Fans were shocked and appalled at Paul McCartney, who was a member of one of the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll bands, The Beatles, accepting a lead roll in a commercial for American Express. What’s the big deal? Well, apparently McCartney’s Beatles (some might take offense and say it’s Lennon’s Beatles) symbolized the anti-establishment movement (the long hair, anti-government, anti-social norms.) In fact, The Beatles presumably were the leaders of such a belief in which government; society and the workforce got it all wrong. The mega-giant company, American Express, represents corporate America,’the establishment’. McCartney, in essence, is raising the white flag and proclaiming by holding the credit card, ‘I’m part of the corporate suits, I’m part of the establishment, and I’m no longer a fighter for the cause.’
In this week’s parsha, Balak, we learn that our Jewish young men were seduced by the daughters of Moav. One of the tools in which Moav used to lure our boys was introducing them to the idol worship Baal Peor. The Gemara relates that those who worshiped Baal Peor would consume various laxatives and then proceed to relieve themselves before the idol. I’m kidding you not; this is what’s required to worship this idol. The more of a disgusting mess one makes, the better one worships. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz asks ‘what is so attractive and extremely appealing about such a gross act?’ Furthermore, one may ask, ‘what’s the connection between sinning with the daughters of Moav and Baal Peor?’
The worship of Baal Peor was an expression of degrading and humiliating one’s Gods, which is the very opposite of their society as a whole, who showed great respect to worshiping idolatry. Seen in a deeper sense, it represents the tearing down of all moral and religious restrictions and prohibitions. The worshipers of Baal Peor proclaimed their complete lack of recognition of any system of values whatsoever. This complete anarchy is their God.
We now see the attractiveness of this worship. The allure of the ideology of permissiveness and lack of any restraints is seen in today’s world resulting in immorality and degradation of society. This was the foresight of the evil Bilam, whose intention was to destroy the Jews; who orchestrated this plan of seduction with devastating results.
We are not allowed to break any laws pertaining to the country in which we reside. This is in accordance with the Torah. This constitutes an act of rebellion and a practice of Baal Peor. G-d said ‘I hate Baal Peor more than any other idol worship.’ The reason is that at least in idol worship, society had some order, rules are followed, and unity is being preserved (although I believe Mayor Bloomberg has gone too far with excessive motor vehicle violations). We have to be law-abiding citizens.
It was hip and ingrained in us to be anti-establishment, anti-government, growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, and testimonial to this rebelliousness, was the popular movie, Animal House, which has Baal Peor written all over it. So many people who saw the film acted out the role of the rebellious crude characters. Even as a Rabbi today, I have a hard time walking into Shul and sitting in the front because we never did it as teenagers, because the anti-establishment sat in the back; it was cool; it was Baal Peor.
The Beatles were extremely talented and took Rock ‘n’ Roll to a much higher level – and some of their messages – through their music, were genuinely good. However, some were dangerously bad. Like many, they used their musical talent to express their opinions. They once performed in front of the Queen of England. Before one song, John Lennon, who had a cynical side to him, instructed the audience, ‘This song needs your participation so I would like the people in the balcony to clap their hands and the people in the front to rattle their jewelry.’ By that remark, Lennon mocked the establishment at its highest level – in front of British Royalty. The Beatles would endure a certain Baal Peor reputation which would radically change by one of their own, approximately twenty-five years later, as Paul McCartney held the American Express card and smiled. |
Tag Archive for Idolatry
Parshat Balak
Boy, Has Time Changed! Well…
Paganism was the way of the world in ancient times. Notice the totally different mindset compared to today’s times where worshiping G-d or Gods is a far second to making money, physical health, etc. One particular idol worshiping was pretty unique. It’s fascinating how the sages describe Ba’al Peor. We discussed in last year’s parshat Balak’s newsletter about how G-d is repulsed at whoever worships Ba’al Peor. What is so terrible about Ba’al Peor? Well, its a little funny how one worships it. He urinates and excretes on it. That sounds more like a lack of respect and disregard for that particular idol worship, doesn’t it ? This is precisely what the philosophy of Ba’al Peor is all about. Its a rebellious disregard for idol worship. So whats wrong with that? one might say. The world should believe in one G-d, right? Not so, worshiping Ba’al Peor means to cause confusion in the world, a total irresponsibility. There are no laws, not civil nor religious. Everybody’s free and anything can go; sounds like Woodstock. Nevertheless, G-d would rather have a paganistic society and have law and order in the land then to follow him as opposed to having a animistic free-for-all.
