📖 Daily Rambam (1) Hilchos Avodat Kochavim –Chapter 10: Covenants, Residence, and Social Relations with Idolaters (Friday, 2nd Nissan)

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Chapter 10: Covenants, Residence, and Social Relations with Idolaters

Halachah 1 — No Covenant or Mercy Toward Idolaters

  • It is forbidden to make a covenant with idolaters that allows them to continue idol worship.
  • hey must renounce idolatry or be opposed.
  • One may not show mercy by saving an idolater whose life is in danger, though one may not actively harm him.
  • In contrast, it is a mitzvah to eradicate Jewish traitors, heretics (minnim), and apostates (apikorsim) who actively lead Jews away from God.

 

Halachah 2 — Medical Treatment of Idolaters

  • It is forbidden to provide medical treatment to idolaters, even for payment.
  • If refusal may lead to danger or hostility, treatment may be given for remuneration, but not free of charge.
  • A ger toshav may be treated free of charge, as we are commanded to sustain him.

 

Halachah 3 — Selling and Renting Land

  • It is forbidden to sell homes or fields to idolaters in Eretz Yisrael.
  • In Syria, homes may be sold but not fields.
  • Homes may be rented in Eretz Yisrael only if this does not establish a gentile neighborhood; fields may not be rented.
  • In the Diaspora, selling land is permitted.

 

Halachah 4 — Dwelling, Produce, Favor, and Gifts

  • Even where renting homes is permitted, they may not be rented for residential use, lest idols be brought inside; storage use is permitted.
  • Produce attached to the ground may not be sold to idolaters.
  • The prohibition of “do not be gracious to them” also forbids:
  • praising idolaters,
  • showing them favor,
  • giving them gifts.
  • Gifts may be given to a ger toshav.

 

Halachah 5 — Conduct for the Sake of Peace

  • Poor gentiles are supported together with poor Jews for the sake of peace.
  • Gentiles may collect leket, shich’chah, and pe’ah without protest.
  • One may inquire about their welfare—even on their festivals—for peace, but may not offer blessings or visit them on their festivals.

 

Halachah 6 — When These Laws Apply

  • These laws apply when Jews live in exile or under gentile rule.
  • When Jews are sovereign, idolaters may not reside or even pass through the land unless they accept the Seven Noahide Laws, thereby becoming a ger toshav.

A ger toshav may be accepted only when the Jubilee (Yovel) is observed; otherwise, only

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.