Let's Talk about the Golden Calf

 Dear Friends,


A question for you....

This Shabbat we read about the incident of the Golden Calf from the Biblical book of Exodus. Should we consider it the "sin" of the Golden Calf, the "episode" of the Golden Calf, the "incident" of the Golden Calf or something else?

Moses disappeared up Mt. Sinai to have his meeting with G-d and return with the Torah, Ten Commandments or whatever we believe Moses received from G-d during those 40 days.  Our ancestors were getting lonely and afraid that perhaps their leader wasn't going to return.

So they built a Golden Calf...

Was it an idol, was it a substitute for G-d, or was it something that would keep our ancestors' minds and hearts occupied?

Let's think about our American Jewish experience.  How much effort do we put into our worship of G-d through attending services?  How much effort do we put into the raising of funds for our synagogue buildings?  Would we suggest that our building funds are the modern version of building an idol?  

Or...

Is it possible that the building of the Golden Calf was their way of expressing their spirituality while they waited for Moses to return.  They may have not understood the message of monotheism and may have been trying to be spiritual by doing something with which they were familiar.  We remember that during the portion of Terumah, we were incredibly generous as we contributed to the building of the portable Tabernacle.  We know that not everyone connects to the Divine in the same way.  What are acceptable boundaries to spirituality and when do we go too far?  Those of us who are involved in synagogue life know that there are intense debates over what is acceptable religiously. Perhaps the Calf was the best they could do at that time and subsequently when Moses returned, they realized that they had missed the mark.  Each of us grows during our lives and has incidents where we may not have done the holy thing and have paid a price.  Our ancestors, including Moses didn't get into the Promised Land, and it was the next generation under the leadership of Joshua that finally made it into Canaan.

What do I learn from this portion?  It is easy to judge people for their actions and that Aaron did the best he could do to keep peace among our ancestors.  I hope that we will not judge Aaron or our people at that time too harshly.   I am reminded of the following poem, read to me often by my father (See below) which I have tried to put into practice. May these words inspire us to be more willing to give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to how people express  their Jewish identities (and maybe in other areas of our lives as well).

Shavua tov,

Rabbi Bruce Aft

    The House by the Side of the Road

      THERE are hermit souls that live withdrawn
      In the place of their self-content;
      There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
      In a fellowless firmament;
      There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths
      Where highways never ran-
      But let me live by the side of the road
      And be a friend to man.

      Let me live in a house by the side of the road
      Where the race of men go by-
      The men who are good and the men who are bad,
      As good and as bad as I.
      I would not sit in the scorner's seat
      Nor hurl the cynic's ban-
      Let me live in a house by the side of the road
      And be a friend to man.

      I see from my house by the side of the road
      By the side of the highway of life,
      The men who press with the ardor of hope,
      The men who are faint with the strife,
      But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,
      Both parts of an infinite plan-
      Let me live in a house by the side of the road
      And be a friend to man.

      I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
      And mountains of wearisome height;
      That the road passes on through the long afternoon
      And stretches away to the night.
      And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
      And weep with the strangers that moan,
      Nor live in my house by the side of the road
      Like a man who dwells alone.

      Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
      Where the race of men go by-
      They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
      Wise, foolish - so am I.
      Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
      Or hurl the cynic's ban?
      Let me live in my house by the side of the road
      And be a friend to man.

      Sam Walter Foss








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