Bamot

The Torah refers to the necessity of having one central place of worship for the Jewish people. It was intended to be at the Beit Hamikdash in Jerusalem.

The two Temples lasted 410 and 420 years respectively. We also know that during the 480 years from the exodus to the first Temple of King Solomon, the Mishkan stood in Shilo for 369 of those years. The Mishkan also stood in Nov, Givon, and Gilgal for some of those years.

When the Torah warns that each man shall not do “what is righteous and good in his own eyes,” it is referring to the prohibition of offering “Bamot,” which were private altars that one might construct in his own home. This is referred to איסור במות.

There was a brief period of time when there was no Mishkan or Beit Hamikdash standing, and there was a “Heter Bamot,” where it was permitted to make a private altar, and offer Shelamim, the “peace offering” on it.

This was only a temporary situation that allowed individuals to continue worshipping Hashem, without a central location.

We learn from all of this the importance of Jewish Unity. It is not good when there are so many splinter groups. Similarly, there should be one central body that gives Kashrut supervision. It was intended that this responsibility be given to the chief rabbinate.

This point needs emphasis as we enter the unpleasant period of Israeli elections. We will be witness to politicians bashing the other parties, rather than simply speaking of their own merits, and why they deserve our vote.

It has been seen over and over again, the power of the Jewish people when they are unified. The rules regarding Bamot, and a central place of worship drives home this point.