Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
I can’t comprehend how the Jewish people could commit the sin of the Golden Calf! How, after witnessing the Ten Plagues, the Splitting of the Sea, and hearing Hashem speak directly to them at Mount Sinai, could they immediately turn to idol worship?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
The Golden Calf Sin Explained: A Deeper Look at a National Crisis
The sin of the Golden Calf is very complicated and often misunderstood. While it may have seemed like a straightforward act of idol worship, the great commentaries explain that something much deeper was taking place.
When discussing the sins of the Jews in the desert, we must realize that they were on an exceptionally high spiritual level, and the struggles we face today would have been trivial to them. Therefore, the Satan had to employ far greater measures to entrap them. As Chazal (our Sages) teach (Sukkah 52a), “Kol hagodol meichaveiro yitzro godol heimenu—Whoever is greater than his fellow, his Evil Inclination is greater than him.” The purpose of life is to face challenges and overcome them, so as a person continues to grow, the Satan continually raises the bar, ensuring the challenges match his greatness.
Why the Jews Believed Moshe Was Gone
When Moshe ascended Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) to receive the Torah, he told the Jewish people that he would return in 40 days. However, the people mistakenly understood that the day of his ascent was included in the count. In reality, Moshe meant 40 full days and nights, with the count only beginning on the following day. Seizing on this confusion, the Satan showed them a vision of Moshe’s coffin in the sky. Convinced he should have already returned, the people were misled into believing Moshe had died.
The Symbolism Behind the Calf
Faced with their leader’s apparent demise, they panicked and looked for a replacement. Their choice of a calf was not random; rather, it was rooted in a profound spiritual idea. In the heavenly realms, Hashem’s Merkavah (Divine Chariot), as revealed to Yechezkel HaNavi (the prophet Ezekiel), includes four spiritual forces represented by four forms: the lion, the eagle, the human, and the ox. The people had no intention of creating an idol to worship; rather, they aimed to establish the spiritual force of the ox to serve as their intermediary in Moshe’s place. The Golden Calf they fashioned was intended to embody the spiritual ox above. Indeed, as soon as Moshe returned, they all recognized their error and abandoned the eigel completely, allowing Moshe to burn it.
How the Eirev Rav Turned It into Idol Worship
However, among the Jewish people was a group known as the Eirev Rav—a mixed multitude of individuals from other nations who had joined the Jewish people when they left Egypt. Though they converted and became part of the nation, many remained attached to their idolatrous ways. It was this group that corrupted the eigel (calf), distorting its original purpose and transforming it into an object of idol worship. Sadly, a small portion of Jews was influenced by the Eirev Rav and was swept up in their idol worship, while the rest of the nation was guilty for standing by quietly, which constituted silent consent. This aroused Hashem’s wrath, and Moshe had to intercede on their behalf to save the nation.
Understanding the Sin Through the Eyes of Our Sages
Ultimately, when trying to understand the Golden Calf sin (Eigel HaZahav) and other sins of our ancestors, we need to realize that much more was happening beneath the surface than meets the eye. True understanding can only be achieved through the insights of our great commentators.
In short: The Golden Calf was not intended for idol worship. They were seeking a replacement for Moshe, whom they presumed dead, by creating a physical manifestation of the spiritual ox in Heaven. Only a small group of converts, still attached to idolatry, turned it into an idol.
Have another question to ask a rabbi? You can ask Rabbi Mintz your own question at asktherabbi@oorah.org, or head to oorah.org/asktherabbi/ to watch the latest Q&As or join Ask the Rabbi Live, Tuesdays at 9PM ET.
