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Rabbis' original statement on renting to non-Jews
Unofficial translation of the rabbis' statement on renting to non-Jews. Read more at Under God.
In response to the question asked by many, we respond that it is forbidden, according to the Torah, to sell a house or field in the Land of Israel to a non-Jew. As it says, "and you shall give them no quarter." (Deut. 7:2) The Torah warns repeatedly that violating this prohibition causes evils, and leads the public to sin through intermarriage, as it says, "When he turns your son away from me." (Deut. 7:4) This is a desecration of the holiness of the Name, (Rambam, The Laws of Forbidden Intercourse 12:6) and causes others to sin in other ways. As the Torah warns, "They should not live in your land, lest they cause you to sin." (Exodus 23:33) The sin of selling, with all of its implications, hangs on the necks of the sellers, Heaven help us.
There is a further evil in that someone who sells or rents them an apartment in an area where Jews live causes great damage to his neighbors. Regarding him, the verse reads, "And they will torment you on the land where you live." (Numbers 33:55) This is because their lifestyle is different from that of the Jews, and among them there are those who torment us, and disrupt our lives to such an extent that there is a danger to life - as has been publicized numerous times. Even abroad it has been forbidden to sell them property within Jewish neighborhoods for this reason. All the more so this applies in the Land of Israel, as is explained in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 151) that this is a sin both between a man and his fellow and between a man and God.
It is well known that as a result of selling or renting even one apartment, the value of all of the neighbors' apartments falls. This happens even if the buyers or tenants are nice in the beginning. The first person to sell or rent causes a financial loss to his neighbors, and his sin is too great to bear. And who gave him permission? He causes others to follow him and sell their property, and to run from the place. Those who consequently sell to Non-Jews, they magnify this terrible sin that hangs on the necks of all of them.
If this Non-Jew is violent, and bothersome to his neighbors, the Shulchan Aruch already explained that anyone who sells to him is liable for excommunication!! [And he remains excommunicated] until he removes the damage, even if it costs him great amounts of money. (Yoreh Deah 334:43) In our days we do not excommunicate, as it is known, because excommunication is so severe. However, it is the responsibility of the neighbors and acquaintances of the seller or renter to warn him and caution him. At first privately, but then afterwards they have permission to publicize it. They must distance themselves from him, avoid doing business with him, may not call him to the Torah, etc. until he repents for this damage to the public. Whoever listens to us will dwell securely. Amen, may it be His will.
(Editor's note: This post originally misidentified the author of this statement.)
By Elizabeth Tenety |
December 15, 2010; 5:12 PM ET
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Posted by: Muddy_Buddy_2000 | December 16, 2010 3:38 PM
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This is an evil law, and can only exist in an evil country. No commentary necessay
Posted by: Kingofkings1 | December 16, 2010 5:39 AM
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Reminiscent of European laws preventing the Christians from selling or leasing land to Jews, laws existing up through the beginning of the twentieth century. These laws still exist in the Middle East. This is ironic since our land was stolen, along with our lives in many cases, and three million of us are living in exile.
Sorry. Israel is under siege, MIchelle. The MIddle East (in which Israel is located) is not midtown Manhattan.
Now, India's Dalit, have not slaughtered the Touchables, shot little girls in the forehead at point blank range, lured children into caves, murdered them, and spread their remains on the walls. The Dalit have not blown up eleven busloads of school children, etc.
There are three hundred million Dalit, Michelle. Some of us have been struggling on their behalf for a long time. They are also brown darkies, like brown Jewish darky me, making them excellent material for exploitive "journalists" like you, Michelle. If you could get them to convert to Islam, you'd be a pig in s*. Right now, the Christians and Catholics are converting them day and night. (The Hindus don't like it, understandably.) Stay on top of this one, Michelle. Anything for livingroom liberalism, no, Michelle?
Posted by: FarnazMansouri2 | December 16, 2010 5:04 AM
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And we spend three billion dollars every year supporting these whackjobs.
Posted by: Thoughtful-Ted | December 15, 2010 9:51 PM
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This a religious commitment ignored by most Israeli Jews, not a law of the State Of Israel. Christian and Islamic rules have at least equally foul rules that are generally ignore except by extremists.
My Islamic Step Daughter and her Christian Husband had no problem renting at least two place in Israel, so at least two landowners are not obeying this rule.