Rava explains that one is allowed to sell a Shul for secular purposes, because it won't have Kedusha anymore. But they cannot rent it, because it is still a Shul, so it has Kedusha.
Rava also explains that one is allowed to sell the old, used bricks of a Shul, but cannot lend them because they still retain Kedusha.
I have 2 questions:
1) How do you lend a brick? When people use a brick, they keep it, and lending means that the owner will get it back.
2) Why does the Gemara use the word lending (Ozfinhu) in the case of the bricks, and not renting (Ogorah)?
Yehuda, Seattle, United States
1) We are accustomed to using bricks only with mortar, but it is actually possible to build a wall without mortar between the bricks, which would enable recycling of the bricks. However, as you point out in question #2, the Gemora says "Ozfinhu" and not "Ashlinhu". In Lashon HaKodesh there are two words for lending, "Halvaah" and "Shaila". "Shaila" means to lend and to receive the same item back (to lend your car); "Halvaah" means to lend and receive something else back (to lend a cup of sugar). Since the Gemora says "Ozfinhu" which is Aramaic for "Halvaah" it means that one is lending the bricks and not expecting to receive the same bricks back but rather to be repaid with (other) equivalent bricks.
2) Your question in #1 is the answer to question #2! True it is possible to use bricks and return them, but that is not the usual state of affairs. Since in general the bricks will not be returned, it is not appropriate to classify the transaction as "rental" which is defined as giving over an object for use, for a set period of time, in exchange for a payment. Since the actual bricks themselves that were borrowed will never be returned, this is a loan and not a rental.
Shimon Brodie