I had no idea that there was any hallacha about this.
However never look at the sun without a proper solar filter. Number 14 welders glass will work and there are other products (B&H will probably carry them). I have seen some amazing photography done with good filters and even something as simple as a web cam.
If you point a telescope or binoculars at the sun it could blind you in a fraction of a second! really don’t do it.
As for taking pictures of the moon, you will need a very long lens, ideally a telescope. However once you have that it is pretty easy. In terms of photography the moon is a sunlit grey rock. A fine grained black and white film will do really well for lunar shots.
(Astro Geek)