The Word This in the Sin, the Wound, and the Comfort of Israel

"For this Moses, the man." They sinned with "this," they were stricken with "this," and they are comforted with "this." They sinned with "this": "for this Moses, the man." They were stricken with "this": "for this our heart is faint" (Lamentations 5:17). And they are comforted with "this": "this is the LORD, we have waited for Him" (Isaiah 25:9). Let this one come and receive this from this One for this people. Let this one come, this is Moses, as it says, "for this Moses." And receive this, this is the Torah, as it says, "and this is the Torah that Moses set." From this One, this is the Holy One, blessed be He, as it says, "this is my God and I will glorify Him" (Exodus 15:2). For this people, these are Israel, "this people You acquired." "And they removed" (this is written at sign 867). "These are your gods, Israel." Rabbi Yehudah said in the name of Rav: an Israelite who set up a brick to bow down to it, and a gentile came and bowed down to it, has rendered it forbidden. This is like the beginning of the Land of Israel, of which the Merciful One said, "and their sacred trees you shall burn with fire" (Deuteronomy 12:3). Now since it is an inheritance to them from their fathers, and a person cannot forbid a thing that is not his, and if it were because of those original idols, mere nullification would suffice for them. Rather, since Israel worshipped the calf, they revealed their intent that idol worship is acceptable to them, and when gentiles come they act as their agents. Here too, an Israelite who set up a brick revealed his intent that idol worship is acceptable to him, and when a gentile comes he acts as his agent. And perhaps it was only with the calf that it was acceptable to them, but with another matter not? The verse states, "these are your gods, Israel," teaching that they craved many deities. Then say that whatever was involved with the calf should be forbidden, but from here onward it should be permitted. Who can prove it?