Destroying Idols in Israel

 Avoda Zara (54b): Philosophers asked the Sages in Rome: If your G d doesn’t want idolatry why doesn’t He simply destroy it? They said: If the object worshiped was something that the world had no need He would in fact destroy it. However they worship the sun, moon, stars and constellations. Should He destroy the world for the sake of fools? Therefore the world goes in its natural course and the fools whose way is corrupt will be punished in the future. Another example: A person stole wheat and planted it. It is only just that the stolen seed should not grow. However the world goes in its natural course and the fools whose way is corrupt will be punished in the future. Another example: If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife, it is only just that she should get pregnant. However the world goes in its natural course and the fools whose way is corrupt will be punished in the future. Reish Lakish said: G d said that it is bad enough that the wicked misuse My world but they also trouble Me force Me to put My seal on it.

Berachos (54a) On seeing a place from which idolatry has been extirpated, he should say, blessed be he who extirpated idolatry from our land.

Berachos (57b) A PLACE FROM WHICH IDOLATRY HAS BEEN UPROOTED. Our Rabbis taught: If one sees a statue of Hermes, he says, Blessed be He who shows long suffering to those who transgress His will. If he sees a place from which idolatry has been uprooted, he says, Blessed be He who uprooted idolatry from our land; and as it has been uprooted from this place, so may it be uprooted from all places belonging to Israel; and do Thou turn the heart of those that serve them to serve Thee. Outside Palestine it is not necessary to say: Turn the heart of those that serve them to serve Thee, because most of them are idolaters. R. Simeon b. Eleazar says: Outside Palestine also one should say this, because they will one day become proselytes, as it says, For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language.

Chinuch (436:1)To destroy idolatry and its auxiliaries: That we were commanded to destroy all houses of idolatry with all types of destruction — with breaking, with burning, with demolition, with cutting — every type with what is fitting for it; meaning to say with what would be most destructive and quick in its destruction. And the intent is that we not leave a trace of idolatry. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 12:2), “You shall surely destroy all of the places, etc.” And it is also stated (Deuteronomy 12:3), “But rather, etc. their altars shall you tear down.” And it states further (Deuteronomy 12:3), “And you shall tear down their altar.” And the proof that it is a positive commandment is that which it said in Sanhedrin 90a, “What is the positive commandment about idolatry?” — meaning to say, to destroy it? “Rav Chasda [answered], ‘“And you shall tear down, etc.”’” And the language of Sifrei Devarim 60 is “From where do we know that if one cuts down a tree-god and it grows back even ten times that a person is obligated to cut it down? Hence, we learn to say, ‘you shall surely destroy, etc.’” And it is also said there, “‘And you will destroy their name from that place’ — in the Land of Israel, you are commanded to pursue after them, but you are not commanded to pursue after them outside of the Land.”

Devarim (07:02-5) And when the Lord your God shall deliver them before you; you shall strike them, and completely destroy them; you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them;3. And you shall not make marriages with them; your daughter you shall not give to his son, nor his daughter shall you take to your son.4. For they will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you speedily.5. But thus shall you deal with them; you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their Asherim, and burn their carved idols with fire.

Devarim (12:02-04) You shall completely destroy all the places, where the nations which you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree;3. And you shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the carved images of their gods, and destroy their names out of that place.4. You shall not do so to the Lord your God.

Rambam (Avoda Zara 07:01) It is a positive commandment to destroy false deities, all their accessories, and everything that is made for their purposes, states: "You shall surely destroy all the places where the gentiles... served their gods" andRather, what you should do to them is tear down their altars."

Sanhedrin (89b) "the positive commandment of idolatry," they said by way of wonder, "What positive commandment is there in idolatry? Rabbi Hisda explained, 'And tear down.

Sefer HaMitzvos (Positive Commandments 185:1) That is that He commanded us to destroy idolatry and all of its houses with all types of destruction, annihilation, breaking, burning, demolishing and cutting - every type according to what will be most enhanced and quickest in the destruction. And the intention is that we should not leave a trace of them. And that is His, may He be exalted, saying, "You must surely destroy all the sites at which they worshiped, etc. And tear down their altars"  and His also saying, "you shall tear down their altars".

Sifrei (Devarim 60:1) From where do we know that if he cut down idolatry even ten times and it grew again, he must cut it down? Hence we learn to say, 'You must surely destroy.'" And they say there , "'And you shall destroy their name rom that place' - In the Land of Israel, you are commanded to pursue it its complete destruction; but you are not commanded to pursue it outside of the Land.