Do not admire them. It is forbidden to admire a non-Jew, including admiring his (or her) appearance, his actions or his statements. If, however, the intent is to praise Hashem who created such an admirable person, it is permitted{9}. It is also permitted to praise a non-Jew’s accomplishment in the sciences or arts, etc. {10} Similarly, honoring a non-Jew in appreciation of past favors he has done for the Jewish community is permitted. Honoring a non-Jew for the purpose of raising funds for a Jewish institution should be avoided, but is permitted when it is halachically determined that there is no alternative{11}.
It is permitted to visit a non-Jew who is ill, to daven and give charity on his behalf, to eulogize him at his funeral, to assist in his burial and comfort his relatives{12}.
Note: People wonder why some of the halachos derived from Lo Sechaneim are often ignored, as today it has become commonplace to admire or praise non-Jews for their talents, athletic ability or statesmanship. Certainly, this laxity can be partially attributed to the Great American Melting Pot and to the influence of the society and secular media to which we are constantly exposed. Possibly, those who are lax follow the opinion of the Rishonim{13} who maintain that this halachah applies only to non-Jews who are active idol worshippers{14}. Shulchan Aruch, however, does not follow this opinion, and clearly rules that the laws derived from Lo Sechaneim apply to all non-Jews, including Moslems who are not idol worshippers; the only exception would be a non-Jew who became a ger toshav in the times of the Sanhedrin{15}.
Influenced by the Goyim, Lo Sechaneim Is Often Ignored…
Exceprt from an article by Rabbi Doniel Neustadt: