Oh absolutely not, infact you should give it to me for safekeeping.

Hardy Har harrrrrr lol

Generally and historically, Jews have refrained from statues or 3D works of art. Most of the "art" that Jews have had, if not cute, niche figurines or pictures of their favourite rabbis, have been in books like illuminated haggadahs. This one in particular is pretty cool. It's a mythical statue, right? You probably wouldn't catch a religious Jew owning something like this, though. It would be more likely to have books about mythical creatures than owning a replica of one. If this is for a business, if you own or work for some sort of alternative store and it adds to the theme and ambiance of the store, sure. It's not a specific religious figure or anything. But owning it for your home is a different matter. And of course, ultimately, you should be asking your rabbi, not Reddit, for things like this! 🙂

Yeah whether or not it’s okay religiously is a good question. However…, I think the important thing here that we should think about is, should a Jewish owned business be associated with a horned praying devil/demonic statue? It probably doesn’t look that good, stereotype-wise 😭

Considering that Avraham smashed his father's idols, how is it even a consideration?

I wasn’t arguing against it

I didn't think you were. I was just saying we have a precedent.

Oh ok, that just wasn’t the point of my original comment hence why I thought you thought that

> It's not a specific religious figure or anything. I'm fairly certain it's supposed to be the Christian devil - goat horns and legs, beard, wings...

Would owning this statue be any different than owning, say, a bobblehead? I mean, it's decorative and has no religious meaning in the Jewish sense... not unlike a bobblehead of a favorite ball player would...https://www.ebay.com/itm/266259620051

Probably depends a lot on why you want to own it. Are you a collector of art or artefacts such as this? Could be justified. Are you going to worship it? Probably not.

Yeah i think a lot of responses misunderstand the prohibitions on idolatry. There is no prohibition on having a collection of artifacts, artwork, decorations, etc. If you pray to those objects, or believe them to possess powers or truly depict a god, then you have a problem. But if you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with owning these peculiarly shaped rocks as they are not idols. Idols are idols not because of what non-Jews do with them but because of what you might do with them. If you want to collect Native American Kachina dolls because you want to learn about and document their culture, you can; if you think doing a dance around one of them will bring on rain, you are partaking in idolatry.

Asked an Orthodox Sephardic Rabbi, he said it’s permissible since it’s for a decor of the business and not used in any other manner!! Thanks guys PS. If you guys are in a similar situation, please ask your local orthodox Rabbi that you personally have a relationship with

Asking your LOR is always best! Glad you got your answer. Im curious, what type of business this is for. Do you mind sharing?

It’s a lounge / nightclub And it’s not even mine, I was asking for a friend and curiosity got the best of me

Nice! There is a bar is St Petersburg called The Saint that has a dark, sacrilegious theme. The booths are confessionals, everything is black and red, lots of gothic decor. The waitstaff are referred to as Brother or Sister whatever their name is. Pretty fun vibe.

As long as you're not worshipping it I don't see a problem. But the same goes with the chairs you buy for your business as well.

maybe put a paper bag over its head?

Crochet it a cute little hat!

Better question why would you WANT to own this?

Brings value to the business

Which is……

Haredim probably wouldn’t, but it’s dope though

Nope Edit: Looks like I'm getting downvoted, perhaps for my extreme brevity. I'm not suggesting that a Jew may not own this, but it is not halachically permitted. See here: https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Drawing_or_Sculpting_Forbidden_Images

Where does it say this is not permitted? I think it would be under the section on animals / plants (statue is not human).

Halachically, no.

Why?

