Graven Images - Halachos of Statues and Pictures (2/16/2025)

·40 min·3 clips

Rabbi Light asks if a Jew can be a sculptor, introducing two Torah prohibitions against making statues.

Rabbi Noach Light begins the shiur by posing the question of whether a Jew can be a sculptor, introducing the topic of graven images. He outlines two primary Torah prohibitions: one against making idols for worship and another against making forms of entities associated with the divine, even for decoration. The first prohibition, from the Aseret HaDibros, forbids creating statues typically used for Avodah Zarah, with the Rambam extending it to instructing others to make them. The second prohibition, from later in the Parsha, forbids making forms of human beings, angels, and celestial bodies like the sun and moon, based on the concept of Tzelem Elokim. Rabbi Light references the Sefer HaChinuch, which questions the Rambam's extension regarding instruction. He then turns to the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah, which details these laws, specifying that making three-dimensional images of humans or celestial beings is prohibited, but two-dimensional images are only problematic for sun, moon, and stars. A key distinction is made: human images are only forbidden if three-dimensional, while celestial images are forbidden even in two dimensions, explained by how they appear to the eye. Practical halachic applications are explored, such as the permissibility of photographs of people versus sculptures, and the status of coins and cameos with human faces. Rabbi Light discusses exceptions for educational purposes, like drawing moon phases for teaching Kiddush HaChodesh. The shiur addresses modern scenarios, including children's dolls, where poskim debate whether alteration is needed, and cites opinions like the Chachmas Adam and Netziv that allow ownership of human statues today due to reduced idolatry concerns. Questions from listeners are integrated, covering topics like digital images, eclipses, and wax museums. The episode concludes with Rabbi Light emphasizing appreciation for human ingenuity in art while adhering to halachic boundaries.

As heard by us

A source-driven shiur where a cameo and a wax museum sharpen the halachic line around human images.

This shiur studies whether a Jew may make or own statues and images, moving from figures tied to avodah zarah into separate concerns around human, sun, and moon forms.

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Why you'd press play

You want to know where halachah draws the line between making a statue, wearing a cameo, and visiting a wax museum.

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