Using Antique Serving Dish with Image of Hindu Deity
QUESTION
New York
K’vod HaRav, A member of my community recently acquired an antique brass serving tray. After acquiring it, someone pointed out that the engraving appears to be a scene including a hindu deity. Can he keep the tray? Can it be used for serving if it is covered?
Does this change at all if the actual tray in question has been used to place offerings on in the past? (It is 100 years old. at the time this would have been its use)
New York
K’vod HaRav, A member of my community recently acquired an antique brass serving tray. After acquiring it, someone pointed out that the engraving appears to be a scene including a hindu deity. Can he keep the tray? Can it be used for serving if it is covered?
Does this change at all if the actual tray in question has been used to place offerings on in the past? (It is 100 years old. at the time this would have been its use)
ANSWER
If this is merely ornamental and not meant to be worshiped, and it is also the case that no one suspects that someone who has this tray is worshiping this image, then it is fine. (SA YD 141, and Beur HaGra YD 141:17)
If there is a concern that it was used to make offerings, then it is likely tashmishei avodah zarah (items used for serving avodah zarah), and asur behana’ah mi’doraita (biblically forbidden to derive benefit from) (SA YD 139:1)
