Ask the Rabbi - Customs and Practices
Praying near a Buddha
Is it proper for me to pray in the same room where there is a Bhudda?
Q: A long time ago a buddhist man gave a small idol to my family as a present. My parents are not buddhists, but they appreciated the present, so they brought the idol into our home.
Is it proper for me to pray in the same room where the idol is? Should I pray in another room?
A: The prayer must be done in such a way that an outsider should not think that you are worshiping an idol. It is best to pray in another room but if this creates problems it is enough not to be in front of the idol and to cover it during your prayer.