From the Rav’s Desk: Is It Really Forbidden According To Halacha to Draw the Sun, Moon, and Stars?

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Is It Really Forbidden According To Halacha to Draw the Sun, Moon, and Stars?

 

Question:
I was in the middle of drawing a picture of the world—sun, moon, stars, grass, trees, animals—like I always enjoy doing during class. My teacher stopped me and said that not only is drawing during class not allowed, but that according to Jewish law it’s actually forbidden to draw the sun, moon, and stars. Is this correct? I’ve never heard of this before.

Answer:
This matter is debated among the poskim, and therefore it is proper to be stringent. However, those who are lenient do have valid authorities on whom to rely especially when the drawing is somewhat lacking, as explained below.

Explanation:
The Talmud and many halachic authorities rule clearly that making a protruding (three-dimensional) image of heavenly bodies—such as the sun, moon, or stars—is forbidden. The debate arises regarding non‑protruding images, such as flat drawings.

Some authorities permit such drawings, while others prohibit them. Practically, many final rulings lean toward stringency, recommending that one should avoid drawing these images. However, an important clarification applies: Not every circle or sketch counts as an image of the sun, moon, or stars. What is considered a forbidden drawing?

  1. Only a drawing that clearly resembles the sun, moon, or stars in a way that people commonly identify as such is included in the prohibition.
  2. A simple, plain circle is not considered a depiction of the sun.
  3. The same applies to drawings of the moon or stars: a small plain circle or dot is not
  4. Likewise, incomplete drawings of the sun that do not properly depict the celestial body are not prohibited.

In other words, the prohibition applies only when the drawing is recognizable as a typical sun, moon, or star as people usually draw them.

Sources:

See regarding the prohibition of protruding images: Michaber Y.D. 141:4; Tur in name of Rabbeinu Tam; Tosafus Avoda Zara 43 in name of Riy, Rabbeinu Tam and Riva; Shach 141:25; Kitzur SHU”A 168:1

See regarding the drawing these images -Permitted: Darkei Moshe 141:5 in name of Mordechai Bava Basra 549 and Avoda Zara 840 in name of Maharam; Taz 141:13 “Seemingly a drawing/painting is more lenient than even an internal engraving, [and is thus permitted]”; Kneses Yechezkal 13, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 141:6; Yad Efraim 141 “According to majority of Poskim making a drawing is permitted”; Kneses Hagedola 141:67, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:47

Forbidden: Implication of Michaber ibid that drawing is forbidden, as it makes no difference if it is protruding or not; Shach 141 in Nekudos Hakesef on Taz 141:13 “it is completely incorrect to suggest a difference between a  drawing and an internal engraving, as is implied from all the Poskim”; Divrei Yosef 8 in implication of Rambam, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 141:8; Sheilas Yaavetz 1:101, brought in Yad Efraim, refused to allow a picture to be made on a bill of currency, saying that it is forbidden; Vayakhel Shlomo, Lechem Rav 15, Divrei Malkiel 3:58 in name of Rashba and Ritva that a drawing is considered Boletes, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:34-35; Beis Shlomo Y.D. 1:36 brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:36, that a painting on a vessel is considered Boletes; Chochmas Adam; Misgeres Hashulchan 168:2 on Kitzur SHU”A 168:1 concludes one is to be stringent.

See regarding that only a drawing that resembles the sun, moon or stars in the eyes of people, and is commonly drawn by people when they desire to depict this form, is prohibited: Yad Haketana 2:3, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:46

See regarding an incomplete drawing: Shach 141:25; Neharei Afarsamon Y.D. 118, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:40, for novelty of Shach; Taz 141:7; Darkei Teshuvah 141:37; See however Darkei Teshuvah 141:51 in name of Makor Mayim Chaim, Pnei Yehoshua and Mishnas Chachamim that even half a circle is forbidden by a sun. Vetzaruch Iyun!; Maharam Alshich 77, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:38; Livyas Chein Parshas Bo, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 141:38; Maharit Y.D. 2:35; Shoel Umeishiv Kama 3:71; Amudei Eish 16; Darkei Teshuvah 141:37-38 and 51 in name of Makor Mayim Chaim, Pnei Yehoshua and Mishnas Chachamim

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.