Cytowanie Komentarza do Powtórzonego Prawa 4:28

And it is prohibited to enter therein. Maimonides wrote in his Commentary to the Mishna, "Thus know that every city of an idolatrous nation which has an idolatrous house of prayer which is a center of idol worship is certainly forbidden to pass through intentionally, all the more so to dwell there. However, during this time when we are under their hand due to our sins and thus reside in their lands we are coerced in this matter. In this way is the verse, "There you will worship other gods, the work of mere man, gods of wood and stone." (Deuteronomy 4:28) If the law is such for the city a fortiori a center of idolatry itself which it is prohibited for us to even look at, all the more so to enter it." (Maimonides, Commentary to the Mishna, Avodah Zara 1:4)

...and it is since the nation in exile is divided into two parts: The smaller part are those that hold on to the religion and follow the Torah of the Lord, and they are referred to as Israel - but they remain the few from the many. And the other part of the people are those who - because of the troubles and the heaviness of the exile - have transgressed against His religion; as it is stated there (Deuteronomy 4:28), "And you shall worship other gods there...," as I explained. Hence it stated corresponding to the two parts of the nation, "you shall bring it to your heart amidst the various nations to which the Lord your God has banished you. And you will return to the Lord your God." As behold the first statement is about those under duress (anusim) that have left the framework of the religion. Hence to those, it stated, "you shall bring it to your heart" - as their repentance will [only] be in the heart and not in the mouth. For they will not be able to publicize their repentance and their faith. And this is [the meaning] of its stating, "amidst the various nations to which the Lord your God has banished you" - meaning to say, that they are mixed in with them and considered like them. Nevertheless, they will return to the Lord in their hearts. And regarding the other part of the Jews that are known [to be Jews], it states, "and you will return to the Lord your God, and you and your children will heed His voice with all your heart and soul, just as I enjoin upon you this day" - meaning to say that they will repent and do the commandments and heed the voice of God publicly, they and their children. For they have not abandoned their God there. And when they repent to God, they will follow Him. But [both] these and those will run [to Him] - each one according to his condition and his context. It promised that God, may He be blessed, will gather them unto Him. And this is [the meaning of] "And the Lord your God will return your captivity and have mercy upon you; and He will return and gather you." Behold it said, "And the Lord your God will return your captivity and have mercy upon you," about that part that are Jews publicly and hold on to their Judaism. And it states about them, "your captivity," since they are in captivity and servitude. And it states, "and [He will] have mercy upon you," as they will need mercy, due to their lowliness and troubles. However regarding the other part that have left the framework of the religion because of the their duress, it states, "and He will return and gather you from all of the nations." But it did not state regarding them, "captivity" nor "mercy." And this is the reason that it states that He will gather them from all the nations; as they are mixed in with them and have intermarried with them. And about these, it states (Deuteronomy 30:4), "Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, from there He will fetch you"...

For all the gods of the peoples are idols vanity, the handiwork of man; and a similar example is in the prophecy of Habakkuk (2:18): “What did a graven image avail that its maker has graven it... etc.” until “to make dumb idols?” but the Lord made the heavens Regarding the idols it is written: “to make,” but the Holy One, blessed be he, is the Maker of the heavens and the earth and all their host.