For millennia, the Jewish people have been buffeted by global forces. This pressure has not only manifested as oppression, expulsion, and extermination, but also as a powerful cultural pull. Although Judaism introduced revolutionary ideas that reshaped ancient civilization—including human dignity, universal education, and the sanctity of life—we have often felt drawn to the beliefs, lifestyles, and value systems of other nations.

Ironically, these nations were often hostile to us. Yet, whenever the door to assimilation opened even slightly, we ran toward it. In Moab, we worshipped Kemosh; in Samaria, we followed Baal; in Babylon, we were drawn to the cults of the Chaldeans; and in Europe, we were attracted to the “enlightenment”.

Historically, it seems that the more accessible the sanctity of Judaism became, the more we were tempted by outside influences. During the First Temple era, when Jews experienced Divine revelation upon entering the Sanctuary, they still worshipped every idol known to man. During the Second Temple era, when the Divine presence was less manifest, idolatry ceased, but internal strife took its place. Jews believed false rumors about their brethren and turned against one another.

(This struggle is a deliberate part of the Divine design. To preserve free choice, G-d ensures we always face balanced options. When holiness is manifest, and everything else pales in comparison, the alternatives are no longer truly competitive. To level the scales, G-d makes other........

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