Page 100 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

98 · Hilchot Chukot Hagoyim Tzurba M’Rabanan

Theaters and Stadiums

Based on the parameters we have seen, contemporary poskim discuss whether attending events at theaters
and stadiums should be prohibited. We have already seen this issue mentioned in the Sifra and Rashi, and it
is also quoted by the Rambam.

r Rambam Sefer HaMitzvot, | ם"במרל תווצמה רפס . 20
Negative Commandment 30 ל השעת אל תוצמ

The 50 prohibition is that we are forbidden from following יכרדב תכלמ ונריהזהש איה םישלשה הוצמהו
th
the ways of the heretics and from acting as they do – even in וליפאו םהיתוגהנמב גהנתהמו םירפוכה
their clothing and their gatherings in halls… In the words ארפס ןושלו …םבשומב םהיצובקו םהישובלמב
of the Sifra: Do not follow their statutes, [teaches] that you וכלת אלש וכלת אל םהיתוקוחבו )ט"ה ג"יפ(
may not follow the social customs which are entrenched ןוגכ םהל םיקוקחה םירבדב םהלש תוסומינב
by them [as law], such as [attending] the theaters, circuses ולאו .תואירטסאהו תואיסקרקו תואיטרת
and arenas. These are the types of places where they would
gather for idol worship. םהב ןיצבקתמ ויהש םיבשומה ןמ םינימ םה
.םימלצה תדובעל

However, Rishonim disagree with regard to the nature of this prohibition. The Rambam states that there is a
prohibition to build (and retain) edifices similar to buildings of idolatry for public use.

r Rambam, Hilchot Avoda Zara 11:1 א:אי הרז הדובע ׳לה | ם"במר . 21

One may not build structures similar to the edifices of the ידכ ם"וכע לש תולכיה ןינבכ תומוקמ הנבי אלו
gentiles so that the public may enter, similar to the manner .ןישוע ןהש ומכ םיבר ןהב וסנכיש
in which they do.

The Sefer HaChinuch argues though that the reason for the prohibition to visit such places is because they
are places of folly and idolatry.

r Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzva 262 בסר הוצמ | ךוניחה רפס . 22
As it is brought in the Sifra, “you shall not follow their ,וכלת אל םהיתוקחבו ,ארפסב ורמאש ומכו…
statutes” – that one shouldn’t follow their social customs םיקוקחה םירבדב ,םהלש תוסומנב וכלת אלש
that are entrenched, such as going to the theaters, circuses .תואירטסאהו תואסקרקו תוארטיט ןוגכ ,םהל
and arenas.” All of these are types of frivolity that they do ןהיצוביקב ןישועש קוחש ינימ םה ולא לכו
when they gather to do their outrageous activities, acts of תדובעו תונזו תונועגש תושעל ןיצבקתמשכ
licentiousness and idol worship.
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