“They have strayed quickly from the way that I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf.…”

(Shemos 32:8)

Midrash: “Rabi Meir says: Not even one day [had passed] since they stood at Sinai their mouths murmuring ‘na’aseh v’nishma’ yet their hearts were attuned to idol worship.”

At Har Sinai the Jews attained a supreme level of sanctity and purity. The sense of intimacy with Hashem that the Jewish People experienced brought them to their ultimate state of being. And yet even at this high point in history they managed to hide their tainted thoughts.…

Of course we must realize this was an extremely subtle flaw in our terms. Considering their elevated status it was like a tiny almost invisible stain on their garments. Yet the fact that “they strayed quickly from the way” and sinned with the Golden Calf after only 40 days testifies that even at the peak of their connection with Hashem as they were receiving the Torah there was a slight odor of idol worship among them. What a terrifying idea! (Da’as Torah Rav Yerucham Levovitz)

Whenever I enter a dollar store I try to only buy stickers. Buying anything “real” like that remote control car spells trouble. But sometimes I go against my better judgment.

I come home and distribute the loot. The remote-controlled car glittering necklaces a golden-haired doll. But before I can count to ten … a wheel is off the beads scatter the doll loses an eye. Cheap Chinese labor crunches underfoot.

Recently German industries have developed clothes made from paper-based products that look exactly like genuine wool garments. A layman could easily be forgiven for mistaking them for real wool.

But an experienced merchant inspects the quality. If he sees it isn’t durable and tears easily he’ll realize immediately that it’s cheap paper-based merchandise. First and foremost one must determine if these goods will last! And if you truly desire to discover truth spiritually this is what you should search for in ruchniyus as well. (ibid.)

My life is flooded with shiny enticing products; attractive exciting ideas; convincing people. How will I know when I’m being offered an artfully painted cheap paper imitation?

This is the secret of understanding Torah: Once they strayed quickly (after Maamad Har Sinai) we realize they had no stability or staying power. This is the clearest indication that their commitment was “made of paper” — it may have lasted for a while but paper can never endure forever. (ibid.)

This is your sign. Look for the things that remain within you the things that built you and made you a better person the things that can never be taken away from you. Like the mitzvos you did wholeheartedly those little everyday kindnesses you did far from the public eye. The patience you had. The heartfelt tefillos. Those are the things that stay with you forever.

My little boy wants me to read him a story we’ve read countless times but a colleague’s on the phone with tantalizing news to share. Does he even stand a chance? Yes my dear child your chances are very good indeed.

The chat with my friend seems more engrossing than rereading that monotonous book. But which option will leave a mark of eternity on my heart? Which choice will stay fresh forever? And which will vanish like a fragile soap bubble? If I’d think a few moments ahead I’d know the truth.

Being a Jew means constantly choosing high-quality products and not being tempted by brightly packaged imitations. It means saying “no” 1000 times a day; it means averting my gaze from attractive externals and focusing on things eternal and real. Being a Jew means asking myself: How long? How long will this exciting/stimulating/contented feeling last? What will it feel like in 15 minutes — like a flimsy piece of paper or a piece of eternity?

This is why Torah has given us guidelines to discover the hidden meaning and essence of things and ascertain if they are enduring or not. Know that however attractive it looks anything that has no eternal value is as worthless as paper. (ibid)

I’ll still buy stickers in the dollar store. But my lifelong purchases I’ll acquire in stores that are eternal.