How Idolatry Could Destroy Shabbos and Yom Tov

Parshat Mishpatim 

by Rabbi Avi Billet

A few verses into Chapter 23, the Torah effortlessly transitions from speaking about the Shmittah year to speaking of Shabbos, and from there it goes into the other holidays. Before it speaks of the holidays, however, it slips in a small verse that seems out of place, in that it warns about observing all that God has instructed and not mentioning the names of other gods. 

שמות פרק כג

 (י) וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ... (יא) וְהַשְּׁבִיעִ֞ת תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּ֗הּ... (יב) שֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת... (יג) וּבְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ וְשֵׁ֨ם אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ לֹ֣א תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ לֹ֥א יִשָּׁמַ֖ע עַל־פִּֽיךָ: (יד) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֔ים תָּחֹ֥ג לִ֖י בַּשָּׁנָֽה: (טו) אֶת־חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֘ תִּשְׁמֹר֒... 

Considering that the topic has genuinely changed to speaking of the Shabbos and holidays, this verse seems out of place. Further considering that most commentaries follow the same line of thinking, that this is a warning to not be a partner with idolators in business for they may force you to swear in the name of their god (or they might swear on account of you) – there doesn’t seem to be any connection to the holidays at all. 

Here is a sampling of some of the commentaries who think otherwise. We will regroup after reading their remarks. 

 Baal HaTurim: The reference to not mentioning other gods is connected to the 3 festivals to teach you that anyone who denigrates the festivals is considered as if serving foreign gods (based on Pesachim 118a). This idolatry is mentioned closest to the holiday of Pesach as if to suggest that “just as idolatry is forbidden from benefit in even the tiniest amount, so is Hametz forbidden on Pesach in even the tiniest amount.” (Pesachim 30a) 

Alshikh: “All that I told you” refers to the first two of the Ten Commandments – I am the Lord your God, and you shall not have any other gods before Me, not to make images or bow to/serve them – and now it is added that you shall not recall their names aloud. Through this you prevent the power of tumah from influencing the land. 

 Or HaChaim: The number of positive mitzvos is 248, and the number of negative ones are 365 (corresponding to the numbers of limbs and organs in the body). A person shouldn’t think that doing a certain number of mitzvos is sufficient to protect oneself from sin. Each mitzvah a person avoids (or sin one violates) has a negative impact on the organ/limb that it correspond to. As such, the number of fulfilled/guarded mitzvos helps guard oneself from idolatry, since rejecting idolatry is as if one agrees with all of the Torah. 

R Ramson Raphael Hirsch: This verse introduces us to the concept of a s’yag l’Torah – a fence protecting the Torah and its observance. 

In simple terms, then, this reference to avoiding speaking of idolatry being placed between a reference to Shabbos and all the other holidays may be coming to remind us of the distinction between Shabbos being described as 'כלו לה, and the holidays being considered as חצי לה' וחצי לכם. Shabbos is meant to be designated toward the service of God, while holidays are a time when we split our time – focusing halfways on God and the other half on our own enjoyment of the celebratory time. 

 It is entirely possible that if someone were to bring up an idol in the context of the resting time of a holiday that it may put a person on a bad path, or may take a person’s mind away from appreciating the Almighty favorably. 

The Torah is telling us, “Don’t go there.” The Torah is reminding us of the Ten Commandments. The Torah is presenting us with the importance of ALL the mitzvos. It is placing before us a protection for the land, so it is not invaded by foreign ideas, especially in a time when we are free to think and are not busied by our regular vocations and daily pursuits. 

Our challenge today is far less idolatry, but far more “distractions.” One could easily argue that our distractions, which are primarily technology and media, take us away from our spiritual pursuits, and would even take us away from our holiday observance if we are not careful. 

 Heaven knows that Alshich’s warning about tumah being brought in is most relevant. I remember as a child when one of the rebbeim came into our class and asked what we thought about allowing strangers into our living room conducting conversations that we don’t approve of, but allowing them to continue because we actually want to hear what they have to say, even if everything they say goes against our values? He told us that parable was what watching television was about (mostly referencing sitcoms and certain toxic talk shows).

 It may not always be true – sometimes it’s purely entertainment, informational, or educational. But can you imagine what our Shabbos and Yom Tov would look like if we hadn’t taken the bold move to say “this is not Shabbosdik” “We don’t use electricity in that way on Shabbos and Yom Tov.” “Though we could technically leave it on before Shabbos or Yom Tov, doing so would ruin the spirit of the day.” 

Let this verse forever serve as a reminder to us that even Shabbos and Yom Tov are targets for where idolatry can sneak its way in to destroy us. 

The Torah is telling us, DON’T TAKE THE BAIT. Remember who you are and don’t allow foreign influence to destroy that which you hold most precious and most dear. 

There is a time and place for almost everything. Shabbos and Yom Tov is about divesting from that which takes us away from holiness. The most unholy thing, the opposite of holiness, is idolatry and tumah. 

We should be blessed to keep ourselves as clean and pure as possible, especially when we are observing the holy days of Shabbos and Tom Tov.