Motzei Shabbos: parasha Shelach Lecha 5784 – Unintentional Idolatry
Unintentional sin, within the congregation of B’nei Yisrael required an offering of a goat upon behalf the sinner. Commentary reads that this specifically has to do with idol worship. Today, modern idolatry is less noticeable than overt idol worship; yet, it is prevalent amidst secular society. We must guard against the trappings of materialism, and placing anything before us, as if it is more important than our relationship to HaShem. G-d forbid.
Unless we have clear boundaries, a strong sense of the perimeter around us, figuratively speaking, that will guard us against the inordinate attachment to things that hold no value in the eyes of HaShem, even if they are neutral, then we will diminish our deveykus to HaShem, and undermine the avodah (service) to Him that we strive for.
Amidst all of the lures of a technological society, and secularism writ large, we must find ourselves, secure within our integrity. The opening of the parasha hints at the inner journey we must take into an awareness of ourselves: shelach lecha (go for yourself) can also be rendered as “go to yourself.” Unintentional idolatry must be acknowledged as a detriment to this path.
Moreover, intentional idolatry, according to Torah, is a more serious aveirah (transgression). It is rare in the Western world that anyone, except for those caught up in religious practices that are clearly idolatrous, would forego worship toward G-d, in favor of a so-called deity. It is the difference between worshipping what is the basis for all that exists, and worshipping an illusion.
Yet, we must cast aside our proclivity toward unintentional idolatry, by going deep within ourselves, to make an assessment of where our heart lies in relationship to HaShem. To remove these foreign obstacles from the desire of the heart requires G-d to reveal these inconsistencies within us, so that we may worship Him with sincerity. Shavua tov.
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