This week's Torah portion, Shoftim, communicates the following interesting commandment: "You shall not erect for yourself a pillar; this is something which the Lord your G-d despises." The most basic biblical commentator, Rash, explains this as a prohibition against erecting an altar of a single stone, even if the intent was to use this altar as a place for Divine worship, where offerings would be presented to G-d.
Though the Torah elsewhere allows the existence of altars made of stone in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and in the Tabernacle in the desert, Rashi explains that this is only true of altars composed of many stones, not of a single stone.
But what's the logic? Does it make a difference whether you present an offering on an altar of one stone or of many stones? Rashi explains that the difference is not intrinsic but historical. In the times of the Patriarchs, Rashi writes, our forefathers built single stone pillars for Divine service, and "it was beloved by G-d." However, once the Canaanites adopted this practice and began building single-stone altars for idolatrous offerings, including the horrific practices of ancient idolatry, G-d rejected them.
But why? Just because some tribes used the single stone for idolatry, can't we use it in a productive and meaningful way? The Pagans would also worship the sun, the moon, or water, but we still use them and enjoy them in a beneficial way.
Embracing Diversity
What this prohibition against the single-stone pillar may be teaching us is that though there is one G-d, the altars constructed by the human being to serve Him should not, and could not be of one stone, of one color, dimension, shape and quality.
In paganism, or modern atheism, a human being creates a god, or some higher power, in his or her own individual image. My mind and ego define what is essential, and what is of supreme importance. When god is a product of my image, that god is inevitably defined by the properties of that image. Since no two human images are identical, it follows that your god, the god of your image, cannot serve as my god as well. My god must be worshiped in my way, based on my perception of who he is and what he stands for. My altar must be constructed of one stone: my own. Sure, I will tolerate those people and views that my "image" of my god can make peace with. But if you step out of line, I will hunt you down. I have no genuine room for your position.
The faith of Judaism, the idea of Monotheism, declares the oneness of G-d and the plurality of man. The transcendental G-d of Judaism transcends the natural universe but also any spiritual definition. G-d is undefined by any form, shape, or characteristic, physical or spiritual. We do not create Him in our image; He creates us in His image. Judaism thus challenges me to see G-d's image in the one who is not in my image, for every person knows and feels something about reality, about truth, about G-d that no one else does.
None of us knows all the truth and each of us knows some of it. Like a symphony composed of many notes, each of us constitutes an individual note in the divine symphony, and together we complete the music. If G-d wanted you and me to experience Him and serve Him in the same way, one of us would be superfluous.
