Page 70 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

68 · Hilchot Avoda Zara Ii Tzurba M’Rabanan

Photographs of People

Based on the opinion of the Taz (and Ramban), some people in previous generations did not allow their
picture to be taken. However, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel, rules
that this is not the accepted halacha, and permitted pictures or drawing of people’s faces.

p Reponsa Daat Kohen, Siman 66 וס ןמיס | ןהכ תעד ת”וש . 25

In response to your question whether there is any objection ןיד פ”ע העינמ הזיא שי םא ,ותלאש לע הבושתב
according to Torah law to paint pictures of G-d fearing Jews: .םידרח םידוהי לש ,תונומת לש םירויצ רייצלמ ,הרות
I am honored to inform you that there are pious םהש םידיסח םנשיש ,ועידוהל הזב דבכתא
individuals who refrain from being photographed or םינתונ םניא ןכו ,םתנומת תא םלצלמ םיענמנ
from giving permission to artists to draw their picture ,העיריה לע עבצב ,םמלצ תא רייצל םירייצל תושר
in color on a canvas; and their opinions have precedent – לקו ,םיקסופ לש תוטישב םוקמ םהירבדל שיו
in the poskim, how much more so in the ways of piousness .תושירפהו תודיסחה ךלהמב רמוחו
and asceticism.
פ”ע לארשיב הטשפתנש ,הטושפה הכלהה לבא
However, the basic law that has been accepted by the nation םדא תרוצ רייצלש ,איה ,ךורע – ןחלושה ןיד
based on the codification of the Shulchan Aruch is that to
draw someone on a canvas and similarly to photograph ,יפרגוטופ םולצ םלצל ה”הו ,חולה לע עבצב
someone is not a prohibition according to the law. It is also לצא םג גהנמה ץופנ ןכו ,ןידה דצמ רוסיא ןיא
the practice of many worthy and G-d fearing people [to do ךרוצ רבדב שישכ ,םידרחו םיארימ ןוגה קלח
so], where it is needed for a mitzva, or to [show] a love of ןינע ראש וא ,תודהיהו הרותה בובחו ,הוצמ לש
Torah and Judaism, or any other type of necessity. .ץוחנו חרכומ

The Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah Siman 140-141) issues a similar ruling, and explains that
it is therefore permitted to keep a picture album in one’s home.
However, Rav Kook adds that it is commendable to try not to take a picture of the entire body, as mentioned
by the Shulchan Aruch in the source below.

a Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 141:7 ז:אמק ד״וי | ע״וש . 26
There is an opinion that holds that the prohibition of ןוקרדו םדא תרוצב ורסא אלש ,רמואש ימ שי
[drawing] a form of a person or a derakon applies only when לבא ,הירביא לכב המילש הרוצב אקווד אלא
it is a full form with all the limbs, but concerning shapes of רוסיא םוש הב ןיא – שאר אלב ףוג וא שאר תרוצ
a head or a body without a head, there is no prohibition to .השועב אלו ֹוא ְ צֹומ ְּ ב אל
retain it or make it.
.ןיגהונ ןכו ]:הגה[
Rema: And this is our custom.

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