In this week's Torah portion, the Israelites dabble in idol worship, building the notorious Golden Calf while awaiting Moses’ return from the mountain.
The word for “idol” in English comes from a Greek word for image or form. However, the Hebrew word for idolatry is “avodah zara” The word “avodah” means both worship and work.”Zara” can mean strange or in some cases estranged. We learn that there is a fine line between the holy and the profane and we cross it when we become estranged from one another, from truth and in turn from our best selves.
The antidote to idolatry is connection. We are less susceptible to false assurances and easy solutions when bolstered by the support of our community. Care for one another is the way we make our “avodah”, our work and worship substantive and meaningful.
Our Torah portion challenges us to respond to fear and insecurity by seeing and hearing one another with compassion. To forgo the instant gratification of a shiny idol for the lasting value of relationships imbues our lives with enduring meaning and holiness.
