Faith
Is it permitted to keep dolls in the home?
Question
Hello,
Is it permitted to purchase and place in the home a collection of dolls that are kept in a room, for example, a type of doll with a very large head relative to a small body (these are called pop dolls).
And also, regarding a cowboy character doll, is that permitted?
Thank you
Answer
Good week,
As a matter of basic halacha, there is room to be lenient in all of this.
Sources: In Yabia Omer, vol. 3 (Yoreh Deah, siman 8), it was stated that those who customarily buy dolls for their small children for play and amusement have grounds on which to rely. Nevertheless, it is preferable to be strict and not buy dolls made in the form of a complete human figure in all its body parts and limbs, but only a half upper body, or like those that appear from one side only, meaning one eye, half a nose, and a hand and foot. See there. However, in his work Yechaveh Daat, vol. 3 (siman 64, published after Yabia Omer), it was ruled that, from the outset, it is permitted to buy children dolls that are in the form of a complete human figure. See there. And the later ruling is authoritative.
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
