Q&A: About Faces
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
About Faces
Question
I saw that they just published something about an evildoer who ruled in Gaza, listing various traits he supposedly has, based on a kind of face-reading physiognomy.
Is there anything to that?
And if we assume—or for someone who thinks there is something to it—is it permitted to look at a picture and analyze it? After all, it’s forbidden to look at the face of a wicked person…
Answer
I have no idea. It is certainly permitted to look at the face of a wicked person when there is some benefit in doing so. Even without any practical benefit, there is no prohibition here.