There are some synagogues that invite artists to paint decorative illustrations on the synagogue walls, often depicting different kinds of animals. Is it permissible to pray facing a wall containing these kinds of pictures, or is this forbidden as it gives the appearance of worshipping these images?
The Ben Ish Hai (Rabbi Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Yitro, distinguishes in this regard between pictures drawn on the wall itself, and images that protrude from the wall. In the case of illustrations drawn on the wall, the Ben Ish Hai writes, one may pray facing the wall provided that he closes the eyes to demonstrate that he does not intend to worship the pictures. When it comes, however, to images that protrude from the wall, the Ben Ish Hai forbids praying facing toward the wall, even if one closes his eyes.
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, disagrees, and allows praying even facing a protruding image of an animal and the like, so long as one closes his eyes. In his view, no distinction should be drawn between two-dimensional and three-dimensional images in this regard, and in all cases one may pray toward a wall with pictures if he closes his eyes.
Hacham Ovadia adds, however, that it is improper for a synagogue to have such images on the wall toward which people pray. In many synagogues, pictures of lions are embroidered upon the Parochet (cloth covering the ark). Hacham Ovadia cites numerous sources that indicate that such a practice is improper, since the entire synagogue faces toward the ark during prayer. Among the sources cited by Hacham Ovadia is the Abkat Rochel (work of responsa by Maran, author of the Shulhan Aruch). Hacham Ovadia cites this ruling from the Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806), as well. He adds that synagogues that currently have such a Parochet should replace it with a Parochet that does not have embroidered pictures of animals.
Summary: It is permissible to pray facing a wall with pictures of animals and the like, provided that one prays with his eyes closed. It is improper, however, for synagogues to allow images on the Parochet or anywhere else along the wall toward which people face when they pray.
