Questions About Idolatry
Q. If we are not allowed to set up a graven image, then I am limited to typing in a chat room only – no photography, no TV, no computer videos. This is fine with me. I do not wish to compromise since the second commandment is of even greater importance than keeping a kosher diet. So, my question is how do I deal with this in the workplace and my profession without jeopardizing my opportunities?
A. Thanks for your question, which was forwarded to my attention. The word "graven" (פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ in the original Hebrew) means carved; it refers specifically to sculptures. Video conferencing would not constitute a graven image, nor would a photograph, nor one's reflection in a mirror, etc. (Furthermore, not all sculptures are necessarily prohibited either, but the details are beyond the scope of your question.) I hope this helps!
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Q. Isn't it improper to bow before an angel and speak to Hashem at the same time? Is that what Abraham was doing in Gen 18:2-3? People might assume they are praying to an angel instead of Hashem. Also, can someone bow before an angel but really they are bowing to Hashem, the source of the angel? Thank you!
A. Thanks for your question. The angels, of course, looked like humans, and bowing to humans was a normal part of their culture. Not only did Avraham (and Lot) bow to the angels, Avraham bowed before the Hittites (Gen. 23), Yaakov and his family bowed before Eisav (Gen. 33), Yosef's brothers bowed before him (Gen. 42-43), Moshe bowed before Yisro (Ex. 18), and more. It was a normal gesture in their society. The real question is whether bowing is an idolatrous act. Either it's permitted or it isn't; to whom one is speaking while doing so isn't really the issue.
Bowing isn't part of our culture. And here we're not talking about a slight bow, as in martial arts, we're talking about full-on prostrating on the ground, which certainly isn't something we do. In the unlikely event that one were to see an angel, I would recommend against prostrating, but I assume that Avraham knew what he was doing and that it was appropriate for his time and place.
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Q. I was told by an Orthodox rabbi that it's OK to visit a mosque. What about a Sikh temple since they don't believe in the Trinity or worship humans?
A. Entering a mosque being permissible is the opinion of the Rambam and seems to be the prevalent position but it's not universal; there are those who differ.
One has to evaluate a religion on his own in order to determine whether or not it would be considered idolatrous under Jewish law. So far as I can tell, Sikhism is a purely monotheistic religion with no trace of idolatry. But there's no "master list" – one has to evaluate this question on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, it’s extremely important to consult with one’s own rabbi for guidance.
Rabbi Jack's book Ask Rabbi Jack is available from Kodesh Press and on Amazon.com.