Very insightful questions!

1. It is forbidden to rent land to an idolater in Eretz Yisrael only, not in Chutz la'Aretz. This is a rabbinic prohibition based upon the Torah prohibition of selling land to a Nochri (Devarim 7:2). The Mishnah says that even where renting non-living space is permissible, renting to him a dwelling space is forbidden because he will bring in an idol. This applies even in Chutz la'Aretz.

2. Regarding a Nochri who is not an idolater, logically there should be no problem of him bringing in an idol (since he does not worship it). Regarding giving him a gift and the Isur of Lo Techanem, arguably the parameters of the Isur of selling land in Israel are the same as those of gift-giving, since both are learned from the same Pasuk. If so, we should note that the Tur writes in Choshen Mishpat 249 that giving a gift to an idolater is forbidden, but to a Ger Toshav is permitted. What about to a Nochri who does not worship idols? The Beis Yosef writes that this too is forbidden. The Bach objects that if so, why did the Tur not explicitly write that? It may sound from here that the Bach is lenient. But subsequently the Bach writes an answer, namely, that instead of writing the word "Goy" which would have seemed like an offensive term to the Nochrim, the Tur wrote "idolater" to avoid problems with the authorities. It seems that this answer appears only in a later edition of the printing of the Bach. Anyway, the point relevant for us is that there seems to be no support for a Heter to give a gift to a Nochri even if he does not worship idols, neither from the Beis Yosef nor from the Bach.

(It should be noted that some even limit Lo Techanem to the Seven Nations; see Maharam Chagiz.)

3. Regarding an apostate Jew who worships idols, logically there is a problem of him bringing in an idol, but presumably there is no prohibition of Lo Techanem.

4. Regarding a Christian, it would seem to depend on whether the figurine is for idol worhsip, or just for "show."

I hope this helps! May you continue to attain greatness in Torah learning and Yiras Shamayim!

Best wishes,

Yishai Rasowsky

Shalom,

Great to hear from you. I assume that you are referring to the prohibition of "Do not bring an abomination into your house" (Devarim 7:26). As you might know, there is a Machlokes about whether that prohibition as it applies here is on the Torah level or only on the Rabbinic level (either because he is not living in the house, or because he did not bring it into the house, or he is not benefiting from it -- see Tosfos, Rashba, Ritva). It would arguably be easier to understand a difference between Eretz Yisrael versus Chutz la'Aretz according to the latter. Anyway, most opinions say that it applies in all places, but those who forbid it only in Eretz Yisrael may do so because Chutz la'Aretz is not called "your home." Alternatively, the Nochri authorities who control property in foreign countries actually render the house to be not truly your property.

2. There is no "Lo Tavi To'eivah El Beisecha," but most would say there is "Lo Techanem" to any Nochri who is not keeping the laws of Ger Toshav. Arugably, the Tur and Beis Yosef we cited from Choshen Mishpat about giving a gift would apply to all three Isurim learned from the same words "Lo Techanem," including selling land.

3. Logically, there is an Isur of "Lo Tavi" since he has idols, but not "Lo Techanem" since he is not a Nochri.

4. Rishonim justify the contemporary practice to allow selling homes to Nochrim (e.g., because they do not bring in idols on a permanent basis, or because you do not really own the house (in Chutz la'Aretz -- see 1 above), or perhaps most relevant -- as the Me'iri writes -- because the Nochrim today do not really worship idols in the same way as in the time of Chazal).

G'mar Chasimah Tovah,

Yishai Rasowsky