THE LAWS AGAINST IDOLATRY

B"H

The following mitzvot are quoted from The Concise Sefer HaChinuch by Rabbi Asher Wasserman

With Haskamah from 

HaRav Avraham Pinchas Berkowitz shlita

HaGaon HaGadol R. Chaim Kanievsky shlita

HaGaon HaGadol R. Dov Yaffe shlita

HaGaon HaGadol R. Nissim Karelitz shlita

HaGaon HaGadol R. Moshe Shaul Klein shlita

HaGaon HaGadol R. Yitzchok Zilberstin shlita

Mitzvah 426 Do not show favor or mercy towards those who worship idols.

ולא תחנם

And you shall not show them any favor (Devarim 7.2)

Explanation: Do not show any favor or mercy towards those who worship idols, and do not regard as admirable or correct even one thing that they do.  Distance from your mind the slightest assumption, and never suggest verbally that one can learn or benefit from such people.  Do not look upon idol-worshippers as serving any useful purpose or as possessing any positive trait or quality, In fact, our Sages taught that one is even forbidden to say about an idol worshipper that he is a nice or pleasant person.

Mitzvah 457 Do not show love or regard for anyone who entices others to worship false deities

לא תאבה לו

Do not show any regard for him (Devarim, 13.9)

Explanation: do not pay attention to the words of anyone who entices people to worship false god. Do not show him any affection or regard.

Someone is considered to have enticed to idol worship not only if he advocates the actual worship, but even if he simply praises the deity’s so=called “deeds”. If his intent is to cause people to serve the deity and go out from under the wings of the Shechinah, he is considered as having enticed others to idol worship.

Mitzvah 458 Do not stop hating someone who entices others to worship false deities

ולא תשמע אליו

And do not hearken to him (Devarim 13.9)

Do not refrain from taking full vengeance on anyone who entices people to worship false gods.  In return for the evil that he sought to commit, do not stop hating him and show no mercy on him.

Mitzvah 459 Do not rescue from danger anyone who entices others to worship false deities

ולא תחוס עינך עליו

And do not let your eny have any pity on him (Devarim 13.9)

Explanation: If someone who was enticed to worship false gods sees the enticer in any sort of danger, he is forbidden to take pity on him and save him.

Mitzvah 460 Do not defend or say anything on behalf of someone who entices others to worship false deities

ולא תחמל

And do not show mercy (Devarim 13.9)

Explanation: If someone was enticed to worship false gods, he is forbidden to say anything positive about the one who enticed him, or defend him in any way.

Mitzvah 461 If enticed to idol worship do not refrain from publicizing any negative thing you know about the one who enticed you.

ולא תכסה עליו

And do not cover up for him (13.9)

Explanation: If someone was enticed to worship false gods, he is forbidden to remain silent about anything negative that he knows about one who enticed him.  He must come forward and publicize all of the offender’s guilt and shortcomings.

From the many admonishments about someone who entices to idol worship, we can infer that we have a mitzvah to hate wanton violators of other commands, too. That is, it is sometimes clear that there is no hope for a person, for his actions are exceedingly corrupt and abominable. He refuses to listen to any teacher or authority, and prefers instead to scorn their words.  His goal is only to do damage.  It is a mitzvah to hate such people.  One should never defend them or say anything positive about them.