Community Magazine September 2011

“Perchance there is among you a man or woman, a family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from Hashem our Gd to go worship the gods of those nations…Gd will not be willing to forgive him…” (Devarim 29:17). In other words, Moshe warns the people…not to worship idols, not to believe in the existence of a divine being other than the Almighty. This is a lesson that might seem far more fitting for a preschool class than a group of prophets! Imagine we assembled the greatest rabbinical scholars in the world for a special lecture. The speaker gets up and tells the rabbis that it’s important to believe in Hashem, and not to bow down to statues, warning that Gd punishes people who worship idols. The speaker then thanks the audience and dismisses them. Is this what these great sages need to hear? Do they need to sit in on a ”Judaism for beginners” class? Why did Moshe choose to speak about idolatry after teaching this generation of scholars for 40 years? And didn’t their miraculous existence suffice to confirm for them the truth of Gd’s existence? Dulling Our Spiritual Senses The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe Nahmanides, Spain, 1194 ~ 1270) explained the reason for Moshe’s warning by noting the immediately preceding verses: “For you know that we lived in the land of Egypt, and that we passed through the nations whom you passed, and you saw their detestable and abominable things – the wood, stone, silver and gold that was with them.” Throughout the nation’s stay in Egypt, and on several occasions during their sojourn through the wilderness, they encountered “detestable and abominable things” – idols. They were exposed to idolatry. They did not worship these idols, but they saw them. And this itself posed a spiritual threat. This means that despite the ongoing miracles, the Torah the people studied all day every day directly from the greatest prophet of all time, and the prophetic stature they attained – it was still possible for them to slip into the worship of idolatry. Why? Because they saw it, they were exposed to it at various points over the years. Seeing sinful behavior has an effect. Even if we ourselves do not participate in that behavior, the exposure itself dulls our sensitivity to the impropriety we witness, making it less objectionable than it was in our minds before we viewed it. The sight of idolatry made it possible for the greatest generation in history to become idolaters; the memory of those sights could remain with them and eventually diminish their instinctive revulsion to pagan worship. This insight should send chills down the spine of every conscientious Torah Jew in contemporary society. And it dispels a dangerous misconception that too many people have regarding exposure to sinful behavior. In our current condition, we encounter a dreadful combination of an immoral society, and the incessant exposure to its ills. It would be challenging enough for a religious Jew to survive Dedicated inmemory of Mr. FrankBeda    Save big money on first-class and business class seats by traveling in style with High Class Travel’s domestic and international airfare deals. Whether it’s an important business trip, relaxing family vacation or exciting group event, High Class Travel allows you to fly around in the highest levels of comfort… while paying the lowest prices. Up To 60% Off First-Class And Business Class Ticket Prices Affiliated With Over 50 Global Airline Carriers Ability To Confirm Space On Heavily Booked Flights Discounted Airfare,Hotel & Transportation Packages 23 Robert Pitt Dr. Suite 106E Monsey, New York 10952 212.933.9336 sales@hctny.com www.hctny.com NowThat’s High Class. First-class airline tickets at discounted rates? 14 Community magazine