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.

Rabbi Oury Cherki

Rav Oury Cherki was born in Algeria in 1959 and grew up in France, and he made Aliyah in 1972. He studied at Merkaz Harav Yeshiva, which was founded by Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook. He performed his military service in the artillery branch of the IDF. He studied with Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, Rav Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi (Manitou), Rav Shlomo Binyamin and Achlag. Rav Cherki heads the Israeli department of Machon Meir, and he is the Director of Brit Olam - the Noahide World Center. He teaches in many places throughout Israel. Rav Cherki is the spiritual leader of the "Beth Yehuda" community in Kiryat Moshe (Jerusalem). He has written many books on Jewish thought and philosophy.

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