash, nor may they be used in its structure (Rambam Hil. Isurei Mizbeiach 4:18).

If your donor sells dogs, payments he received for them are mechir kelev and unfit for use in the Bais Hamikdash. The deOreisa prohibition is limited to korbanos and does not include other sacred uses. However, the Rama (O.C. 153:21), citing Rabeinu Yerucham, says that mideRabanan, mechir kelev may not be used for any mitzvah purpose, including parchment and accessories for a sefer Torah, and even construction materials for a shul (Mishnah Brurah ibid. 107-108).

But the prohibition on esnan and mechir applies only to the actual object that was exchanged. If what was traded was money, it may be used to purchase mitzvah items, even a korban (Rama ibid.). Therefore, there is no problem accepting mechir kelev money and using it for the shul. (There would only be a problem if someone bartered something for a dog; that item would be unfit for mitzvah use.)

An interesting application of this is where partners in a pet shop terminate the partnership and divide the merchandise. The division is considered an exchange, so if a dog is involved, merchandise traded for it is mechir kelev (Tmurah 30a). The Mishnah and Gemara (ibid.) discuss how to determine which merchandise is considered mechir kelev in that case.