ON THE PARSHA
          Parshas Ki Sisa

          by Dovid Lipman, Israel
          Year 2, No. 20


Introduction

Since Avraham, the Jews had surged ever closer to their destiny, and Shmos,
the book of rebirth, seems about ready to culminate with the attainment of
that destiny. This story that changed the course of history has six parts:
       1) Counting Jews
       2) A Unique Relationship
       3) Sin of the Calf
       4) Prayer & Punishment
       5) Moshe's Battle
       6) The New World

1. Counting Jews -- 30:11 [Beg.] to 30:16

Hashem tells Moshe that when counting the Jews, it must always be done with coins; a half-shekel for each Jew, no matter how rich, is given to the Mikdash.

   The World of the Supernatural

   The Midrash (Tanchuma Ki Sisa 31) says the reason the first tablets were broken is that they were given in public, which subjected them to "Ayin HaRa" (evil eye). In this world, anything which is not concealed is endangered. This is one reason we may not count Jews directly, and this rule gave the Yetzer HaRa the right to bring the overwhelming test to the Jews which led to the Sin of the calf (which is why the first tablets were broken). Only after the world saw the mortality of the Jews was the Torah safe with them.

2. A Unique Relationship -- 30:17 to 31:17 [Aliyah 2]

Five subjects underline the unique (and at this point flawless) relationship between the Jews and Hashem: The kiyor (washing station) was not for hygiene; the word "wash" is translated as "sanctify" here - washing for the Service had the power not just to remove impurity, but also to add holiness. The special formula for annointing oil and incense also show the power Hashem grants the Jews to sanctify the world, and Moshe is shown Betzalel, the man whose wisdom is that of Hashem, and who can therefore construct His Mishkan. Finally, the symbol of the unique relationship - Shabbos - is recalled.

3. Sin of the Calf -- 31:18 to 32:6

After receiving the entire Torah, Moshe prepares to bring the two tablets down from the mountain to the Jews. Meanwhile, the people just then come to Aharon, complaining they can't relate to Moshe - anyone who's able to go hungry forty days is obviously no longer a human being! They demand a leader they can relate to, and Aharon makes a golden calf, on which the people focus their love for Hashem, since they saw such an image at the giving of the Torah. But this deep desire to have a more tangible leader was none other than the desire of idol worship at the core: the desire to submit without having to change.

4. Prayer & Punishment -- 32:7 to 32:30

Hashem informs Moshe of the Sin, and that He plans to instantly squash the rebels and their rebellion. Moshe begs for a chance to execute punishment on Earth instead, and goes down to punish the people in order to save them. He breaks the luchos, and the tribe of Levi helps him wipe out those who worshipped openly before the calf. He melts the calf and, with the fluid, executes those who worshipped secretly. Then Moshe tells the people the Sin is far from atoned; he must go back up the mountain to beg Hashem to repair the damage to His relationship to the people that was caused by their rebellion.

5. Moshe's Battle -- 32:31 to 34:10

Moshe's 'negotiations' with Hashem went as follows:
 A. Moshe offers his life in exchange for the Jews' forgiveness.
 B. Hashem declines and sends a plague of death to the remaining guilty Jews.
 C. Hashem says now the Jews will be lead through an angel.
 D. The people hear of this, and mourn the loss of His Presence.
 E. Moshe, too, separates from the people in deference to the decree.
 F. Moshe begs Hashem to lead the nation directly. Hashem agrees.
 G. Moshe asks Hashem's permission to perceive Him directly.
 H. Hashem allows Moshe to perceive His "back", after Moshe prepares
    the second tablets, and He also reveals 13 Attributes of Mercy.
 I. Moshe asks Hashem to guarrantee the uniqueness of the renewed
    relationship. Hashem agrees - He will choose no other nation.

6. The New World -- 34:11 to 34:35 [End]

Hashem warns Moshe that now that the Jews have rebelled once, they are susceptible to the influence of the nations, so the nations must not be allowed to live near them. He also repeats the mitzvos of the three holidays when the Jews come to the Mikdash, for the honor of the festivals brings the Jews closer to Hashem and further from the idols around them. Moshe brings the new tablets to the people, who this time succeed in waiting for him, and although Moshe's face shines with unspeakable holiness, the people are willing to overcome their fear in order to hear him teach them Hashem's word. For day-to-day relating, Moshe dons a mask, since in the new world, the total submission need not be continuous.

   Do You Remember? - from the files of On the Parsha

   1. What was Aharon's role in the Sin? (Ohr HaChayim 32:4)
   2. Where are the four uniquenesses of Moshe's prophcy hinted to? (Lechem Abirim)
   3. Where is Mordechai hinted to in the Torah? (Chulin 139b)
   4. What are the "attendant clothes" of 31:10? (Rashi & Ramban)