Page 39 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

ןנברמ אברוצ ׳א הרז הדובע תוכלה · 37

Praising an Idol Worshiper

The Torah states (Devarim 7:2) that it was forbidden to make a covenant with the seven idolatrous nations
that lived in Israel at the time the Jewish people entered from the desert. The Torah adds a prohibition of “lo
techonem,” which is interpreted in three different ways by the Gemara in Masechet Avoda Zara and extended
to all idol worshipers. One of those interpretations is quoted below that it stems from the word chen, grace,
meaning one may not praise an idol, house of idol worship, or idol worshiper.

t Masechet Avoda Zara 20a .כ הרז הדובע תכסמ . 35
Another matter: “You should not show them favor”; this .ןח םהל ןתת אל – םנחת אל :רחא רבד
teaches that you should not give them favor by praising them. םדאל רוסא :בר רמאד ,ברל היל עייסמ
This supports Rav, as Rav says: It is prohibited for a person to .וז םיבכוכ תדבוע האנ המכ רמאיש
say: How beautiful is this gentile woman! יבג לע היהש ג”בשרב השעמ :יביתימ
The Gemara raises an objection: There was an incident involving םיבכוכ תדבוע הארו ,תיבה רהב הלעמ
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, who was on a step on the ךישעמ ובר המ :רמא ,רתויב האנ תחא
Temple Mount, and he saw a certain gentile woman who was סופורסונרוט תשא האר ע”ר ףאו !’ה
exceptionally beautiful and said: “How great are Your works, O האב התיהש – קר ,הכבו קחש קר ,עשרה
Lord!” (Tehillim 104:24). And Rabbi Akiva too, when he saw the
wife of the wicked Turnus Rufus he spat, laughed, and cried. He ארייגמד הדיתעד – קחש ,החורס הפיטמ
spat, as she was created from a putrid drop; he laughed, as he !ארפע ילב ארפוש יאהד – הכב ,הל ביסנו
foresaw that she was destined to convert and he would marry her; :רמ רמאד ,הדומ אקד אוה ייודוא ,ברו
he cried, as this beauty would ultimately be consumed by dirt. הככש ךורב :רמוא ,תובוט תוירב האורה
And how would Rav explain the incident involving Rabban .ומלועב ארב
Shimon ben Gamliel, who praised the beauty of a gentile? The
Gemara answers that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel was giving thanks to God for creating such beautiful people
rather than praising the gentile herself. As the Master said: One who sees beautiful or otherwise outstanding
creatures recites: Blessed be He, Who has created such in His world.

This prohibition is codified by the Shulchan Aruch as well.

a Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 151:14 די:אנק ד״וי | ע״וש . 36
It is prohibited to relate praise of an idol worshiper, as well to say: וליפא ,םיבכוכ ידבוע לש ןחבשב רפסל רוסא
How beautiful is the figure of this idol worshiper, how much more so ,ותרוצב הז םיבכוכ דבוע האנ המכ :רמול
[is it forbidden] to relate praise of his deeds or to endear some of his בבחיש וא וישעמ חבשב רפסיש רמוחו לק
words. However, if one intends to praise the Holy One, Blessed be He תודוהל וחבשב ןיוכמ םא לבא .וירבדמ רבד
that he created such a beautiful creature such as this, it is permitted.
.רתומ ,וזכ האנ הירב ארבש ה”בקהל

The Tzitz Eliezer limits the prohibition to an idol worshiper, as opposed to other gentiles, based on the
language of the Rambam and Sefer HaChinuch, who refer specifically to an idol worshiper.

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