[Avodah] Tzitz Eliezer: Davening With A Gun

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 09:42:00AM -0500, Prof. Levine wrote:
> From http://revach.net/article.php?id=1756
...
> Is it permitted to enter a Shul with a rifle or other weapon? The  
> Shulchan Aruch states (OC 151:6) that according to some opinions it is 
> forbidden to enter a Bais HaKnesses carrying a long knife...
> The Tzitz Eliezer also rules that this Din applies not only to a knife 
> but also to a gun or any other type of weapon. Even though the Taz says 
> that the Din only applies to a long knife and the Eliyahu Rabah says that 
> only an uncovered knife is forbidden, however some Poskim prohibit 
> Davening with a knife even if it is a short knife and even if it is 
> covered. Therefore the Tzitz Eliezer concludes that l'Chatchilah if 
> possible one should not bring gun into a Shul nor shall one have a gun on ...
> However with regards to a soldier or policeman who carries a gun on him 
> at all time there is a Sevarah to say that the gun is regarded as an 
> article of clothing and therefore there would be greater room for 
> leniency.

This sounds like it's something inherent in guns or knives, much like
cherev lo yaaleh al mizbechi, and nothing to do with whether the keli
is set aside as a devar mitzvah.

Following through that logic "out loud"...

So a shocheit or mohel shouldn't bring their knives in with them. Is that
only if they are holding it or wearing it? What about the common case of
a mohel who is setting up his equipment in shul during chazaras hasha"tz
and the latter part of davening?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             A sick person never rejects a healing procedure
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