The Portion of Ki Tisa
A Painful Moment for Generations
The
Children of Israel, having witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt, the
splitting of the Red Sea, manna and quail falling from heaven and the
receiving of the Torah at Sinai, now find themselves standing before a
not-so-simple challenge.
Moses
ascends the mountain to receive the tablets of the Ten Commandments and
does not return when, according to the people's calculation, he was due
to return.
The people turn to Aaron and request an alternative to Moses.
A
terrible tragedy befalls the people. The Almighty instructs Moses to
descend from the mountain and return to the people, which He now plans
to destroy. He will appoint Moses to be the leader of a new nation.
This
disaster which befell the people is alluded to in the addition to the
letter "vav" in the word "vayeekahel ha'am" (and the people gathered)
(Exodus 32;1) and in more letters "vav" as if the text is shouting out
"vay, vay". (Remazei Rabbenu Yoel)
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