Selfie or not to selfie?
Shalom and thank you for your important question. You would like to understand the practice of certain Rabbis not to allow themselves to be photographed. I cannot speak for them since I do not know for sure what their motivation was, but I think I can shed a little light on the subject.
In the book of Exodus 20:3 it says “You shall not make for yourself a statue (idol) or a picture “. The Rambam (Maimonides) (Laws of Avodah Zarah chap.3 law 9) says that this refers to someone who is forming an object of idol worship for himself. Even if he forms it but does not actually worship it, it is forbidden. A woman in our community traveled to the far East in her youth and eventually returned to Israel with a collection of various idols, totem poles etc., as souvenirs. Still searching for the meaning she had not found in her previous searches in foreign lands, she began to study Kabbala and came to understand that keeping mitzvot is ‘where it’s at’. When she learned that one is not allowed to even possess idols, she promptly made a bonfire in her backyard and burned those idols. We must be careful not to purchase or possess any kind of object that may have been used for idol worship, to the best of our knowledge. For that matter we should avoid music or written concepts that may be associated with idol worship, including certain methods of yoga and meditation. There are systems of yoga and meditation that have been adapted for use by orthodox Jews.
There are certain stringent Halachic opinions that one should not be photographed, and perhaps this is the reason that those Rabbis did not allow photographs to be taken of them, but today Rabbis allow for leniency in this area. There is a concept in Judaism called ‘Remnants that G-d calls’, meaning that, since each person in the world, (and each creation) has a mission to fulfill, certain individuals may have a mission to remain loyal to the letter of the law even in a case where the rest of population has been permitted to abide by a leniency. Today’s Halachic authorities do allow people to be photographed. It is also permissible to draw or paint portraits.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson, was a thoroughly modest person who did not feel it was below his dignity to bend down and pick up garbage that had been left on the floor of the synagogue although he was a worldwide leader of Jewry and more, as well as a prolific scholar. Nevertheless he allowed himself to be photographed repeatedly because a picture of a righteous person can provide spiritual inspiration and connection. There is a well known incident where a person who had requested a blessing for his child who was criticality ill in fact received the blessing, except that the child’s condition kept worsening, to the point that the father was in deep despair. At that point the father had taken off his shoes in the living room. He picked up a shoe in his utter frustration and desperation, and threw it at a picture of the Rebbe that was hanging on the wall. Some time later, I do not remember how long it took, he brought his now healthy (thank G-d) child to the Rebbe to thank him. The Rebbe leaned towards the father and smilingly told him that he still feels where the shoe was thrown.
Today many orthodox children have photo albums with collections of pictures of great Rabbis. There is a verse in Isaiah 30:20 that states “And your eyes shall behold your teachers”. This can be fulfilled today also by photographs when it is difficult to behold one’s teacher in ‘real life’. Having a picture of a righteous person with you is positive thing to do for your spiritual connection.
This brings to the concept that everything in G-d’s world can be used for the good. Newspapers can report good deeds and technology can be used to spread Torah across the globe. Look what happened during the Covid lock-down seasons. Many many Torah lessons were started by digital means, that are still going on.
Of course we must be aware of the numerous pitfalls of technology, which are painfully obvious.
Questions are always welcome. Wishing you good health and success in all your endeavors for the coming New Year.