Ki Sisa – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

“And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears.” (32:3)

Did “all the people” break off their earrings? Weren’t the sinners only a small group of malcontents? Indeed, the Midrash in Koheles expounds on the pasuk, “One man from a thousand I have found” (Koheles 7:28). The Midrash states that this is a reference to the sinners involved in the Golden Calf. Only one out of every thousand of Bnei Yisrael was really involved in the sin! Why does the Torah exaggerate the number of sinners? Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l. explains that the entire Klal Yisrael suffered a “yeridah,” spiritual decline. Had they remained on the pinnacle of faith and…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“Go down, for your people have dealt corruptly… they have made them a molten calf… and he cast out of his hand the tablets and he broke them.” (32:7,15,19)

The shattering of the luchos is probably the most impressive act performed by Moshe during his tenure as the leader of Klal Yisrael. The last pasuk in the Torah, in which Hashem portrays the climax of Moshe’s life mentions the vezjv sh, mighty hand, and the kusd trun, the great awe which Moshe wrought in the sight of all Bnei Yisrael. Chazal state that Moshe’s act of might and awe was his shattering of the luchos. It would seem that this is Moshe’s greatest epitaph. There remains a question, however, which demands a response . Why did Moshe wait to…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754, Ki Sisa

“And Moshe said Aharon, what did these people do to you that you have brought upon it great sin?” (32:21)

The extent of Aharon’s involvement in the sin of the Golden Calf is ambiguous. Moshe seems to blame him for “causing” the calf to be created. Indeed, before his own death, Moshe recounts how he prayed on Aharon’s behalf to effect forgiveness for him. Moshe’s prayers were only partially answered; Aharon lost two of his four sons. On the other hand, in contrast, we note that Aharon was appointed to the venerable position of Kohen Gadol. He was privileged to enter into the Kodshei Ha’Kodoshim, Holy of Holies in order to attain penance for Klal Yisrael. This notion seems to…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Ki Sisa

“And they arose early on the morrow, and they offered burnt offerings, and they brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and they rose up to (play) make merry.” (32:6)

The Golden Calf incident was Am Yisrael‘s first deviation from the Torah path. This was the first time that Bnei Yisrael supported ideals antithetical to Torah values. The relationship between the ideology of these historical sinners and their actions is typical of those who have espoused distorted thinking throughout the generations. The visions and their behavioral consquences are the same today. It is only the names and places which have changed. Horav Y. Galinsky, Shlita, notes the progressive deterioration of Bnei Yisrael’s values from the sequence of events portrayed by the pasuk. First it states, “They offered burnt offerings.”…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Ki Sisa

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe… go descend, for your people have become corrupt… they made for themselves a Golden Calf… and Hashem said to Moshe: I have seen these people and behold they are a stubborn people… and now leave Me be and let Me vent My anger and annihilate them.” (32:7,8,9,10)

The Torah lists the sins transgressed by Bnei Yisrael. They corrupted themselves, and they made a Golden Calf. They replaced service to a Divine G-d with the worship of a molten image. Hashem did not choose to destroy them, however, for these sins. Only after they are described as an obstinate people does Hashem seek to decimate them. Horav Meir Chadash, z.l., notes that stubbornness is an evil which must be totally eradicated. Obstinacy, by its very nature, is the antithesis of free will. One who doggedly refuses to accept guidance and reproach, who continues upon his chosen path of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Ki Sisa

“And it came to pass when he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and (the) dancing that Moshe’s anger arose, and he threw from his hands the Luchos and he broke them.” (32:19)

We must endeavor to understand what transpired when Moshe approached the camp that precipitated his angry reaction. Did he not already know the extent of Bnei Yisrael‘s transgression? The Abarbanel questions Moshe’s intentions in bringing the Luchos down only in order to break them. He responds that Moshe desired to accentuate Bnei Yisrael’s travesty and its consequences. Therefore, he broke the Luchos blatantly in front of them. The text, however, seems to imply that it was only after Moshe “came near” the camp and actually saw their conspicuous transgression that he reacted in such an intense manner. We may also…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, Ki Sisa

