You shall not have other gods before Me
Idolatry, on the surface, may seem distant from our modern lives. Who among us is bowing to statues? But the core of idolatry isn’t the statue—it’s the mindset. It’s the impulse to avoid hard truths by placing our faith in something easier, more tangible, and more convenient than the invisible, demanding reality of God.
Idolatry is a kind of spiritual conspiracy theory.
Both idolatry and conspiracy theories offer the same psychological shortcut: a way to explain the world without grappling with its true complexity. Idolatry says, “This golden calf will protect me. I don’t have to wait for Moshe or live with uncertainty.” Conspiracy theories say, “There’s a hidden force to blame for everything. I don’t have to wrestle with nuance, evidence, or responsibility.”
What both have in common is a refusal to live with tension, mystery, and faith.
True emunah (faith) demands that we live with the reality of a world where God is hidden (hester panim), where we don’t always get easy answers, but we stay loyal to truth anyway. That’s the real avodah—the hard work—of a believing Jew.
When you’re tempted today to jump to conclusions—about a person, a situation, or the world—pause. Ask yourself: “Am I grasping at something easy, or am I willing to live in truth and complexity?” Then, choose the honest path, even if it’s harder. That is an act of faith. That is the rejection of idolatry.
Set your intention for the day by reciting The Aseret Affirmation: Ten for Ten first thing in the morning.
Wishing you safety and strength,
Nitzan Bergman