Appreciation of a Non-Jew
Question
Shalom, honorable Rabbi,
A question regarding the matter of “lo techonem.”
Is it really forbidden to say about a non-Jewish soccer player, for example, and the like, that he plays well, etc., because of “lo techonem”?! After all, it seems that people are not so particular about this.
Answer
Shalom and blessings.
It is forbidden to say that he plays well.
See the sources.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 151:14
It is forbidden to speak in praise of idolaters, even to say: “How handsome this idolater is in his appearance”; all the more so to speak in praise of his deeds or to express liking for something he says.
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