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It is a serious transgression to worship idols. Those who do so are considered to have transgressed the entire Torah and detached themselves from the Jewish people. Included in this prohibition are bowing and sacrificing to an idol, lighting incense in front of it, and pouring wine libations for it. Also severely prohibited is following the specific mode of worship of any idolatrous sect (such as throwing a rock onto the pile consecrated to Mercury or defecating in front of Ba’al Pe’or). It is forbidden to sculpt an idol for someone else or to participate in building a temple for idolatry. This includes deriving benefit in any way from items used in idol worship or from its sale. A Jew in possession of an idol or any implement used in idolatry, may not sell it, melt it down, or make use of it in any way; rather, it must be destroyed. Only if a non-Jew had already nullified an idol’s identity by breaking it, may a Jew use the broken pieces.
There is a mitzva to rid the Land of Israel of idolatry, to destroy idols, and demolish their altars, as it says, “You must destroy all the sites at which the nations you are to dispossess worshiped their god, whether on lofty mountains and on hills or under any luxuriant tree. Tear down their altars, smash their pillars, put their sacred posts to the fire, and cut down the images of their gods, obliterating their name from that site… Beware of being lured into their ways… Do not inquire about their gods… For they perform for their gods every abhorrent act that the Lord detests; they even offer up their sons and daughters in fire to their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:2-31). This mitzva does not apply to churches and mosques in Israel today. Although they contain an idolatrous element, there is no comparison to the abhorrent idolatry of ancient times, as long as the worshipers are good citizens and do not support murder and other evils.
It is forbidden to swear in the name of idolatry or to cause someone else to do so. Not only is it forbidden to enter a place where idols are worshiped, but it is forbidden to observe idolatry, read about it, or take an interest in them. Such activities are permitted only when necessary for Torah study, to teach people to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
