Sanhedrin 64 - February 19. 21 Shvat

Today's daf is sponsored by David and Ruth Leah Kahan in honor of Dr. Jody Dushay and Prof. Paul Gompers, in celebration of the birth of their first grandchild, Aidan Oz Shulman.

Did the Jews worship idols because they believed in them or for other reasons?  How is it that the evil inclination for idol worship doesn't exist anymore?  A story, based on the elaboration on a verse in Zecharia is brought to illustrate how this transpired.

How does one violate the prohibition to pass one's son or daughter to Molech? Is the Molech considered idol worship?