Question:
Looking at a house currently owned by a Hindu family. There are rooms in the house that have been set up as shrines to specific idols. While the house and all of these items would be removed before the purchase, is there an issue with buying a house where it’s clear that it has been used for Avodah Zarah?
Answer:
The gentile should remove all vestiges of avoda zara before the actual purchase takes place after the you may buy the house, (although some people will not be comfortable living in a place that was used for avoda zara). THe only halachic consideration would be that the rooms that were used as shrines etc. should not be used for mitzva uses, such as making them into a bais midrash, learning room or shul. This is because we do not want use the very item that was used for aveiro for an actual mitzva.
Sources:
Y:D 139-13, O:CH 154- 11, M:B 154 -45, Biur Halacha D:H Neiros.
“THe only halachic consideration would be that the rooms that were used as shrines etc. should not be used for mitzva uses, such as making them into a bais midrash, learning room or shul…”
How do you explain that some shuls were formerly non-Jewish places of worship, which was bought from the previous owners.
If you give me some examples and the specific, I can look into it.
Leave a comment