It’s funny, Ba’al Peor didn’t start that way. It evolved from something completely different. Many years before worshipers would be so focused on there paganistic G-d, they would develop such a fear that they would unconsciously urinate and excrete. The fear factor level was such, when they reached that level of an “accident”, then they fulfilled their worship requirement. Whomever is familiar with physiology knows fear and worry causes a need to relieve oneself..
So we see Ba’al Peor evolved from one philosophy to something strangely different. Pretty frustrating for the initial people who had a completely different intent. Although they’ve been dead for hundreds of years so it doesn’t matter one iota. Perhaps, one should be proud of Judaism. Although there have been minor trimmings over the years and those changes were inevitable and by design (rice on Pesach yes,no or whatever depending on your custom) the core of Torah and its laws are the same. If one thinks about that, its mind-boggling!!
Following these laws that were traditionally kept precisely like our ancestors did several thousand years ago sprouts a real good feeling. Although with modern technology it’s a lot easier for us, we’re doing the same Shabbat table; singing Shabbat songs as they did and being off key as they did. Lastly having a l’chaim as they did.
I guess this is one of the lessons we can learn from Ba’al Peor. Our religion is here to stay, Baruch Hashem.
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Man’s Dark Side – Cruelty
In this week’s Parsha, we read something very peculiar. If there is a city, Ir Hanidachas – in which all profess to be idol-worshippers, it’s a commandment in the Torah to wipe out the city. Can the Torah actually mean to kill them? WOW, to kill a fellow Jew!! Yes. One is required to burn the city and destroy the inhabitants and the property as well. The peculiarity continues further: “I will instill in you mercy to those who have followed this commandment.” It seems like G-d is giving them a special bracha for this action, a special protection. Why does the person doing G-d’s commandment of destroying the city need a special bracha of the attribute of mercy?
Rabbi Baruch Dopelt who quotes the Or Hachaim Hakadosh says that when one goes to war, he presumably needs to use the attribute of din – justice – to perform his duties. What tends to happen is that human nature will gravitate more and more, deeper into extreme justice. In other words, he might go overboard. The monster will come out. Dr. Goldman, the Psychologist at the Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, says the external brings out, wakes up, the internal. The act of war manifests cruelty.
We have the potential to develop an array of characters within us and through our experience, though sometimes at no fault of ours, strengthens a good or bad character. For example, the character of kindness, a virtue of our forefather, Abraham, was developed to a level where no man has gone there before. By physically bringing in guests, he strengthened the character of kindness within his heart. On the other hand, war is an environment where one can lose his humanity. He can turn into a savage beast. Even children can become savages. Does anybody remember the Lord of the Flies?
A cruel person is called an ACH-ZAR. If one notices, ACH means brother and ZAR means stranger. In other words, he acts like a stranger to his brothers. Dr. Goldman says this is an accurate definition of a cruel person because a cruel person’s compassion, which is the opposite of cruelty, is misguided. The Nazis showed great love and compassion to their dogs; however tortured and killed, in the most inhumane way, people.
People approached the great Rabbi, Reb Moshe Feinstein, many years ago, whether to boycott German products. He said no. Reb Moshe said the potential of cruelty is in everybody. It all depends on the leader. Their character manifests and magnifies itself on the whole nation.
We have to be careful in the friends we choose; same goes with the neighborhood. It’s not the George’s house with the jacuzzi; however, more important, the neighbors surrounding it. School and jobs are important too. It’s the characters we encounter daily, that have an influence on us. It rubs off; something is in the air. So we have to be careful with negative characters that could penetrate and filter in.
King David was prohibited to build the Holy Temple. The Temple represents peace. David was in many wars where cruelty was prevalent. Perhaps some of that war stuff rubbed off.
We see a special bracha was needed to preserve and sanctify G-d’s name. When these soldiers went to destroy Ear Hanidachas -city of idol-worshippers, they will be protected by a special bracha of preventing the cruelty to escalate. This is against human nature and indeed a miracle. |