Articles with the tag: ki tissa
A Stiff Neck Makes It Difficult to Bow (34:9)
It was a time of high drama. The Israelites, a mere 40 days after declaring their loyalty at Sinai, made a Golden Calf. So Moses came down the mountain, smashed the Tablets, ground the idol to dust, and punished the wrongdoers. Re-climbing the mountain, he prayed for mercy. After G-d allowed Himself to be entreated, Moses made a strange appeal: “If I have found favor in your eyes, my L-rd…go among us, because [ki] it is a stiff-necked people, and forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”
The difficulty in the verse is self-evident. Moses cites the very attribute that G-d had previously given for wishing to obliterate the Jews: (“I have seen these people,”...
Continue reading A Stiff Neck Makes It Difficult to Bow (34:9)
Deadly Compromise (haftora)
Insurrection can take on many forms. In this week’s Biblical portion it’s the Golden Calf debacle while in the Haftorah reading it is the false idol Baal that has captured the hearts of the wayward Israelites. What dramatically separates the two incidents is the response. In the Torah, Moses pleads with G-d to spare His stiff-necked people vs. the prophet Elijah who argues not with the Almighty for clemency, but rather with the mutinous Hebrews themselves. /
The reason why the leadership in these two instances employed different tactics is because the nation’s defiance was dissimilar in each case. In the story of the Golden Calf it was outright rebellion preaching idolatry. In the episode of Elijah it was nothing…
Continue reading Deadly Compromise (haftora)
Man Calling (34:35)
Framing the events of this week’s reading are the two sets of Tablets (Luchos). In regards to the first, given before the sin of the Golden Calf, we read: The tablets were the work of G-d; the writing was the writing of G-d, engraved on the tablets.
These were perhaps the holiest object in history: from beginning to end, the handiwork of G-d. Yet within hours they lay shattered, broken by Moses when he saw the Israelites dancing around a lifeless piece of gold.
The second tablets were different. Brought down by Moses as a sign in perpetuity reflecting G-d’s forgiveness, they were not solely created by Hashem. Of this second set, G-d says to Moses: (You) Carve out two…
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Newer Isn’t Improved (34:1)
Although G-d said to Moshe, “Carve out for yourself two tablets just like the first ones,” they weren’t actually exact duplicates. There were several differences. The first set of Ten Commandments had not only been inscribed by G-d, but the Tablets themselves had been carved out by His hand as well. The replacement tablets, while written by Hashem, were carved by Moshe.
How much of a difference did this make? The contrast was as great as that which existed between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In other words, all the difference in the world!
This is because G-d’s making of the First Tablets represented their having emanated from a source outside the…
Continue reading Newer Isn’t Improved (34:1)
Tying the Knot (33:23)
Forgetfulness has been the bane of humanity since creation. How often do we find ourselves using the excuse, “I forgot?” / No wonder then, that for centuries, man has devised methods to help him jog his memory.
One of the earliest and without question the most common tactic employed is that of tying a knot. Even the Kabballistic work, the Zohar, commenting on this week’s Biblical portion, relates how the two sages, Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yossi, would tie knots in order to remember their Torah study.
Remembering who you are and your relationship with G-d should be easy. Surely every Jew realizes that his continued existence and well-being is dependent upon G-d. With this in mind, it seems incredible…
Continue reading Tying the Knot (33:23)
Reach for the Stars (33:18)
It was a classic case of golden opportunity, national meltdown, Golden Calf. In other words, after having raised themselves to the spiritual heights offered at Sinai, the Israelites plunged themselves into a morass deeper than the mud pits of Egypt.
How the fledgling nation could have made such a sudden and complete turnaround has intrigued, baffled, and challenged the ingenuity of our greatest Rabbis. Their thoughts and explanations fill countless scholarly tomes, any of which could not be done justice in this limited space. So instead of focusing on the actions of the Jews and the reaction of G-d, let us address the curious stance adopted by Moses.
In the aftermath of the sin of the Golden Calf, G-d declared,...
Continue reading Reach for the Stars (33:18)
Take the Plunge (32:19)
I’ve been in the Rabbi business for over a decade. There are many accomplishments our synagogue is justly proud of, and many faux-pas whose memories still make us blush deep red. On a personal level, our organization’s greatest achievement is the religious impact we have had on many individuals and families. There are hundreds of children now attending day schools and Yeshivahs, dozens of families that keep kosher and Shabbat, countless businesses that learn Torah via the Timeless Torah or other classes, and the list goes on and on.
