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The Shulchan Aruch · Yoreh De'ah

יורה דעה קע״חYoreh De'ah 178

Siman 178 of 402 in Yoreh De'ah — 3 se'ifim

הלכות חקות העובדי כוכביםPractices of Idolaters· siman 178

Se’if 1א׳

אֵין הוֹלְכִין בְּחֻקּוֹת הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וְלֹא מִדַּמִּין לָהֶם. (טוּר בְּשֵׁם הָרַמְבַּ"ם) וְלֹא יִלְבַּשׁ מַלְבּוּשׁ הַמְיֻחָד לָהֶם. וְלֹא יְגַדֵּל צִיצַת רֹאשׁוֹ כְּמוֹ צִיצַת רֹאשָׁם. וְלֹא יְגַלַּח מֵהַצְּדָדִין וְיַנִּיחַ הַשֵּׂעָר בָּאֶמְצַע. וְלֹא יְגַלַּח הַשֵּׂעָר מִכְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן וְיַנִּיחַ הַפֶּרַע. וְלֹא יִבְנֶה מְקוֹמוֹת כְּבִנְיַן הֵיכָלוֹת שֶׁל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ בָּהֶם רַבִּים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵם עוֹשִׂים. הַגָּה: אֶלָּא יְהֵא מֻבְדָּל מֵהֶם בְּמַלְבּוּשָׁיו וּבִשְׁאָר מַעֲשָׂיו (שָׁם). וְכָל זֶה אֵינוֹ אָסוּר אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ בּוֹ הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים לְשֵׁם פְּרִיצוּת, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לִלְבֹּשׁ מַלְבּוּשִׁים אֲדֻמִּים, וְהוּא מַלְבּוּשׁ שָׂרִים וְכַדּוֹמֶה לָזֶה מִמַּלְבּוּשֵׁי הַפְּרִיצוּת, אוֹ בְּדָבָר שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לְמִנְהָג וּלְחֹק, וְאֵין טַעַם בַּדָּבָר דְּאִכָּא לְמֵיחַשׁ בֵּהּ מִשּׁוּם דַּרְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי וְשֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ שֶׁמֶץ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מֵאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם, אֲבָל דָּבָר שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לְתוֹעֶלֶת, כְּגוֹן שֶׁדַּרְכָּן שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא רוֹפֵא מֻמְחֶה יֵשׁ לוֹ מַלְבּוּשׁ מְיֻחָד שֶׁנִּכָּר בּוֹ שֶׁהוּא רוֹפֵא אֻמָּן, מֻתָּר לְלָבְשׁוֹ. וְכֵן שֶׁעוֹשִׂין מִשּׁוּם כָּבוֹד אוֹ טַעַם אַחֵר, מֻתָּר (מהרי"ק שֹׁרֶשׁ פ"ח). לָכֵן אָמְרוּ: שׂוֹרְפִין עַל הַמְּלָכִים וְאֵין בּוֹ מִשּׁוּם דַּרְכֵי הָאֱמוֹרִי (ר"ן פ"ק דַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים).

1. Not To Dress Like A Non-Jew, 3 Seifim: One [i.e., a Jew] should not follow the customs of non-Jews (nor should one try to resemble them) (Tur in the name of the Rambam). One should not wear clothing that is particular to them [i.e., their culture]; one should not grow forelocks on one’s head like the forelocks on their heads; one should not shave the sides [of one’s head] and grow one’s hair in the middle of one’s head [like they do]; one should not shave the hair in front of one’s face from ear to ear and let one’s hair grow [in the back] [like they do]; one should not build places [i.e., buildings]—like the non-Jews’ temples—so that large groups of people will enter them, like [non-Jews] do. RAMA: Rather, one [i.e., a Jew] should be distinct from them [i.e., non-Jews] in one’s manner of dress and in all of one’s actions. But all of this [i.e., these restrictions] apply only to things that non-Jews do for the sake of licentiousness. For example, they are accustomed to wearing red clothing, which is official/princely clothing, and other clothing that is similarly immodest. [These restrictions also apply] to things that they are accustomed to doing because of a custom or rule that does not have a[ny underlying] reason, out of concern that [a Jew who does such things will follow the] “ways of the Amorites,” and that it has the blemish of [i.e., is tainted by] idol worship inherited from their ancestors. But things that they are accustomed to doing for a useful purpose—such as their custom for expert doctors to wear particular clothing so that the doctors will be recognized as specialists—one is permitted to wear [such clothing]. (Maharik Shoresh 88) Similarly, things that are done out of respect or another reason, it is permitted [for one to do such things]. And therefore they said one may burn [the items of deceased] kings, and there is not in this “the ways of the Amorites.” (R"an, Chapter of the Laws of Non-Jews)

Se’if 2ב׳

מִי שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לַמַּלְכוּת וְצָרִיךְ לִלְבֹּשׁ בְּמַלְבּוּשֵׁיהֶם וְלִדְמוֹת לָהֶם, מֻתָּר בַּכֹּל.

2. One [i.e., a Jew] who is close [i.e., works closely] with the [non-Jewish] authorities and is required to dress in their clothing and to be similar [in appearance] to them, is permitted in all respects [to do so].

Se’if 3ג׳

מִי שֶׁאָכַל וְשִׁיֵּר פְּתִיתִין עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, לֹא יָבִיא פַּת שְׁלֵמָה וְיַנִּיחַ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן. הַגָּה: יֵשׁ מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן וְלָשׂוּם עָלָיו מִינֵי מַאֲכָל בַּלַּיְלָה שֶׁלְּמָחָר מָלִין תִּינוֹק, וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה אִסּוּר מִשּׁוּם הַעֹרְכִים לַגַּד שֻׁלְחָן (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ סה, יא) (תא"ו ני"ז), אֲבָל לַעֲרֹךְ מִטָּה לְמַזַּל הַתִּינוֹק יֵשׁ מַתִּירִין. (כֵּן כָּתְבוּ הָאַחֲרוֹנִים).

3. One who eats and on his table, does not bring a full loaf and place it on the table. RAMA: There are places to set the table and place upon it some (types) of food at night for the next day...

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Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah — Torat Emet 357 edition, via Sefaria — public domain

English: Sefaria Community Translation — CC0