Q&A: Figured Stone According to Rashi
Figured Stone According to Rashi
Question
With God's help,
Hello Rabbi, how are you?
I’d be glad if you could help me with a question I’ve gotten a bit stuck on.
Rashi says that the reason for the prohibition of a figured stone outside the Temple is because of the prohibition against making something in the pattern of the Temple (just as it is forbidden to make the form of the Sanctuary hall or the menorah).
According to this reasoning, can one infer whether the prohibition of figured stone applies in the Levite camp?
(Where I’m heading: to the Minchat Chinukh it is clear that according to Rashi’s reasoning, the prohibition of figured stone would apply in the Levite camp, and only in the Divine camp, which is the Temple, would it be permitted. I’m trying to see whether there is any basis to say otherwise.)
Thank you very much,
Answer
I’m not immersed in this topic, but offhand it seems that the Minchat Chinukh is right. The prohibition is against copying it into a place where it does not belong. The Levite camp is also such a place.