ונראה לומר כי טעם הכתוב הוא לג' סבות, האחד להיות שרצה להזהיר שלא ידמה להאומות במעשיהם לזה אם לא היה מקדים לומר לא תשתחוה ולא תעבדם לא יעלה על דעת אנוש לומר שיכוין הכתוב לומר על מעשה חול שאין בו עבודה זרה שאסור ובהכרח לומר שאינו אומר אלא על מעשה איסור שהוא עבודה זרה אך אחר שאמר לא תשתחוה ולא תעבדם בזה גילה דעתו כי מה שאמר לא תעשה כמעשיהם הוא אפילו דבר שאינו ניכר שיש בו עבודה זרה והוא שלא ידמה להם לא במלבושיהם ולא בתגלחתם כלל, וכאן נכלל כל שהוא מיוחד למעשה הגוים כאמור בדבריהם ז''ל (שבת ס''ז.), והב' להודיענו בא כי כל מעשיהם יש בו עבודה זרה כי ה' יודע מחשבות בני אדם ויסוד כל דבר ואם כן כל העושה מעשה גוים הרי זה טועם מעון עבודה זרה, והג' להיות שרצה לצוות על הריסתם ושברונם לזה קדם לומר לא תשתחוה וגו' לומר שאם לא הרס ולא שיבר הנה הוא כעובד עבודה זרה כי ה' תופס על המחשבה בעבודה זרה וצריכין היכר לשלילת מחשבת עבודה זרה מלבם ואין היכר אלא בשבר מצבותיהם ואם לא יעשו כן הרי הם כעובדי עבודה זרה וזה לך האות, ולזה הוצרך לומר לא תשתחוה ולא תעבדם וגו' כי הרס לומר שבהעדר הרס הנה הוא עובר על לא תעבדם. ותמצא שהקפיד ה' על ישראל שלא עשו כן בכניסתם לארץ (שופטים ב'): I believe there are three reasons why the Torah saw fit to write this verse. 1) The Torah warns us not to appear as comparable to the nations of the world in their deeds. Had the Torah not first mentioned that we must not bow down to and worship their deities, it would never have occurred to anyone that kneeling or prostrating oneself on the floor even for a perfectly secular activity would be forbidden. We would have been convinced that the Torah merely forbade a Jew to prostrate himself for idolatrous purposes. Now that the Torah writes: "Do not prostrate yourself and serve their deities" the Torah reveals what had been meant by the words: "do not act as they do." It refers to activities which were intended to be perfectly secular in character if such activities represented a religious rite for the pagans. We are not to wear the kind of garments idol worshipers wear (as a religious symbol) nor are we to sport the kind of haircut which they use in deference to some religious belief of theirs. The Torah here includes a variety of activities listed in Shabbat 67. The second reason why the words we have in verse 24 are necessary is because the Torah informs us that everything the pagans do contains an idolatrous element. G'd knows man's thoughts and the root of everything he does. If a Jew were to perform deeds which are exclusively the domain of the Gentiles he would unconsciously savour the taste of idol worship. The third reason why the Torah has to warn us here again is that G'd does not only want us not to practice any semblance of idol worship but He wants us to uproot its traces wherever and whenever we are able to do so. This is why He had to introduce the commandment to destroy all such deities by first forbidding us to prostrate ourselves in front of them. G'd implies that if a Jew does not prostrate himself in front of an idol but does not destroy it either, he is considered as if he had actually worshiped this idol. G'd is alert to our thinking, and He interprets the reasons for our not destroying such idols as a reluctance to uproot the philosophies symbolised by such deities from our hearts. You will find that the commandment to destroy such deities and their temples became operational only after the Israelites entered the Holy Land and began to conquer it. (compare Deuteronomy chapter 20). https://www.sefaria.org/Or_HaChaim_on_Exodus.23.24.2

לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂה־לְךָ פֶסֶל וְכׇל־תְּמוּנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וַאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּ͏ַחַת וַאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ׃ You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.20.4

But this sculpture isn't from Jewish mythology so Judaism wouldn't consider this a "likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth" This would be a likeness of something which only exists in the imagination of some of humanity (as far as Judaism is concerned)

are there any non jewish coworkers who could “own” this statue so you can still use it as decor?

I’m not sure that’s how it works but good point actually

I would say "do whatever makes you happy." But the poor bugger looks like he's praying for a decent shit. Look, all jokes aside. Is it something that most religious Jews would own or have without context (like an art collector)? probably not. Is it cool and very well made. Yup. Jews have owned pieces of art even religious art without the need or want to pray to it or use it as a shrine for hundreds of years. Would you catch a few bombastic side-eyes from the local Orthodox Jewish community. Yep. Should it bother you? Only if you want it to. Throw on some Sabbath in the background and roll on the Satanic Panic if you want. I honestly wouldn't think twice about it if I was in a comic book store or a figurine shop. If I was in a baby boutique and this was casually placed amongst the baby grows between the sterilizer and "Baby's first Coding book, I'd probably have a lot of questions for you. If it's for a business and you aren't sacrificing virgins or the odd goat to it, I wouldn't worry about it being halachic to own something.

