An unimaginable idea: When does God ignore idolatry by Jews?

A weekly Torah column explores a startling midrashic idea from the Ohr HaChaim: that God may overlook even Jewish idolatry when the nation is unified. The article applies this concept to contemporary Israeli societal divisions, urging unity over protest tactics like blocking highways and delegitimizing fellow Jews.

In a weekly Torah column published on September 20, 2026, Menahem Meier examines a startling idea from the Ohr HaChaim commentary by Rabbi Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar on Parashat Ha'azinu. The commentary cites a midrash from Bereshit Rabbah stating that when the Jewish nation is unified, God overlooks even the cardinal sin of idolatry. The author applies this principle to contemporary Israeli societal rifts, listing disputes over judicial reform, the two-state solution, settlements in Judea and Samaria, and IDF draft exemptions for Torah scholars. Meier urges readers to remain a unified nation that does not block highways, burn tires, engage in vandalism, or delegitimize fellow Jews with differing views. The column concludes by framing unity as a necessity for survival in a hostile world.