An Important First: Orthodox Jews Reject Prohibition on Entering Churches in Order to Aid Houston's Christian Community

Eliana Rudee : Sep 7, 2017
BreakingIsraelNews.com

"Texan Christians are our brothers. They have a different faith but they're our friends, they're there for us, they're there for the State of Israel, and we need to be there for them in a state of crisis." -Lee Wunsch

(Houston, TX)— [BreakingIsraelNews.com] In an unprecedented move that sets aside a long-held prohibition against Jews entering Christian houses of prayer, a team of Orthodox volunteers with Israel's premiere search and rescue organization has traveled to Texas in order to help restore the disaster-struck region's houses of worship, including churches. (Photo: ZAKA volunteers with Pastor Becky Keenan (center) in front of the Gulf Meadows Church in Houston, Texas/Courtesy ZAKA/via BIN)

According to ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi Zahav, the restoration of Gulf Meadows Church in Houston, Texas after it was damaged by Hurricane Harvey was not only permissible by Jewish law, but it was a "religious imperative to help, since every man was created in God's image," he told Breaking Israel News.

Traditionally, Jews, and especially Orthodox Jews, do not enter churches as to avoid avodah zarah, foreign worship. However, entering the church for cleanup efforts was deemed permissible according to Jewish law. According to Zahav, ZAKA consults with Torah law authorities in everything they...

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