07-19-2007, 01:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-06-2019, 12:45 PM by Director Michael.)
BS"D
What about Birthday candles?
According to The Path of the Righteous Gentile: An Introduction to the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah [the valid authorized 1987 edition by Rabbi Rogalsky] in the chapter on idolatry: "6. It is forbidden to honor an idol even by offering things to it outside the boundaries that surround the idol. This is considered decorating the idol. (Throwing coins at an idol or even into a pool of water by an idol, such as the oriental gods and demigods commonly seen today, would seem to be in the category of honoring an idol and symbolically ascribing powers to it. Otherwise, why throw the money, which is clearly an act of beseeching a power for returned good fortune?) " and further down, "In truth, any religious food discipline wherein the foods themselves or the combinations of the foods themselves are honored as curatives or wondrous in their health?giving properties may be idolatrous."
Since the custom is to blow out the candles and make a wish, wouldn't this transgress the prohibition of idolatry?
Thanks,
Donny
What about Birthday candles?
According to The Path of the Righteous Gentile: An Introduction to the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah [the valid authorized 1987 edition by Rabbi Rogalsky] in the chapter on idolatry: "6. It is forbidden to honor an idol even by offering things to it outside the boundaries that surround the idol. This is considered decorating the idol. (Throwing coins at an idol or even into a pool of water by an idol, such as the oriental gods and demigods commonly seen today, would seem to be in the category of honoring an idol and symbolically ascribing powers to it. Otherwise, why throw the money, which is clearly an act of beseeching a power for returned good fortune?) " and further down, "In truth, any religious food discipline wherein the foods themselves or the combinations of the foods themselves are honored as curatives or wondrous in their health?giving properties may be idolatrous."
Since the custom is to blow out the candles and make a wish, wouldn't this transgress the prohibition of idolatry?
Thanks,
Donny