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Drawing or Sculpting Forbidden Images: Difference between revisions
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Drawing or Sculpting Forbidden Images (view source)
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==Animals and Plants== | ==Animals and Plants== | ||
# It is permitted to | # It is permitted to construct an image of animals, vegetation, or scenery, either etched or protruding.<ref>Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot, Lo Taaseh 4; Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Avodah Zarah 3:11), Tosafot Yoma 54a, Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 141:6)</ref> | ||
#Nevertheless, tradition and a sizeable group of Rishonim and Acharonim take serious issue with images of animals in synagogues, especially if they on the Aron Kodesh, Parochet, or windows. It was common in Medieval Europe to draw the Mazalot in Machzorim<ref>Mordechai Avodah Zarah 840 quotes a Machloket Rabbeinu Ephraim and Rabbeinu Elyakim who seemingly disagree on whether or not one may install images of animals in synagogues. Rabbeinu Ephraim argues that animals are not included in Lo Taasun Itti, so they may be constructed, and they're not worshipped, so there's no chashad issue. Rabbeinu Elyakim rereads the sugya to prohibit owning images of animals, as well, so he had them remove the images of lions from the shul in Cologne. The Mordechai adds how the Rambam is lenient, and Maharam (Tosafot Yoma 54a) says how they may be distracting, but they're not assur. Plus, there's no chashad when they're flat, and even a Jew can make them, as we see from many instances in Shas. See Ohr Zarua (Avodah Zarah 203-204) and Hagahot Asheri ad loc, as well. | |||
The Beit Yosef (Yoreh Deah 141:6) paskens like R' Ephraim and resolves many of the objections R' Elyakim raises, and that is what he seems to pasken in Shulchan Aruch. However, in Avkat Rochel Siman 63, he adamantly argues that the Halacha follows R' Elyakim completely and arguing based on Teshuvot of the Rambam and the Rosh that anything distracting is forbidden to introduce into a shul setting, contradicting himself in Beit Yosef. Even more puzzling is that in Avkat Rochel Siman 66, he writes to be lenient like R' Ephraim! | |||
Many Acharonim attempt to resolve the blatant double contradiction, with a variety of resolutions and suggestions. At the end of the day, they all urge one to keep the images out of shul, especially if they protrude. Sephardic authorities report how they did not have this issue as much in their home countries. See Yaskil Avdi ([https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=959&st=&pgnum=128&hilite= vol. 1 Yoreh Deah 5], [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=960&st=&pgnum=66&hilite= vol. 2 Yoreh Deah 9], and [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=965&st=&pgnum=145&hilite= vol. 7 Siman 17]), Tzitz Eliezer 3:24, [http://haravuziel.org.il/%d7%a1%d7%99%d7%9e%d7%9f-%d7%9b%d7%90-%d7%94%d7%90%d7%9d-%d7%9e%d7%95%d7%aa%d7%a8-%d7%9c%d7%a8%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%9d-%d7%a6%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%aa-%d7%90%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%a2%d7%9c-%d7%a4%d7%a8/ Mishpetei Uziel 9:21-22], Nehar Mitzrayim (Hilchot Avodah zarah 1-6), Mikveh HaMayim (vol. 3 Yoreh Deah Siman 19), Yechaveh Daat 3:62, Yalkut Yosef (Yoreh Deah 141:9, 11; Orach Chaim 90:45), Emek Yehoshua ([https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=51207&st=&pgnum=202&hilite= vol. 1 Yoreh Deah 20-21], [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=51208&st=&pgnum=299 vol. 2 Yoreh 19], [https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=51211&st=&pgnum=55 vol. 6 Orach Chaim 30]), Iggerot Moshe YD 2:55, Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik in [https://books.google.com/books?id=p611GgXAUdMC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=rav+soloveitchik+stained+glass+window&source=bl&ots=GKNBf4ZdCZ&sig=ACfU3U0I7M4QsAhtZoErxUdCtSGzjBOfQQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiYluCrrffmAhUynOAKHfcuDX8Q6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=rav%20soloveitchik%20stained%20glass%20window&f=false Community, Covenant, and Commitment page 3], and [http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/vl/Maayanot_Tfila/Maayanot_Tfila03.pdf Tefillatam Shel Yehudim, in Maayanot 8 pp 9-11]</ref> | |||
==Replications of the Vessels of the Temple== | ==Replications of the Vessels of the Temple== | ||
