G-d Detests Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
Meir Kahane
“And you shall make an altar for burning incense.…
Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it.” – Exodus 30:1–7
The incense provided a pleasant, satisfying aroma to G-d, symbolic of the pleasure we give Him when we serve Him properly. Hence the Rabbis’ teaching that G-d said, “I don’t want anything from the sacrifices save the aroma” (Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 14). Hence also King David’s request of G-d, “Prepare my prayer as incense before You” (Psalms 141:2).
When we defy G-d’s will, however, the incense service – far from providing a sweet aroma – is “an abomination” in His eyes (Isaiah 1:13). Why an abomination? Because the entire service becomes nothing less than a demonstration of hypocrisy, and G-d prefers that people not serve Him than use His service as a pious endorsement of their wicked ways. Better that the wicked divorce themselves from holiness. At least then, the distinction between good and bad will be clear. But when impurity mixes with holiness, it is impossible to know the truth.
And this is precisely what’s wrong with Reform and Conservative Judaism. They cast off the yoke of heaven, but are not satisfied to stop there. Instead, they refashion G-d’s commands in their own image, transforming a service of desire to one of disgust – ta’avah to to’evah. If they worshipped G-d with fear and submission, their service would rise to the heavens as a pleasant aroma. But instead, they devise a service after their own hearts – with themselves, not G-d, as the focus. Such a service G-d finds abominable.
The Torah states, “And G-d saw that the light was good and divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). On these words, Rashi comments, “G-d saw…that it was improper for light to be enmeshed with darkness. He therefore set borders, making day the designated time for light and night the designated time for darkness.”
Peirush HaMaccabee