Torah Dedication by a Non-Jew

Ask the Rov: A local gentile would like to donate a Torah to our shul. Is that acceptable?

By Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Rov of Anash in Petach Tikvah

Shulchan Aruch rules that a Jew may not take tzedaka for the poor from a non-Jew. Some poskim explain that it is a chillul Hashem, as it may give the impression that Yidden don’t take care of their needy.¹ Others adopt the reason that accepting from idolaters increases their merits and could, chas veshalom, extend the duration of their reign and our golus.²

While the first reason only precludes accepting from them publicly, the second applies even to private donations.³ However, some poskim limit the second issue to when their donations are intended for Jews specifically (i.e., because the recipients are Jewish), and not if they extend care in a general manner to all people in need.⁴

If one has no choice and can’t sustain himself without their donation, he may accept from them (preferably privately, but publicly is also permitted if needed).⁵ Some poskim hold that if the donation passes through a Jewish intermediary and isn’t given directly to the recipient, there is no prohibition.⁶

The problematic donations are those intended to support living expenses, which would also include a kollel whose members live off their stipends.⁷ However, donations to a shul may be accepted. These donations are compared to voluntary korbanos in the Beis HaMikdash that were accepted from non-Jews as well, as derived from a posuk. Additionally, by these donations, the concern of chilul Hashem does not apply, and voluntary korbanos are not associated with atonement in the same way that tzedaka is.⁸

For this reason, it is not a problem to accept donations from non-Jews for a building campaign. Yet, some poskim rule that the building should not be dedicated with the non-Jew’s name. Similarly, poskim allow non-Jews to contribute a sefer Torah or aron kodesh as they all are comparable to a korban.⁹

See Sources (open PDF)