The�posuk[1]�says one should not make images to represent�Hashem. The reason is in order to show that we do not need a middle man between us and�Hashem,[2]�as we�daven�toHashem�and no one or nothing else. Others say having an image which represents�Hashem�is not respectful, since�Hashem�made humans in his image ((??? ?????, and if we make images of humans it is as if we are making an image of�Hashem.[3]�The�Gemorah[4]�says it is forbidden to make images of humans, the sun, moon, stars and�malachim. TheRabbonon�prohibited keeping forbidden images in one�s house because of the�chashad�it may look as if he is worshipping it.[5]

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Telling a�Goy�to Make an Image

A�yid�may not tell a�goy�to make any of the forbidden images. The reason is because doing so falls under the�issur�of�amira l�akum�which forbids a�yid�to tell a�goy�to do things for him that he can�t do himself.[6]

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Owning Forbidden Images of People

One should not keep forbidden images of people in his possession because of a�chashad.[7]�Some say the�chashad�is that people may think he will bow down to it,[8]�while others say the concern is that people might think he actually fashioned the image himself, which would be�ossur m�doraisa.[9]�Some say the�minhag�today is that one may keep images of humans because one is not going to serve it and there is no�chashad.[10]�Accordingly, one may keep an image of man on a piece of furniture.[11]

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Images of People

One may not make an image of a person.[12]�For example, it is forbidden to make a sculpture of a man.[13]�Many�poskim�say that�issur�only applies to protruding images,[14]�and one may make an image of a person which does not protrude.[15]

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Other�poskim�disagree and say one may not make any image of a person even if it does not protrude.[16]

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Partial Images

There is a discussion in the�poskim�whether the�issur�of making an image also applies to incomplete images of people such as an image of a head etc. The�Shach[17]�(and otherposkim) says the�issur�only applies to complete images, and a half-image which does not show a complete body, etc is permitted.[18]�Based on this�shita, it is permitted to keep the image of a head on a coin since it is only half of a face. Furthermore, an image of a man lying on his side where one only sees one eye, hand or foot is permitted because it is not a full image of a person.[19]�However,�Rav Yaakov Emden�took issue with this and held that it is forbidden to make an image of a head if one can tell it is a human.[20]��

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Photographs of People

According to the opinion (mentioned above) that the�issur�includes non-protruding images of people, one would not be allowed to take pictures of people (or any other forbidden image).[21]�Based on this�shita, many people are careful not to have their pictures taken, and do not hang pictures of people in their homes.[22]�Furthermore, it is said that one who has an image of himself in this world will not have�menucha�in�olom haba.[23]

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Some�poskim�are lenient this�inyun�since�goyim�do not worship humans.[24]�Accordingly, one may hang pictures of�tzadikim�in his house,[25]�and may take pictures of people with a camera.[26]�However, one should not take a picture of someone who is�makpid�in this�inyun.[27]�Some say since it is usually a�goy�who develops the pictures using a camera is not making an image at all.[28]�The�minhag�today is to be lenient with taking pictures even if one is using a digital camera.[29]�Many people have the�minhag�to hang pictures oftzadikim�in the�succah.[30]�Some say even those who are usually stringent in regard to picture taking may take pictures to send to their parents to give them�nachas.[31]�Additionally, they would be permitted to take a picture of a�gadol�who is performing a�mitzvah.[32]

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Videos

Some�poskim�who are�makpid�on pictures of people are more lenient in regard to videotaping people.[33]�The�minhag�is to be lenient with this.

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Snowman

Making a snowman is not considered making a forbidden image of man since it is not the�derech�to bow down to snowman. Additionally, the image will not last a long time.[34]

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Wax Museums

In�Eretz Yisroel�there is a museum which exhibits wax sculptures of people. The�gedolim�say it is forbidden to go to this museum since the sculptures are made by�yiddin, which isossur, and by going one would be condoning their actions.[35]�One may visit wax museums where the figures are usually made by�goyim.[36]

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Dolls

Dolls are more stringent than pictures of people because a doll is a protruding image while a picture is flat.�Al pi din�one is permitted to keep a doll in his house even though it closely resembles a person since there is no�chashash�one is worshipping the doll.[37]�Additionally, since the dolls are commercially manufactured one does not have to worry that he will be suspected of making them himself (which would be an�issur d�oraisa).[38]�However, many people are stringent and deface dolls by breaking off the nose or ear,[39]�or by making a cut in the dolls face.[40]�One can deface the ear even if it can�t be seen such as where the dolls hair covers the ear.[41]�Defacing the features of a stuffed doll with a painted-on face would not be sufficient, since only the picture has been defaced and not the�tzura.[42]

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Some�poskim�write there is no need to do anything to the dolls,[43]�since they are thrown around on the floor by children and are not considered in any way an�avodah zara.[44]�It would seem that an expensive doll with life-like features should be defaced if one wishes to keep it in his house, since such dolls are not thrown around.[45]�Additionally, if such a doll breaks, one should not glue the broken piece back on since by doing so one is in essence creating a forbidden image.[46]�If the entire doll shattered, one would be permitted to reassemble the broken pieces provided that he leaves some pieces out as not to re-form the complete doll.[47]

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There is a story quoted in�Kovetz Ohr Yisroel[48]�about the�Tzeileim Rav�s�wife who had to go for surgery. The day before the surgery the�Tzeileim Rav�saw an image of a human (doll) on the table, and told his wife to cut off a limb from the doll. She proceeded to do so, and the�Tzeileim Rav�said she no longer requires the surgery.