A question often asked is, “What influences one person to take the religious plunge and the other to have cold feet?” I must confess this query is never posed by the…
Continue reading Take the Plunge (32:19)
Central Man (32:1)
I have long been fascinated by the parallel axioms that traverse the spiritual and physical realms. The strict discipline that governs the physical sciences is of particular interest to me, as it demonstrates a simple truth: G-d’s perfection is paramount everywhere, since He cannot be limited to any one dimension.
If I am sounding oblique, let me clarify with a specific example. In this week’s Biblical reading, we are told that the ancient Israelites constructed and worshipped a Golden Calf. What surprises many of the commentaries, and indeed most laymen, is the incongruous behavior of the Jews. A mere three months earlier, they had witnessed the greatest of wonders when the Almighty had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt….
Continue reading Central Man (32:1)
The Eternal Sign (31:12)
The immediate prelude to the Sin of the Golden Calf is, “To make the Shabbos throughout their generations…It is an eternal sign between Me and the Children of Israel.” The discerning reader must wonder: What is the connection between Shabbos and the Golden Calf that renders the former the introduction to the latter?
Reconciling a Jewish People involved with idolatry only forty days after the Revelation at Sinai, is always troublesome. How did the impact of, “You shall have no other gods,” evaporate so quickly?
One explanation (of many) is that the prophetic encounter the nation experienced at the giving of the Ten Commandments was akin to a gift. We all recognize that attainments earned after years of hard work…
Continue reading The Eternal Sign (31:12)
Wash Your Face (30:18)
One didn’t just walk into the Temple unprepared. Even the priests who were trained from an early age for this sacred calling, made final preparations before actually serving. In the words of this week’s Biblical reading, “Make a basin of copper for washing…. And Aaron and his sons should wash their hands and feet from it, when they enter the Tent of Meeting.”
More than nineteen hundred years have passed since the destruction of the Holy Temple. Some things however never change, including this law. To quote the Halachic codifier Maimonides, “Every morning, a person should wash his face, hands and feet before praying.”
While there may no longer be a true House of G-d or kohanim who offer sacrifices…
Continue reading Wash Your Face (30:18)
You’re Not Alone (30:13)
How the mighty had fallen! Led forth from bondage, amidst plagues and miracles, the Jews reached Sinai as the most exalted of nations. Standing at the mountain, accepting G-d’s mandate for an ethical and holy way of life, they were further elevated. On par with the celestial angels themselves, the Israelites seemed unconquerable. And then they sinned. /
The blunder of the Golden Calf caused untold damage. An angry G-d wished to destroy His people until the pleading words of Moses turned away His wrath. As atonement, each Jew was commanded to contribute half a shekel. (A shekel was a standard coin like the dollar.)
Moses was puzzled. Why only half a dollar? Surely the Jews would have been willing…
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Is Marriage Natural? (30:12)
Is it natural to be married; to want to take on the burden of responsibility? If the answer is no, why do we celebrate weddings (and Bar Mitzvahs)?
Judaism postulates that man’s fundamental challenge is to rise above his natural inclinations. Only then will our lives be meaningful, and not the product of mere impulse. In that context, marriage is not natural. To illustrate: you receive a great offer to buy a beautiful beachfront home built with every luxury. There is one catch: You cannot sell it or rent it, and if you move out there will be severe financial penalties and emotional pain. Are you still interested?
If you aren’t, why are you prepared to be married? In no…
Continue reading Is Marriage Natural? (30:12)
Central Man
I have long been fascinated by the parallel axioms that traverse the spiritual and physical realms. The strict discipline that governs the physical sciences is of particular interest to me, as it demonstrates a simple truth: G-d’s perfection is paramount everywhere, since He cannot be limited to any one dimension.
If I am sounding oblique, let me clarify with a specific example. In this week’s Biblical reading, we are told that the ancient Israelites constructed and worshipped a Golden Calf. What surprises many of the commentaries, and indeed most laymen, is the incongruous behavior of the Jews. A mere three months earlier, they had witnessed the greatest of wonders when the Almighty had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt….
