בס”ד
A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT ACHAREI MOT 5785
A Call to Holy Parenting
In Leviticus 18, G-d warns the people of Israel as they enter the Holy Land. One command stands out with striking gravity:
| 21 And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy G-d: I am the L-RD. | כא וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא-תִתֵּן, לְהַעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ; וְלֹא תְחַלֵּל אֶת-שֵׁם אֱלֹהקיךָ, אֲנִי ד |
While this command was originally given to the Jewish people, it conveys a universal lesson. In fact, most opinions hold that it also applies to Bnei Noach. It is included in the list of 30 commandments for Bnei Noach compiled by R. Menachem Azaria de Fano and is also mentioned in The Divine Code of Rabbi Moshe Weiner. Even when a specific commandment applies only to Israel, the Torah often reveals timeless moral truths through its dealings with Israel. Though not all laws apply to everyone, the principles behind them can illuminate the path for all humanity.
The cult of Molech involved a ritual where a father would hand his child to the priests of this false god. A fire would be lit, and the child would be returned to the father, who then carried the child through the flames—symbolizing a full submission to the deity. Though the child wasn’t physically burned1, the ritual was still a chilling form of dedication.
Today, such practices seem barbaric and unimaginable. And yet, in subtle and sophisticated ways, modern society still allows children to “pass through the fire.”
The New gods of Our Time
Molech can be understood symbolically—as anything that harms a child’s soul while masquerading as culture, tradition, or progress. When we raise children to pursue success, wealth, fame, or shallow dreams without grounding them in truth, we are—spiritually speaking—walking them through fire. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains this same concept regarding Pharaoh wanting to throw children “to the river”, representing modern society values
This isn’t about physical harm. It’s about sacrificing a child’s spiritual well-being. When we expose them to rituals or belief systems disconnected from the Divine truth—no matter how respectable or “traditional” they may appear—we are offering their souls to modern idols.
This includes religious ceremonies like infant baptism or other rites that place the child under belief systems not rooted in Torah. Even if done for the sake of family, culture, or appearance, the impact is still real.
The Noahide Laws: A Universal Moral Code
According to the Seven Noahide Laws it is not only forbidden to serve idols, but also to imitate the customs of those who do.
This means that parents carry a sacred responsibility: not to raise their children within systems, values, or rituals that stem from falsehood—even if those systems are socially acceptable or emotionally familiar.
Parenting as a Sacred Mission
The true goal of parenting is not just preparing children for worldly success, but also raising them in truth. This includes teaching them justice, reverence for life, honoring family and marriage, and rejecting all forms of idolatry.
When we feed our children with the warmth of Torah and Divine truth, we don’t need to fear the fires of confusion, addiction, or spiritual emptiness. They will walk with clarity, strength, and purpose—because their roots are planted in something eternal.
A Call to Parents
We live in a world full of seductive flames—offering beauty, pleasure, and power, but ultimately burning the soul. Do not let your children pass through that fire.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tuvia Serber for the feedback
Source
Daily Wisdom from the Lubavitscher Rebbe, Volume 3 p 237
- This is an argument between commentaries. Some hold the son was actually burned ↩︎
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