WEARING A CROSS 1940s

QUESTION: A question was brought to use through a Chaplain with regard to the inquiry of a Jewish nurse as to her wearing a cross with her“dog-tag”. The chaplain stated that the question was raised with reference to the possibility of becoming stranded somewhere in the South Pacific area where in many instances the natives had come to recognize the cross as the only sure symbol of friendship.

ANSWER: In the discussion of Yore Deah 178:1, where the question is raised about Jews wearing the garments on non-Jews as to when that is prohibited and when permitted, the commentator Sifte Cohen says that in times of persecution it is certainly permitted for a Jew to disguise himself by wearing non-Jewish clothes. Thus, if, for example, the question were whether Jewish soldiers fighting on the European continent might not be permitted to conceal their Jewish identity by wearing“dog-tags” without the letter“H” so that, if captured by the Nazis they would not be mistreated, the answer would be that this is certainly permitted.

However, such concealing of Jewish identity cannot be permitted in the South Seas where there is no question of persecution of Jews . The question specifically, however, is not one of concealing Jewish identity, but of wearing the cross in order to win the friendship of natives in the South Seas, who are accustomed to consider the cross as a symbol of friendship. The law on this matter is quite clear. Shulhan Arukh, Yore Deah 141:1, Joseph Karo discussing which Statues are to be considered idols and which are not, says that the Statues in villages are to be considered idols since they are meant to

¢ bowed down to. Those in great cities are not to be considered idols Since they are merely for decoration. To this Moses Isserles comments as follows:“A cross which is meant to be bowed down to 1s forbidden, but one that is worn around the neck is merely a Memento and is not forbidden.” Thus, the law is clear.