Touring the Vatican and Viewing its Artwork

Is a Jew allowed to tour the Vatican, a building that houses the Roman Catholic Church? Generally, Jews are not permitted to enter a house of foreign worship. But what if a Jew wants to visit the Vatican for a purpose other than worship? May he enter to get a glimpse of artifacts of the Beis HaMikdash, or to view the artwork contained therein?

Based on the popular book Headlines: Halachic Debates of Current Events by Dovid Lichtenstein, this sourcesheet was adapted for teens and includes the tzuras hadaf for the quoted Gemaras.


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