It says in Rosh Hashanah 24a that one may not make a Shulchan or Menorah similar to the one which was used in the Beis ha'Mikdash.
I was wondering if it is permitted to make a full scale model of the Mizbe'ach or Aron ha'Kodesh in order to demonstrate the Haza'os of Yom Kipur.
Does it make a difference what material the model is made of? Will it help if the model is made from two pieces that are placed one on top of the other (not attached, but just piled up)?
Thanks!
[This Teshuvah is not intended as Psak Halachah, rather as an exploration of the issues involved. For actual cases, please refer to your local Orthodox rabbi.]
The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 24b, Avodah Zarah 43b) says that one is permitted to make images of certain things that are normally forbidden (because of their connection with Avodah Zarah) in order to better understand certain Halachos connected with them. Therefore, Raban Gamliel was able to make images of the moon as part of the process of determing the day of Rosh Chodesh.
The prohibition of making replicas of the Keilim of the Beis ha'Mikdash shares the same source as the prohibition of making images of the sun and the moon (Shemos 20:20). Therefore, the special dispensation that applies to making images of the sun and the moon for learning purposes, would seem to apply to the Keilim as well. This seems especially true according to the opinion of the Rambam.
According to the Rambam (Hilchos Beis ha'Bechirah 7:10), the prohibition of making replicas of the Temple and the Keilim is a Mitvas Aseh, whereas the prohibition of making images of the sun and the moon and certain other images is a proper Lav. The Minchas Chinuch (Mitzvah 39) explains that the Rambam holds that, whereas making images of the sun and moon is prohibited because of their connection to Avodah Zarah, making replicas of the Temple and the Keilim is prohibited as an expression of Mora Mikdash.
Furthermore, we have a rule (Shulchan Aruch YD 141:8) that applies to making replicas of the Temple implements: the replica can be made in any way such that its use would be invalid in the Temple. For example, it would be permissible to make a wooden replica of the Menorah (Shach, 141:35), because the Menorah has to be made from metal (but not necessarily gold).
Therefore, it would certainly be permissible to make a full-scale replica of the Mizbe'ach or Aron if it was in some way invalid - let's say it's made from cardboard; and as we said above, there is room to say that it would be permissible even if it was usable in the Temple, since it is being made in order to better understand Halachah.
Kol Tuv,
Yonasan Sigler