I recently had a discussion with a top student in Israel regarding the idol worship of the Jews in Egypt. He had never heard such a thing and would not accept my assertion. Assuming that this is viewed as false by many others I thought it would be helpful to list traditional sources which clearly state it.
Chazon Ish (Letters I:208) Responded to the assertion that the Jews in Egypt were on the highest level in Torah, Mitzvos, faith and piety. The assertion was based upon the medrashism which said that the righteous women went to the fields and gave birth and left their children and there were many miracles done for them…The deduction being that surely because of these righteous women and these miracles – the entire Jewish people must of have been totally devoted to G-d and his mitvos. A further foundation of this assertion was the medrash which states that the Jews were only enslaved for 86 years and that this is insufficient time to become significantly dissolute and debased. The Chazon Ish said that these deduction have no basis since they are all against what Chazal themselves say on the subject. He concludes that the assertion that it was impossible for the Jews to become ruined since they saw miracles is not valid. In fact the Jews saw miracles when they were redeemed from Egypt and at the Sea, as well as the Maan and at the giving of the Torah – and yet they made the Golden Calf. Furthermore there were 10 miracles at the Beis HaMikdash and many miracles and wonders done by the Prophets – nevertheless this did not prevent them from having free will to serve idols. one should not interpret the early generations in such a way that it is impossible for us to comprehend and learn from them. In fact they had free will and this is main thing in avodas HaShem.
Chazon Ish (Letters I:209) States a rule that for major widely stated facts one should should not interpret them significantly from the clear simple meaning. Only isolated things can be occasionally explained differently then their simple meaning. In the Torah we see much effort to save the Jews from deserting the entire Torah and running instead after idol worship something which according to our present condition where the Yetzer harah has been killed is totally incomprehensible.The reality of the desire for idol worship is really beyond our comprehension is the same way a blind person can’t comprehend colors
Shemos Rabbah (13:20) ONE MALE OF THE GOATS FOR A SIN-OFFERING. This was in allusion to the Paschal sacrifice which G-d commanded them to offer from the goats as a token of withdrawal from idolatry. For Israel were idol-worshippers in Egypt, and the divine Attribute of Justice would not allow of their being redeemed until they had withdrawn therefrom. On account of the withdrawal from idol-worship which they had effected and for which they had been redeemed--as you read, When I see the blood, l will pass over you --they brought a corresponding sacrifice of a male of the goats as a sin-offering. For a he-goat was offered as a sin-offering on account of the sin of idol-worship.
Rambam (Idolatry 1:1) When the Jews extended their stay in Egypt, however, they learned from the Egyptians' deeds and began worshiping the stars as they did, with the exception of the tribe of Levi, who clung to the mitzvot of the patriarchs - the tribe of Levi never served false gods. Within a short time, the fundamental principle that Abraham had planted would have been uprooted, and the descendants of Jacob would have returned to the errors of the world and their crookedness. Because of God's love for us, and to uphold the oath He made to Abraham, our patriarch, He brought forth Moses, our teacher, the master of all prophets, and sent him to redeem the Jews. After Moses, our teacher, prophesied, and God chose Israel as His inheritance, He crowned them with mitzvot and informed them of the path to serve Him, teaching them the judgement prescribed for idol worshiper and all those who stray after it.
Ibn Ezra (Shemos 2:23) THAT THE KING OF EGYPT DIED. Moses was now able to return to Egypt. The Israelites repented. Ezekiel notes that the Israelites worshipped the idols of Egypt. It was because of this that the Lord afflicted them. As a punishment for not serving God they served cruel masters.
Shir HaShirim Rabba (4:17) THOU ART ALL FAIR. R. Judah and R. Nehemiah and the Rabbis gave different reasons why the genealogies of the other tribes are not given R. Nehemiah said: It was because all the other tribes worshipped idols in Egypt, but those of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi did not worship idols in Egypt.
Rabbeinu Bachya (Shemos (06:13) “He commanded them concerning the Children of Israel,” as a warning to tell the Israelites to desist from idolatrous practices. The Midrash bases this interpretation on Genesis 2,16 where the word ויצו is also understood as a warning against idolatrous practices. Ezekiel 20,5-9 also makes clear reference to the Israelites serving idols while they were enslaved in Egypt, and their being warned to desist prior to the redemption. He warns his compatriots not to commit the same errors made by the Israelites then.
Mechilta DeRabbi Yishmael (Pischa 5:10): It is written "And they would not hearken to Moses as to G–d's delivering them, for shortness of spirit, etc." Now is there anyone who is given glad tidings and does not rejoice? "A son has been born to you — Rejoice him!" His Master is freeing him from bondage and he does not rejoice? What, then, is the intent of "And they would not hearken to Moses, etc."? It was difficult for them to abandon their idolatry "And I said to them in Egypt: Let every man cast away the detestations of his eyes and not defile himself with the idols of Egypt." This is the intent of "And the L–rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and He charged them to the children of Israel. He charged them to abandon idolatry.
Sforno (Shemos 01:14) They ruined their own lives not only by improper deeds, but also by succumbing to alien philosophies. This is described in Ezekiel 20,8 “and they rebelled against Me and did not want to listen to Me. No Man!- the idols of their eyes they did not cast out and the idols of Egypt, they did not forsake.”
Shemos Rabbah (21:07) WHEREFORE CRIEST THOU UNTO ME? It is written, Hast thou prepared thy prayer before thy trouble R. Hama b. Hanina said: When Israel departed from Egypt, the angel Samael arose to accuse them. R. Hama added the following explanation in the name of his father: It can be compared to a shepherd who was leading his sheep across a river when a wolf came to attack the sheep. What did the shepherd, who knew well how to deal with such emergencies, do? He took a large he-goat and threw it to the wolf, saying to himself, Let him struggle with this till we cross the river, and then I will return to bring it back. So, when Israel departed from Egypt, the Angel Samael arose to accuse them, pleading before God: ' Lord of the Universe! Till now they have been worshipping idols, and now Thou dividest the sea for them? ' What did God do? He delivered into his hands Job, one of the counsellors of Pharaoh, of whom it is written, And that man was wholehearted and upright, and said: Behold, he is in thy hands. God reckoned: While he is busily occupied with Job, Israel will go through the sea! Afterwards, I will deliver Job; this is why Job said, I was at ease, and He broke me asunder. ‘I was at ease in the world,’ said Job, but He broke me asunder, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces, in order to make me the target for His people, for it says, He hath also set me up for His mark, God delivereth me to the ungodly, He hath delivered me into the hands of Satan; and in order that Israel may not emerge guilty from the trial, He hath delivered me into his hand’; hence, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked. It was then that God said to Moses: Moses, behold I have given Job over to Satan. It is for you to Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
