Page 78 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

76 · Hilchot Avoda Zara Ii Tzurba M’Rabanan

Pictures and Drawings

1. Biblically – It is prohibited to make these images.
2. Rabbinically – It is forbidden even to retain them, but commentaries dispute
which images are included.
3. Heavenly images (sun, moon and constellations)
a. If they are raised (three dimensional)
i. All opinions prohibit making them.
ii. Tosafot, Rambam and Ramban – Prohibit even retaining them.
iii. Ritva – Permits retaining them.
b. If they are flat (two dimensional)
i. Tosafot, Rambam, Ramban – Prohibit drawing them.
ii. Ritva – Permits drawing them.
iii. All opinions permit retaining them.

4. Images of people
a. If they are raised (three dimensional)
i. Tosafot and Rambam – Debate among the Acharonim whether they
permit making or retaining them or not.
ii. Ramban – It is prohibited to make them, or retain them.
iii. Ritva – It is prohibited to make them but permitted to retain them.
b. If they are flat (two dimensional)
i. Tosafot and Rambam – It is permitted to make and retain them.
ii. Ramban – Prohibited to make them but permitted to retain them.
iii. Ritva – It is permitted to make and retain them.
5. Other images
a. If they are raised (three dimensional)
i. Tosafot and Rambam – Permitted to make and retain them.
ii. Ramban – It is prohibited to make or retain them.
iii. Ritva – It is permitted to make and retain them.

b. If they are flat (two dimensional)
i. All opinions permit making and retaining them.
ii. Shulchan Aruch – Rules like Tosafot and Rambam.
iii. Taz – Rules like the Ramban.
iv. Shach – Posits that a flat picture is similar to a sunken picture.

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