Ignoring vs Replacing God in Our Lives

On the Aish Hatorah website, there is a testimonial quote from famous Producer/ Director Steven Spielberg:

"Thank you Aish HaTorah for the good work you do, and the message you put out. I could have used you in my life about 25 years ago."

It has been suggested that Spielberg is referring to his first marriage to Amy Irving, who was not Jewish. That marriage only lasted for a short period of time and is best known for its dissolution, famous for being contentious and considered one of the “most expensive Hollywood divorces in history.”

I was intrigued by Spielberg’s statement because it implies that although Steven might not be interested in engaging in further Jewish study or observance, he recognizes the value contained therein. He is self-aware enough to realize that something may be missing in his life, and Jewish wisdom and practice could potentially address that which he feels he is missing.  He may not pursue those goals  for any number of reasons that we all have given as excuses for why we don’t take risks or try something knew, or engage in something difficult. 

But at least the realization of that need remains, waiting for the day that Spielberg, or any of us, is willing to give it a try.

I am reminded of this story due to a pasuk in this week’s Haftorah: the second of the Three Haftarot of Doom, another selection from Jeremiah:

For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.

יגכִּי שְׁתַּיִם רָעוֹת עָשָׂה עַמִּי אֹתִי עָזְבוּ מְקוֹר | מַיִם חַיִּים לַחְצֹב לָהֶם בֹּארוֹת בֹּארֹת נִשְׁבָּרִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָכִלוּ הַמָּיִם:

The prophet speaks of two evils perpetrated by the nation at that time: One is ignoring God. This is a challenge that has afflicted mankind, and Jews in particular, since the beginning of time. We look for God during the tough times, but ignore Hashem when the going is good. Or we ignore God when He makes demands that we find onerous or challenging or outdated.

But I believe that the Jews’ fate was sealed when Jeremiah pointed out the second evil: Replacing Hashem with “broken cisterns”. It’s one thing to give into temptation or laziness or the spirit of the times and ignore Hashem. That’s bad but understandable- after all, we are human. What is worse, and according to Jeremiah inexcusable, is when we replace Hashem, spirituality and the search for transcendence- with replacements that may seem easy/ fun/ pleasurable- but will ultimately be proven to be empty cisterns if there is no God in the picture.

As we observe the intensified mourning of the Nine Days, let us think about the lesson of Jeremiah: Let us be on guard against ignoring God. But even if we do, let us make sure to never replace God.