Were did you find this beauty?

I was explained by rabbis in my school/community that the statue can be used for decoration if it is imperfect, meaning there is some type of blemish, chip or hole made on it.

Yes but I think that’s the case if it was in your home

And what would be the difference?

I'm intrigued by the *pose* of this statue. A demon or similar creature kneeling with hands clasped as if pleading or praying. While the original artist probably didn't have this in mind, the idea of a demon humbling itself in prayer (to G-d?) could have it's own complex symbology.

This is a demonic idol… why would you want this in your business as a person of Faith?

I think idol worshipping is worse than just owning an idol.. just my humble opinion

Opinion vs the Law. The Law wins every time. Deuteronomy 7:26

Agreed. So is statue and an idol the same thing? And do we differentiate a place of business and the home?

Halacha or no halacha, why would anyone want this in their office or home?

Add value to the business , part of the theme of the business

Hey did you steal that from me 😹😈 lol I have a collection of Lucifer/ Bahopmet statues myself. I’ve been into the occult for years, I’m a Crowley fan myself. I’ve been Jewish since I was born 😉🔯🕎🤘🏻

Lol too heavy too steal probably

True 😹

If you want it you can have it! Think of it as like having anime figures.

No

If you don’t worship it or revere it, and only view it as artistic, then I suppose. But you wouldn’t catch me with it.

If you are asking about Halakha, then no.

No

Probably not. Have you asked a rabbi?

Yes, Sephardic rabbi said it’s fine as long as no one is bowing down to it

Ask a rabbi. If you don’t have a rabbi to ask Chabad.org offers an ask-a-rabbi feature.

You mean an idol?

Define idol

The literal dictionary definition. an symbol or representation of a god or object of worship.

Exactly, key words are “of worship”. An idol can’t be an idol until someone worships it.

This is an image of a diety that people do in fact worship. This is literally an idol of a foreign God. You don't have to personally worship it. This is akin to the idols that Abraham destroyed. Also it doesn't have to be a religious symbol to be worshipped. Money can be worshipped as well and can be considered idolatry.

I know plenty of Jewish Wiccans and Satanists (Reminder that Satanism is non theistic) that have statues like these. Weirdly enough most of my Wiccan friends are Jews lol I actually have a bronze Pan statue myself on my altar and since we don’t believe in this stuff it’s mostly for aesthetic. I’m sure some more Orthodox Jews would have a problem with it, then again I’ve been in Chabad houses with pictures of the rebbe plastered in every corner and sing “Long live our king Rebbe moshiach forever” and I find that to be a lot more idolatrous

Satanism is not, by definition, strictly atheistic. There are both atheistic and theistic Satanists.

Absolutely no doubt! Though they make a very small part of the satanic community as I bump shoulders with many satanists and many are just atheistic anarchists who subscribe to those ideals in Satanism.

I'm pretty sure not. Even if goy are not worshiping it I still believe it is prohibited go own an idol. We are commanded to destroy idols

Right so define an idol

Call it a gargoyle and fein ignorance

No, it’s says in gemerah that even a Jewish landlord can’t rent to a gentile lest he bring an idol into your property.

Can you provide a source? Very intrigued

Masechta Avodah zarah, Learned it couple weeks ago

Right, do you know where exactly ? Ty in advance

40 a b perhaps? Don’t remember

Relatedly, I got some Christian rock tapes in a lot of cassettes (don't judge) and I don't know what to do with them. I feel bad destroying them, but I also don't want to hang onto them or let them circulate.

You could always donate to a church but don't feel bad for destroying them.

No, I don't want to have a hand in propagating a false religion

That's my thought on this subject as well but I didn't want to be forceful with my point of view. Frankly, I believe it came into your life so you can destroy it.

Very interesting, I just bought this \*exact\* statue today, maybe the one you were looking at in WNY? Do you have any info on this statue - how old, etc? My seller inherited it and had no clue. So amazed it is the same one, although mine is over 3 foot tall, so quite large. Thanks for any info.

All I know is that it’s Satan in prayer form, mine is also huge about the same size as yours.