It’s a bit of a comedown after the lovely interactions with Yitro and then the 10 Commandments. There is an interesting directional aspect to this little section:
v19 - Heavens
v20 - silver and gold idols
v21 - an altar of earth
It’s quite literally “earthy” or “down to earth”. It’s like the tile of that book - After the Ecstasy the Laundry by Jack Kornfield. The Torah is taking us back down Mount Sinai after the Revelation - the highest point of the Jewish story.
So is it all a bit blah once you get down the mountain? Well this verse says no. Rather the humblest locations - an altar of earth is made holy. As is every place where God’s name is mentioned.
There’s a very sweet portrait of the great sage Hillel the Elder, and he’s probably a little bit tipsy because this was the Water Drawing Celebration and renowned for being the best party of the year!
Hillel the Elder is probably a little tipsy. He tells us his thoughts about joy.
It is taught in the Tosefta: They said about Hillel the Elder that when he was rejoicing at the Celebration of the Place of the Drawing of the Water he said this: If I am here, everyone is here; and if I am not here, who is here? In other words, one must consider himself as the one upon whom it is incumbent to fulfill obligations, and he must not rely on others to do so. He would also say this: To the place that I love, there my feet take me, and therefore, I come to the Temple. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, says: If you come to My house, I will come to your house; if you do not come to My house, I will not come to your house, as it is stated: “In every place that I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you” (Exodus 20:20).
This reminds me of the unhelpfulness of FOMO - fear of missing out. Whether I chose to come to a party or I chose to stay home it’s probably best if I just try to be at peace with the decision I’ve made.
2 - He would also say this: To the place that I love, there my feet take me,
We quickly form habits and start to do things on autopilot. If we teach ourselves good habits they will stick. Likewise our bad habits.
3 - And finally this is God speaking: If you come to My house, I will come to your house; if you do not come to My house, I will not come to your house, as it is stated: “In every place that I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you”
God meets us halfway.....