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 ((צלם אלקים, 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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]  

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.  

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.

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]

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]

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]

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