But the tradition often reminds us that even the best lineages can have some…interesting…twists and turns. Let's talk about Moses, yes THAT Moses, and a rather peculiar story about his grandson.

Now, the texts suggest a possible reason for a "degeneration" in Moses' family. (It's a harsh word, I know.) The idea is that Moses married the daughter of a priest who served idols. Think about the cultural context for a moment. Mixed beliefs were going to cause some issues.

But the story really gets interesting when we focus on Moses' grandson. He wasn't just any run-of-the-mill idolater. Oh no, he had…principles. Twisted ones, maybe, but principles nonetheless.

According to the narrative, this grandson had heard from Moses a particular teaching: that it's better to do Avodah Zarah (עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה) for hire than to be dependent on others. Now, Avodah Zarah literally means "strange worship" or "foreign service." The intention, of course, was to discourage relying on others and to encourage self-sufficiency through, you know, unusual work.

But here's where the grandson took a… different… interpretation. He understood Avodah Zarah in its more literal sense: "service of strange gods." And instead of shunning it, he decided to engage in idol worship...for profit.

Now, before you picture him as some zealous convert, know that he wasn't exactly a true believer. In fact, he seemed to be actively trying to undermine the whole system. As the story goes, whenever someone would bring an animal to sacrifice to an idol, Moses' grandson would question their motives. "What good can the idol do thee?" he'd ask, pointing out the obvious: "It can neither see nor hear nor speak."

Pretty bold, right? But here's the catch. Remember, he was concerned about his livelihood. He didn't want to completely alienate the idolaters. So, after planting those seeds of doubt, he'd offer a "solution." "If thou bringest a dish of flour and a few eggs, it will suffice," he'd suggest. And guess who ended up eating that offering? You guessed it – the grandson himself!

It's quite a picture, isn't it? A grandson of Moses, seemingly undermining idol worship while simultaneously profiting from it. It’s almost comical, if it weren’t so… strange.

What are we to make of this story? Perhaps it's a reminder that even within the most sacred narratives, we find human foibles, contradictions, and the ever-present struggle between faith and self-interest. And maybe, just maybe, it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of taking things too literally, and the importance of understanding the true intent behind our traditions. It certainly gives you something to think about, doesn't it?