Churches, Synagogues and Mortgages

Hi,

A Jewish community may not sell its synagogue for use for idolatry. A Jewish community may not mortgage its synagogue, if the mortgage would empower the lender to convert the synagogue into use for idolatry.

However: If a bank holds a mortgage on a building and the building then becomes a synagogue, and then the community stops praying at that synagogue and instead wishes to start a synagogue elsewhere and the bank is going to sell the synagogue, individuals within the community are not obligated to pay the mortgage personally in order to prevent the bank from selling it for use for idolatry.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:50)

Have a great day,
Mordechai