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Jewish World Review Feb. 4, 2005 / 25 Shevat, 5765 Love and idolatry By Rabbi David Aaron How the human condition has   —  and hasn't   —   advanced http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Getting out of Egypt and the receiving of the Torah at Sinai was more than a political emancipation of the Jewish people. These miraculous events caused within us a spiritual transformation. The Jews were not only physically enslaved but also spiritually enmeshed in Egyptian culture. Egypt was the epitome of egotism and haughtiness. But in truth we all know that in actuality, a person is egotistical because he lacks true self-esteem and confidence in his self-worth. His haughty airs are really a cover-up, a guise. He is trying to compensate for his painful sense of inadequacy and insecurity. Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher living in the Twelfth century, explains that humanity's lack of self-worth was what led them to idolatry. He explains that the ancients were unable to fathom that G-d would personally care about them. Therefore, they sought out help from an intermediate power other than G-d. They believed that their lives were guided by the power of the stars because G-d, the Creator, does not personally care about them. They reasoned, "Of what worth are we that the Creator would have any regard for our situation?" This despairing attitude is false. A verse in the Torah reads, "Make no mention of other gods….Three times you shall celebrate festival unto Me." The Sages explain this odd juxtaposition: "This is to teach us that anyone who disgraces the festival is as if performs idolatry." In other words, celebrating the holidays such as Passover, Shavuos and Sukkos affirms our belief that G-d loves us and personally takes care of us; there is no need for any intermediaries between us. To think otherwise is the beginning of idolatry. G-d's love and care for us is unconditional and, therefore, in the times when the Temple stood in Jerusalem we were obligated to come there and we were, so to speak, worthy to greet G-d face to face. Of-course the presence of G-d fills the earth and we are in His presence wherever. However, in Jerusalem that truth is more readily experienced. In truth, we are always connected to G-d. However, three times a year on the holidays of Passover, Shavuos and Sukkos we are able to readily feel that truth without preparation. The Torah refers to a Festival as a Moed, which literally means "to meet." The portable sanctuary that the Jews carried with them in the desert was called the Ohel Moed  —  the Meeting Tent. It was a place to meet G-d. The Festivals, however, are a time to meet G-d. The Torah also refers to a festival as a Mikra Kodesh a "Calling of Holiness," because it calls forth from each of us our innate holiness and Godliness. Therefore, to deny yourself the celebration of a Moed  —  a direct meeting with G-d  —  is as if to accept the claim of idolatry; that G-d doesn't love and care about you because you are insignificant and, therefore, unworthy of His personal attention. On the holidays even a simpleton with no preparation could experience a sudden quantum leap in his spiritual level and feel worthy to enjoy a personal loving relation with G-d. Every day each and every one of us is befitting to bask in G-d's loving presence but some days it easier to feel that joyous truth. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes uplifting articles. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. To comment, please click here. JUST RELEASED! Rabbi Aaron's latest! The Secret Life of G-d   You've been inspired by our master teacher's weekly column. He's provocative. He makes you think. You should consider purchasing his books. Sales help fund JWR. JWR contributor Rabbi David Aaron is the founder and dean of Isralight, an international organization with programming in Israel, New York South Florida, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Toronto. He has taught and inspired thousands of Jews who are seeking meaning in their lives and a positive connection to their Jewish roots. He is the author of the newly released, The Secret Life of G-d, and also the author of Endless Light: The Ancient Path of Kabbalah to Love, Spiritual Growth and Personal Power , Seeing G-d and Love is my religion. (Click on links to purchase books. Sales help fund JWR.) He lives in the old City of Jerusalem with his wife and their seven children. © 2005, Rabbi David Aaron