“And Moshe stood in the gate of the camp and he said (called out) whoever is with Hashem (should come) to me!” (32:26)

As a young man, Horav S. Schwab, z.l., had the occasion to spend a Shabbos with the Chofetz Chaim, z.l., On Friday morning, the Chofetz Chaim questioned him regarding his lineage, whether he was a Kohen or a Levi. Horav Schwab responded in the negative. The Chofetz Chaim remarked, “What a pity! Moshiach is coming, and the Bais Hamikdash will be rebuilt. If you are not a Kohen, you will be unable to perform the Avodah, priestly service.” The Chofetz Chaim continued, “Do you know why? Because 3,000 years ago, during the incident of the Golden Calf, when Moshe called…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Ki Sisa

“When you will take the sum of the Bnei Yisrael, according to their number, and every man shall give a ransom for his soul.” (30:12)

The primary purpose of the half-shekel contribution was to serve as a method for counting Bnei Yisrael. In addition to this, the proceeds of the first shekel collection served a sacred cause; the silver collected was used in the building of the Mishkan, the symbol of the Divine Presence in the midst of Klal Yisrael. Subsequently, this became an annual collection during the month of Adar. The money was specifically earmarked for the provision of the sacrifices, thereby including all of Klal Yisrael in this act of daily worship. In this manner, the shekel became a significant symbol of an…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Ki Sisa

“This they shall give… half a shekel of the shekel of the sanctuary.” (30:13)

Rashi explains that Hashem showed Moshe a “fiery” likeness of the half-shekel coin. The Chachma Umusar explains this homiletically, as an allusion to the fire of devotion that must permeate our fulfillment of mitzvos. It is not sufficient to merely give one’s shekel. The significance lies in how it was given. Does one part with his coin with coolness or does he distribute it with the enthusiasm and joy which should be present in the performance of mitzvos? When a Jew keeps Shabbos but does it indifferently, without the warmth that should permeate an Oneg Shabbos, he will not be…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5752, Ki Sisa

“And the people saw that Moshe delayed in coming down from the mountain. And the people gathered themselves together unto Aharon, and they said to him rise up, make for us gods…” (32:1)

It seems peculiar that those involved in the sin of the Golden-Calf did not choose Aharon as the leader to replace Moshe. Indeed, if Aharon was not acceptable to them, how did they have the audacity to ask him to find another leader? Horav Efraim Tzemel Z”l responds to this question with a simple, but insightful, answer. They desired a leader who was more politically oriented, capable of making prudent decisions which affected the community, while simultaneously maintaining his stature as a statesman and diplomat. Aharon was viewed by them as a great scholar embodying an aura of holiness that…

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“And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears.” (32:3)

“Go down, for your people have dealt corruptly… they have made them a molten calf… and he cast out of his hand the tablets and he broke them.” (32:7,15,19)

“And Moshe said Aharon, what did these people do to you that you have brought upon it great sin?” (32:21)

“And they arose early on the morrow, and they offered burnt offerings, and they brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and they rose up to (play) make merry.” (32:6)

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe… go descend, for your people have become corrupt… they made for themselves a Golden Calf… and Hashem said to Moshe: I have seen these people and behold they are a stubborn people… and now leave Me be and let Me vent My anger and annihilate them.” (32:7,8,9,10)

“And it came to pass when he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and (the) dancing that Moshe’s anger arose, and he threw from his hands the Luchos and he broke them.” (32:19)

“And Moshe stood in the gate of the camp and he said (called out) whoever is with Hashem (should come) to me!” (32:26)

“When you will take the sum of the Bnei Yisrael, according to their number, and every man shall give a ransom for his soul.” (30:12)

“This they shall give… half a shekel of the shekel of the sanctuary.” (30:13)

“And the people saw that Moshe delayed in coming down from the mountain. And the people gathered themselves together unto Aharon, and they said to him rise up, make for us gods…” (32:1)

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