Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar concluded a visit to the Jewish community in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
He was hosted by Rabbi Mendel Pewsner, the city’s Chief Rabbi and Chabad Shliach and Mark Gruberg, chairman of the local community.
The visit was jam-packed, beginning with the first Congress of Rabbis of Russia, a Farbrengen for Tammuz 12 in Cheder Menachem, inagurating a Bukharian shul and welcoming a new Torah to the city’s main synagogue.
Amar also took the time to learn about Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad and author of the Tanya, Shulchan Aruch HaRav, and Siddur Torah Or.
Amar visited Petropavlovski fortress where the Alter Rebbe was imprisoned for 53 days in 1798. He later visited the a local wax museum which includes a wax figure of the Rebbe in a lifelike pose.
There is a statue of the Maharal in Prague.
learn gemorah rosh hashono
#1 made by a goy
and #2 its only avodah zoroh if it was made for the purpose of avodah zoroh
I am not stating my opinion whether this should be done or not
just saying
its not avodah zoroh
Maybe it has changed since I was there, but I have a photograph of the scene, with the Czar and company standing, and the Alter Rebbe seated.
almost all the coments here r arguments!!! its osur…its muter…it was made by goyim…! its actualy funny ‘cuz idk wich side 2 go for, so il just sit back and watch how the comments go by!!!!!!! =)
I don’t like the idea of this at all, I’m sick in the stomach…
the wax figure was made most probably by goyim, for goyim – what’s ASSUR ASSUR ASSUR about that?
the sculpture wasn’t made by a jew, so its perfectly permissible according to halacha.
you are saying that its good the fact that there is a wax statue of the alter rebbe isnt it assur
actually the alter Rebbe is standing because it is a scene of wax figures depicting the story of the czar coming in plain clothes to the AR’s cell and the Alter Rebbe still knew who he was and stood up and the czar was amazed
Guys get over yourselves this wax figure was made by the museum. Why do we only see the negative in everything, observe the respect that Russia gives to Chabad considering its history.
i go with you
who did the pictures?
The “local wax museum” is IN the prison, which was burned down and later rebuilt. There is an exhibit there with the Alter Rebbe, who is SITTING, while his esteemed guests stand near him! (Yes, I was there.)
Rachmanah Letzlan!!! ASUR ASUR ASUR ASUR!!!!!!!!!!!
those pictures are amazing. its so cool to see russia the way it looks now and to see the cell of the alter is the most amazing.
I do not like it! What are the halachas on this and what is the reasoning behind this creation?
An embarrassment too
To #1: Pictures of the Rebbe all over are now standard, in super large size; in mini-size hanging in the cribs; all over…
I have always wondered: Isn’t it chitzoniyus to be so tied to an image – isn’t it all about the Neshama Klalis? Does it really matter what guf it comes in?