Three grave sins

Hi,

"Rabbi Avahu said: The [Heavenly] curtains do not hide three sins [from Divine sight]: Oppression, theft, and idolatry."

אמר רבי אבהו: שלשה אין הפרגוד ננעל בפניהם: אונאה, וגזל, ועבודה זרה... 

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Producing the forms of idols

Hi,

The Torah's 27th mitzvah (in the Sefer haChinuch's count) prohibits a Jew from manufacturing or owning idols, and the Torah's 39th mitzvah forbids the creation of three-dimensional forms of human beings, whether for worship or for general enjoyment.

Animal forms may be sculpted, so long as they are only intended for enjoyment rather than worship.

In addition, our sages have understood the biblical text to prohibit creating forms of celestial bodies and angels, as well as human beings. The prohibition even includes creating forms mimicking the different parts of the Beit haMikdash.

There is some dispute regarding producing an idol which will not be worshipped. Rambam ruled that forming an idol is prohibited regardless of the idol's purpose; Ramban ruled that forming an idol is prohibited only if the intent is for worship. If an item has been worshipped by non-Jews in the past, but its own followers have rejected it, then that item does not retain the status of an idol.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How bad is a lie?

Hi,

"One who speaks falsely is as though he worships idolatry." [A scriptural basis follows, but translating it into English would not aid the reader.]

(Kallah Rabti 2:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why did Moshe break the tablets?

Hi,

"On what basis did Moshe conclude that he should break the Tablets [when he saw the Jews worshipping with the Golden Calf]?

"He said: The Pesach offering is only one of 613 mitzvot, and yet the Torah says, 'No idolater may eat from it,' here I am holding the entire Torah and the Jews are rebelling against Gd, how much more so!"

(Talmud, Yevamot 62a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Divine outrage

Hi,

"A philosopher asked Rabban Gamliel: It is written in your Torah, 'For HaShem your Gd is a consuming flame, an outraged Gd.' Why is Gd outraged at the worshippers, but not of the idol itself?

"Rabban Gamliel responded: I will give you a comparison. Imagine a king who had a son. The son acquired a dog and called it by his father's name. When the son swore oaths, he swore 'In the name of my father the dog.' When the king hears of this, upon whom will his anger fall, on the dog or on his son?"

(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 54b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Three ways to get Gd's [negative] attention

Hi,

"Rabbi Avahu said: There are three things from which Gd's sight is never blocked [i.e. He always sees these events and acts on them]: Cheating people, theft, and idolatry."

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The music of idols

Hi,

"When Solomon married the daughter of the Pharaoh, she brought him one thousand musical instruments. She said, "So they play for this idol, and so they play for this idol," and he did not protest."

(Talmud, Shabbat 56b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Belief in multiple gods

Hi,

"A Jew who joins the Name of Heaven with anything else is uprooted from the world, as per (Exodus 22:19), 'One who sacrifices to a god will be destroyed, other than to Gd alone.'"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 63a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Miserliness leads to idolatry and denial of Gd

Hi,

“Do not make gold the source of your foolishness, for this is the genesis of idolatry. Spread your money around, for this is Gd’s Will. It is within His capacity to fill your lacking and to provide food for your household.”

(Orchot Chaim of the Rosh, #29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Divine outrage at idolatry

Hi,

"A philosopher asked Rabban Gamliel: It is written in your Torah, 'For HaShem your Gd is a consuming flame, an outraged Gd.' Why is Gd outraged at the worshippers, but not at the idol itself?

"Rabban Gamliel responded: I will give you a comparison. Imagine a king who had a son. The son acquired a dog and called it by his father's name. When the son swore oaths, he swore 'In the name of my father the dog.' When the king hears of this, upon whom will his anger fall, on the dog or on his son?”

(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 54b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sacred meals

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon said: If three people eat at a table and do not speak words of Torah, it is as though they eat from the offerings of dead [i.e. idolatry]... But if three people eat at a table and they speak words of Torah, it is as though they eat from Gd's table."

(Pirkei Avot 3:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai