Eretz Hemdah-Ask the Rabbi on Jewish Art
May 7th, 2007 by Menachem Wecker
Eretz Hemdah has a feature which allows for asking any questions of the rabbis. Here is one question and answer on Judaica, the only result which searches yielded on art, idolatry, paint, and a slew of other art-terms.
The answer includes the following:
If an individual were to ask whether he should light a standard shaped chanukia or a more innovative one, we would suggest that he conform to the standard practice and not try to make a point of how halachically bold he can be. But you are coming from the point of view of an artist. Most observant people who buy an artistic chanukia use it for decoration, not lighting. A G-d-fearing artist, though, would not want to cause anyone who might use his chanukia to forfeit proper performance of his mitzva. But one who follows the letter of the law in designing the chanukia need not be concerned that some purchasers may not want to be as conservative on the matter as most of us like to be.
I submitted the following questions:
1. Is there any such thing as idolatry today, and if so, how, if at all, does that overlap with art?
2. Is there a value to Jewish art beyond its practical utility as beautifying commandments?
3. What are the restrictions, if any, on viewing art from a Jewish perspective, vis. nudity, idolatry, other religious works, works depicting sins, etc.?
The answers will be here, if and when they arrive.