From the Rav’s Desk: An electrician entering a church to fix the air conditioner

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  1. Question: [Tuesday, 22nd Iyar, 5781]

I work in the city as an electrician and was recently offered a job of being in charge of the maintenance of the air-conditioning units in a group of churches. I will often need to enter the church sanctuary in order to perform the maintenance. May I do so?

Answer:

It is forbidden to enter a church, whether the main sanctuary or any of the surrounding rooms or even the courtyard, due to the prohibition of entering a house of idolatry. Therefore, I’m sorry to inform you but you cannot take this job.

Explanation: According to all opinions it is forbidden to enter the main sanctuary of the church where the prayers take place. It is however under dispute whether one may enter the surrounding rooms and courtyard of the church in which the services do not take place in, and practically we rule that one is to be stringent like the second opinion that it is forbidden to be done.

Sources:  See Michaber and Shach Y.D. 149:1 in name of Rambam in Pirush hamishnayos that it is forbidden to enter the home of idolatry, and Shach 149:2 that possibly one must even give up his life before entering. Rama Y.D. 149:2 regarding a dispute if one may enter the courtyard; See Chaim Bayad 26; Ruach Chaim Y.D; Peri Hasadeh 2:4; Kol Yehuda 28; Darkei Teshuvah 150:2, 6; Igros Moshe Y.D. 1:69; O.C. 2:40 regarding Maras Ayin and Chashad to enter a shul without Mechitza; Yechaveh Daas 3:65; Tzitz Eliezer 14:91; Mareh Bezek 1:22; Bnei Banim 3:35

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.

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