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Q & A - WITH RABBI RISKIN
Question:
What is included in the prohibition against idols? On top of our piano we
have
miniature busts of Bach and Beethoven - is this permissible?
Answer:
A Jew may look at and appreciate any form that is fashioned for the sake
of decoration, ornamentation or beauty - so long as it
is not a full-length, three-dimensional form of a
person with all the parts of the body - even if it was fashioned
by an idolater. This reflects the ruling of the Rambam: "A Jew may gaze
at (appreciate) forms made by idolaters for the sake
of ornamentation." If the statue is of a person,
with all the parts of his body -whether it is fashioned by a Jew
or by an idolater (so long as it is made for the sake of ornamentation) -
must be damaged in some way; e.g., by cutting off a
thumb, or a big toe, or the nose, etc.
If the statute is made by idolaters for the purpose of worship, or even
as an aid for idolatrous practices, then a Jew may
never use it as an ornament so long as the idolater
himself has not nullified its status by damaging its form in some way. It is
not sufficient that the Jew damage the idol that was
fashioned by the idolater. A Jew may only nullify the
status of an idol or sculpture of a human form that a Jew has made
(Rambam, Laws Concerning Idolatry, chapters 7,8).
From all of the above it is clear that it is forbidden to use buddhas or
totems as
ornaments unless one is certain that they were made for sale
as ornaments, and not
for pagan worship. There is no problem with busts of Bach and
Beethoven decorating
your piano.
If you have a question for Q & A, send it to ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il . We cannot guarantee that all questions received will be answered in this column.
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