Can photographs of people be considered idols? Is it the kavanot that the viewer ascribes that is important or is it inherent in a 2D image of a face?
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1I read that the Satmar Rav z"l advised his Chasidim to burn photographs in their possession. If this is true, I don't know if he thought this was the letter of the law, or an extra act of piety.– user3318Commented Dec 17, 2013 at 0:14
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Similar: judaism.stackexchange.com/q/26841– msh210 ♦Commented Dec 17, 2013 at 3:35
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related judaism.stackexchange.com/q/29031/759– Double AA ♦Commented Dec 17, 2013 at 3:47
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Duplicate of judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/26841/… ?– ShmuelCommented Apr 14, 2014 at 6:12
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1 Answer
A photograph can be considered an idol if there's someone who's worshipped it as one, same as most anything else. If it was made by a (halachically non-Jewish) religionist as an idol of his religion's, it's considered such even before it's worshipped (Shulchan Aruch, YD 139:1). Therefore, certain pictures should be assumed to be idols absent knowledge to the contrary (SA 141:1–3); which pictures that rule applies to depends on the time and place (Shach 141:17, Beur Hag'ra :18). But there's nothing inherent in photographs of people that makes them all into idols. As always, for practical questions, contact your rabbi rather than relying on what you read here.