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A Potato Head toy is permitted because it is not considered to have the real features of a person.

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Drawing the Sun, Moon, and Stars

One is forbidden to create an image of the sun, moon and stars even if it does not protrude.[49]�According to some�poskim�one is only forbidden to keep a�protruding�image of the sun, moon or stars in his possession.[50]�The�issur�applies to�any�one of these items and not only all three together.[51]�Any image which is commonly used to represent the sun, moon, etc falls into this�issur. Therefore, one may not sketch a circle with rays, even though the actual sun does not have rays protruding from it. Similarly, one should not draw a picture of a night sky while leaving some white spots, as these spots represent stars.[52]

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A Half Moon/Sun

Some say that one may create an image of a half-sun.[53]�However, the moon is forbidden to be drawn even if it is not full.[54]�The reason is because the moon is seen when it is not full, and we only see a full sun. Others are lenient regarding a half-image of a moon.[55]��It would be forbidden to draw a picture of a half-sun in the clouds as people often represent the sun in that manner.[56]�Some�poskim�say one may draw a sun on the corner of a page (even with the rays coming out of it) because this is not the way the sun normally looks.[57]�However, others forbid this practice.[58]�One should not make a�peroches�which has pictures of the sun or moon on it.[59]

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Star/Magen Dovid

In nature stars are round. However, since people think of a star as having five corners, one is forbidden to draw a picture of a star with five corners.[60]�Many�seforim�have an asterisk in them to show a point or to look in the back of the�sefer. This is permitted since there is no intention for it to look like a star in the sky.[61]�One is permitted to draw a picture of a�Magen Dovid�because one has no intention of it resembling a star in the sky.[62]�There is no�heter�for certain�shuls�to have pictures of stars representing the sky on theshul�ceiling.[63]�Although many�poskim�are against having pictures of the�mazalos�in�siddurim,[64]�others permit this practice since it is only done to illustrate and teach the�mazaloswhich have a connection to�tefilla.[65]

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Pictures of the Sun

Many people take pictures of sunset without realizing that doing so may fall under the�issur�of making forbidden images. As mentioned before, some say the�issur�does not apply if agoy�will be developing the pictures.[66]�L�chatchilah�one should be stringent and not take or draw a picture of sunset.[67]�One who wants to take a picture of sunset should wait until the sun is half-way down, since then it will not be a complete picture of the sun.[68]

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It would be permitted to take a picture of the beginning of sunrise since the picture is not of the complete sun. However, once the sun has risen completely one should not take a picture of it.[69]�If the sun is covered by clouds one may take a picture of it even if the rays are shinning through because it is not considered taking a picture of the sun.[70]

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Moon Cookies

Cookies shaped like a moon, or a round cookies shaped like a sun may be made or purchased, without any concern that doing so falls into this�issur.[71]

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Pajamas and Blankets

A parent may buy a child a blanket or pajamas which have pictures of the sun, moon or stars on them. The same is true for pictures of a person�s head.[72]

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For Educational Purposes

A forbidden image may be drawn for educational purposes. Additionally, one is permitted to keep such an image in his house if it is being used for educational purposes.[73]�Although some say such images are only permitted if one cannot get the point across without them.[74]�Horav Moshe Feinstein zt�l�maintains these images are permitted even if one could have done without them.[75]�During the week of�Parshas Bereishis, many children come home with picture of the sun, moon and stars. This would seem to be permitted since it is being done for educational purposes.[76]�Others say it is not�k�dai�to draw these pictures.[77]�The same is true for a picture of the eleven stars bowing down to�Yosef�in�ParshasVayeishev.[78]�It is permitted to form a circle of paper to demonstrate the round shape of the sun.[79]

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L�chatchilah, one should not hang pictures of the sun, moon and stars in a classroom.[80]�If the children will not be able to know what they are without the pictures then it would seem that doing so is permitted.��

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One who is learning the�halachos�of astronomy[81]�or the�halachos�of�kiddush ha�chodesh[82]�is permitted to draw pictures of the moon, etc.

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Children should be taught not to draw pictures of forbidden images.[83]

One would be permitted to buy a picture of a lunar eclipse because of its educational value.[84]

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Menorah with Seven Branches

One is not permitted to duplicate any utensil of the�Bais Hamikdosh.[85]�This applies even if the copy is made with different measurements[86]�or from different materials.[87]�Since the�Menorah[88]�in the�Bais Hamikdosh�had seven branches, one should not purchase a�laichter�with seven�branches,[89]�even if the�laichter�does not fully duplicate the�Menorahsuch as if the�laichters�branches are arranged in a circle.[90]��There is a discussion in the�poskim�if one is permitted to keep an eight branch�Menorah�if one of the branches has been broken off.[91]

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It is forbidden to have a seven branch�Menorah�even if half is used for oil and the other half is used for wax candles.[92]�Some�poskim�permit the use of a seven branch�Menorah�if one of the branches are stuffed up.[93]�Some say if one will only light six out of the seven branches then it is permitted.[94]

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The consensus of most�poskim�is that one is permitted to buy an electric�Menorah�which has seven branches.[95]