The construction of the golden calf has been interpreted by thinkers such as Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, in his famous work, The Kuzari, as a powerful expression of the closeness that the Children of Israel sought to have with God. Their intention was noble, but its expression crossed the boundaries of what was acceptable in God’s eyes and law.

This motif of noble intentions backfiring due to inappropriate methods repeats itself in the tragic incident of Nadab and Abihu, who die when offering a strange fire in the Tabernacle (Leviticus 10:1-3). Here, too, there was a desire to draw close to God but on terms that went against God.

What is being suggested here is that religious expression can be grounded in the best of intentions and, nonetheless, be considered as idolatry simply because it does not follow the guidelines set down by God. A golden calf is against God’s will, but the cherubs on top of the Ark of the Lord are an expression of His will. This, it appears, is the fine line between serving God and serving idols.

Throughout the generations there have been attempts by Jews to find new ways to come close to God. At each juncture the question arises as to whether or not this is God’s will or not, and this, in part explains the initial virulent opposition that many of these initiatives experience. Just think back to the controversy surrounding Chasidut in 18th-century Eastern Europe, for example.

As moderns, we like to assume that so long as we are being true and authentic to our beliefs then it makes little difference how we give expression to them. The story of the golden calf reminds us that maybe that is not quite the case.