Pisqa’ 14614H:185; JN2:7. 1. “Neither shall you erect for yourself a pillar” (Dt.16:22)— I might infer only that we should not erect a pillar. How do I know that this applies as well to [an image worshipped in] a foreign cult?15Cf. Mechilta Shimon-Nelson, p. 238. Reason dictates this! Just as the pillar was cherished by the Patriarchs (e.g., Gn.28:18), but hateful to their descendants (e.g., Ezek.16:17), it is reasonable that [an image worshipped in] a foreign cult, which was hateful to the Patriarchs, should also be hateful to their descendants!
(דברים טז כב) וְלֹא תָקִים לְךָ מַצֵּבָה, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מַצֵּבָה. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִנַּיִן? וְדִין הוּא: וּמָה מַצֵּבָה, שֶׁאֲהוּבָה לָאָבוֹת – שְׂנוּאָה לַבָּנִים, עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁשְּׂנוּאָה לָאָבוֹת – דִּין הוּא שֶׁתְּהֵא שְׂנוּאָה לַבָּנִים!
Pisqa’ 14614H:185; JN2:7.
1. “Neither shall you erect for yourself a pillar” (Dt.16:22)—
I might infer only that
we should not erect a pillar.
How do I know that
this applies as well to
[an image worshipped in] a foreign cult?15Cf. Mechilta Shimon-Nelson, p. 238.
Reason dictates this!
Just as the pillar was cherished by the Patriarchs (e.g., Gn.28:18),
but hateful to their descendants (e.g., Ezek.16:17),
it is reasonable that
[an image worshipped in] a foreign cult,
which was hateful to the Patriarchs,
should also be hateful to their descendants!