Is it permissible to keep a doll at home?
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Question
Hello, Regarding children's dolls, is it appropriate or obligatory to remove something from them due to the law concerning statues? If so, to what extent and where should it be removed, and does it apply to every doll? Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello,
According to the law, it is permissible to keep dolls at home, as nowadays in our countries, people do not worship human forms, and it is also evident that they are intended for play and not for worship.
However, there are several reasons to be stringent with this rule, so it is correct to damage one of the limbs.
There is another reason to damage a limb, because according to all opinions, it is forbidden to make human forms, and it often happens that a doll's hand or leg breaks off, and a person reattaches them, thus violating the prohibition of creating a form. Only if one limb is damaged first, it will be permissible to reattach it.
There is no specific measure for the damage that needs to be done; the main thing is that the form of one limb is damaged, for example, by removing the form of an ear or the nose.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 141, Se'if 4
Azmara Leshimcha 106