Is it problematic to create paper puppets of the Avos, Imahos, Moshe Rabbeinu, etc., for teaching the Parsha?

 

There is indeed reason to approach this with care.

• In a Yechidus with Mrs. Backman, a children’s book illustrator, the Rebbe instructed that when drawing Tzaddikim from Chumash, Nach, or any period in history where their true appearance is unknown, they should be depicted only in side profile and not with a full face. (Kfar Chabad, issue 1072)

• Similarly, in a letter containing instructions from Rabbi Chadokov to an illustrator for Shmuasen (Talks and Tales), he advised against drawing figures from Tanach, though figures from the Gemara are ok. It’s unclear whether this was a direct instruction from the Rebbe. (Teshura Rapoport-Man [Teves 5779], p. 72)

• There’s also a letter from the Rebbe [from the archives of Rabbi Nissan Mandel a”h] to someone who asked about making a film showing the seven prophetesses from the Torah. The Rebbe strongly discouraged it, explaining that when we try to show holy people or events from the Torah, especially when portraying it in a visible form, it’s easy to give the wrong impression. Even if the goal is to inspire people, it can still affect how viewers imagine those holy people – and often not in a respectful or accurate way. (The Letter and the Spirit vol. 2 p. 439 / Rebbe Responsa 14 Tammuz 5741)

• In a Yechidus with the producer of a play depicting the stories of the Avos, the Rebbe cautioned that great care must be taken in how these narratives are portrayed, as children will visualize them that way whenever they learn the stories. (Kfar Chabad, issue 860)

• Finally, in response to someone who used their imagination to draw a picture of the Mitteler Rebbe resembling the Alter Rebbe, and the Rebbe Maharash resembling the Frierdiker Rebbe – despite there being no publicly known images of the Mitteler Rebbe or the Rebbe Maharash – the Rebbe wrote: חס וחלילה וח”ו לצייר תמונות ע”פ הדמיון ולייחסם לרבותינו נשיאינו (Beis Chayenu 5744 vol. 24)

In practice, although one could argue that puppets without defined facial features are different, it would be proper to make them without showing a full face, ideally with the face mostly covered by a Tallis or in a similar manner. Additionally, care should be taken in how the stories are presented, as children will visualize them that way whenever they revisit those stories.

 

ובכלל, להעיר מהמענה ל״משיח טיימס״ (תמוז תשד״מ) בשערי הלכה ומנהג ח״ה ע׳ רלג

 

 

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