לא תעשה לך פסל וכל תמונה (יתרו כ:ד)

When Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt’’l needed a photo for his passport, his Chassidim made special arrangements that he wouldn’t need one. When Maran saw his passport missing a picture, he asked what happened.

The Chassidim replied that they made special arrangements so Maran wouldn’t need to be photographed. Maran told them, “I also know the ‘יערות דבש’” – alluding to the teachings of the Sefer Yaros Devash by HaGoan Reb Yonasan Eibeshitz zt’’l, which talks about the unholiness of taking people’s pictures. “But even though I don’t want to be different than everyone else,” concluded Maran.