Ask the Rabbi - Customs and Practices
Joining Christian ceremonies
Q: Can a Noahide participate in church or other Christian ceremonies such as a wedding or a traditional holiday gathering?
Q: How should a Noahide behave when he is invited for a wedding ceremony in church? Should he stay outside? Being present in a church during a mass leads to the impression that a person is in some way worshipping Jesus. But on the other hand it is not good to make the bride and groom unhappy. A: Staying in a church is forbidden to a Jew but not forbidden to a Noahide, especially if it causes sorrow to any person.
Q: And how does should a Noahide behave at a work place or at school during traditional meetings before Christmas or Easter? At such meetings usually there is a priest and some prayers. Of course attendance isn’t obligatory but managers (bosses) usually aren’t pleased when an employee isn’t integrating with others. A: You are allowed to stay there if you don’t do any act of worshipping. Why not propose a Noahide alternative?
Q: What about family meetings during Christmas and Easter? Can a Noahide eat food that was blessed in church and have Catholic symbolism? Again it
leads to the impression that a person is in some way worshipping Jesus but on the other way it is no good to sadden parents, to make them angry etc. A: If eating this food is a part of a religious behavior, you cannot eat it. You must find a way of making your family happy, for example by proposing your help in preparing the food etc.