Continue reading Central Man
Wash Your Face
One didn’t just walk into the Temple unprepared. Even the priests who were trained from an early age for this sacred calling, made final preparations before actually serving. In the words of this week’s Biblical reading, “Make a basin of copper for washing…. And Aaron and his sons should wash their hands and feet from it, when they enter the Tent of Meeting.”
More than nineteen hundred years have passed since the destruction of the Holy Temple. Some things however never change, including this law. To quote the Halachic codifier Maimonedes, “Every morning, a person should wash his face, hands and feet before praying.”
.
While there may no longer be a true House of G-d or kohanim who offer…
Continue reading Wash Your Face
Newer Isn't Improved
Although G-d said to Moshe, “Carve out two tablets for yourself, just like the first ones,“ they weren’t actually exact duplicates. There were several differences. The first set of Ten Commandments had not only been inscribed by G-d, but the Tablets themselves had been carved out by His hand as well. The replacement tablets, while written by Hashem, were carved by Moshe.
How much of a difference did this make? The contrast was as great as that which existed between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In other words, all the difference in the world!
This is because G-d’s making of the First Tablets represented their having emanated from a source outside the…
Continue reading Newer Isn’t Improved
Wash Your Face!
And G-d spoke to Moses saying, “Make a basin of copper for washing, and place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar…. And Aaron and his sons should wash their hands and feet from it, when they enter the Tent or when they approach the altar to serve…” Exodus 30:17
“Every morning, a person should wash his face, hands and feet before praying.” Rambam, Laws of Prayer.
Since the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem G-d does not commune with man in a “Tent of Meeting,” nor do priests offer sacrifices upon the altar. Yet the Temple and its service remain, to this very day, the vehicle for our relationship with G-d, albeit in another form. In…
Continue reading Wash Your Face!
Take the Plunge
I’ve been in the Rabbi business for over a decade. There are many accomplishments our synagogue is justly proud of, and many faux-pas whose memories still make us blush deep red. On a personal level, our organization’s greatest achievement is the religious impact we have had on many individuals and families. There are hundreds of children now attending day schools and yeshivahs, dozens of families that keep kosher and Shabbat, countless businesses that learn Torah via the Fax of Life or other classes and the list goes on and on.
A question often asked is, “What influences one person to take the religious plunge and the other to have cold feet?” I must confess this query is never posed by…
Continue reading Take the Plunge
Deadly Compromise
Insurrection can take on many forms. In this week’s Biblical portion it’s the Golden Calf debacle while in the Haftorah reading it is the false idol Baal that has captured the hearts of the wayward Israelites. What dramatically separates the two incidents is the response. In the Torah, Moses pleads with G-d to spare His stiff-necked people vs. the prophet Elijah who argues not with the Almighty for clemency, but rather with the mutinous Hebrews themselves.
The reason why the leadership in these two instances employed different tactics is because the nation’s defiance was dissimilar in each case. In the story of the Golden Calf it was outright rebellion preaching idolatry. In the episode of Elijah it was nothing more…
Continue reading Deadly Compromise
Tying the Knot
Forgetfulness has been the bane of humanity since creation. How often do we find ourselves using the excuse, “I forgot.” No wonder then, that for centuries man has devised methods to help him jog his memory.
One of the earliest, and without question the most common tactic employed is that of tying a knot. Even the Kabballistic work, the Zohar, commenting on this week’s Biblical portion, relates how the two sages, Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yossi, would tie knots in order to remember their Torah study.
Remembering who you are and your relationship with G-d should be easy. Surely every Jew realizes that his continued existence and well-being is dependent upon G-d. With this in mind, it seems incredible that…
Continue reading Tying the Knot
The Eternal Sign
The immediate prelude to the Sin of the Golden Calf is, “To make the Shabbos throughout their generations…It is an eternal sign between Me and the Children of Israel.” The discerning reader must wonder what is the connection between Shabbos and the Golden Calf, that renders the former the introduction to the latter?
Reconciling a Jewish People involved with idolatry only forty days after the Revelation at Sinai, is always troublesome. How did the impact of, “You shall have no other gods,” evaporate so quickly?
One explanation (of many) is that the prophetic encounter the nation experienced at the giving of the Ten Commandments was akin to a gift. We all recognize that attainments earned after years of hard work…
Continue reading The Eternal Sign