"HaShem, HaShem, benevolent G-d"(Exodus 34:6) Adar Rishon 21, 5784/March 1, 2024 The half shekel offering, the copper laver for the kohanim to sanctify their hands and feet, the recipe for the anointing oil and ketoret incense, the naming of Betzalel and Ohaliav to be the overseers of the construction of the Tabernacle. All these initiatives of supreme and eternal importance are eclipsed by the major event chronicled in this week's Torah reading, Ki Tisa. The final instructions for the building of the Tabernacle and its vessels and Moshe's departure from Mount Sinai where he has been engaged for forty days in a one on One conversation with HaShem all come to an inglorious denouement with the forging of the golden calf. Everything was going so well and the future was looking so bright. What went wrong and why? "When the people saw that Moshe was late in coming down from the mountain, the people gathered against Aharon, and they said to him: "Come on! Make us gods that will go before us, because this man Moshe, who brought us up from the land of Egypt we don't know what has become of him." (Exodus 32;1) For thirty nine days and nights the Israelites dwelled in peace and quiet, while their leader Moshe had disappeared into a thick cloud at the top of a fiery Mount Sinai. For thirty nine days and nights they held onto the expectation that Moshe would return. Yet, at the fateful moment just as Moshe began his descent from Mount Sinai, their stamina broke. They panicked and in their despair they feared the worst. Moshe was not coming back and they demanded a quick fix. All eyes were on Aharon as an increasingly volatile crowd pressed him to do something. Their demand for an idol to replace Moshe reflected their spiritual immaturity. True, they had witnessed the revelation at Mount Sinai and heard with their own ears the word of G-d, but Moshe, the man who brought them out of Egypt and orchestrated their encounter with HaShem at Mount Sinai was gone. What mattered to the orphaned multitude was not what took place forty days earlier, but what will happen tomorrow. Their fear and subsequent panic was understandable. Aharon himself bore a great bit of the responsibility for the ensuing societal collapse into chaos. "Remove the golden earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them those earrings to me" (ibid 32:2) he told the threatening crowd. Even if we grant that he was simply trying to buy time, hoping that the women would refuse to part with their gold for the sake of an idolatrous adventure, (which they did), we cannot deny that he initiated the despicable deed. But all this leads to what may be the most crucial question: Why did G-d detain Moshe atop Mount Sinai for one day beyond Israel's capacity to hold out? Unlike Moshe, G-d clearly saw what was about to transpire down below. Could He not have finished his discourse with Moshe one day sooner, or even a few hours sooner and avert the entire disaster? Was G-d also complicit in Israel's plunge into infidelity? The only one who stood completely outside of the entire unfolding incident was Moshe, who, of course, bore the burden of destroying the golden calf, punishing the people responsible, routing out by violent force the instigators, smashing the two tablets of the Torah, whose words were "written with the finger of G-d," (ibid 31:18) and ultimately standing before G-d, vetoing G-d's desire to annihilate the children of Israel and start a people all over again through Moshe, (just as He had eliminated the generation of the flood a thousand years before), and delivering Him an ultimatum: "And now, if You forgive their sin, but if not, erase me now from Your book, which You have written." (ibid 32:32) Moshe successfully garners a stay of execution, and after restoring law and order below he returns to HaShem to ask for forgiveness for his people. It is this moment, when Moshe is standing before HaShem and says, "Look, You say to me: 'Bring this people up!' But You have not informed me whom You will send with me. And You said: 'I have known you by name and you have also found favor in My eyes.'And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, pray let me know Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your eyes; and consider that this nation is Your people," (ibid 33:12) that is the true history changing watershed moment in the life of the nation of Israel and her relationship with the G-d of Israel. It is here that G-d reveals to Moshe that He is "HaShem, HaShem, benevolent G-d, Who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth, preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin." (34:6-7) G-d reveals to Moshe that He is a forgiving G-d, a loving G-d that only desires that, when His children err, even grievously, they return to Him in sincere repentance, and He will take them back. G-d's covenant with Israel demands their best behavior, but His compassion allows for the fact that they are only human, and misdeeds are to be expected. Tradition holds that G-d created teshuvah - man's ability to, not only err, but to regret his transgression, to repent, to repair the damage he has caused and to turn to G-d and ask for forgiveness, in anticipation of His creation of our world. We are told that G-d created this gift of teshuvah because without man's ability to redress his myriad shortcomings and make good, the world could not endure. And the proof is found right here in parashat Ki Tisa. If Israel could not turn to HaShem and ask for forgiveness, and if HaShem could not grant forgiveness, the entire moral and material structure of the world would have been undermined. The plot, the reason for creation, would have been lost in the ensuing meltdown. Was this the reason why G-d kept Moshe hidden away atop Mount Sinai for one day too long? So that He could reveal to Israel (what are known as) His thirteen attributes of Divine forgiveness? Until now the infant nation of Israel has only known an all powerful G-d capable of devastating the environment, bringing powerful Egypt to its knees, killing the firstborn sons, and drowning the Egyptian army in the sea. Even at Mount Sinai the children of Israel were terrified of G-d's overpowering glory, pleading with Moshe to be their go between, saying "You speak with us, and we will hear, but let G-d not speak with us lest we die." (ibid 20:16) Now, in an instant and at their lowest moment, Israel discovers a whole other side to their relationship with G-d. One that they, literally, can live with. By revealing to Israel His desire to forgive, and not to destroy those who turn to Him in repentance, HaShem has revealed to Israel that He is a G-d in Whose presence they can prosper. Had Moshe presented Israel with HaShem's desire for them to build for Him a sanctuary so that He may dwell amongst them, before the unhappy incident of the golden calf, they would have rejected G-d's request outright, due to their sheer terror of His overwhelming earth shaking presence. But now, having blessed Israel with Divine forgiveness, when Moshe returns in another forty days from atop Sinai with G-d's plans for a sanctuary in their midst, they are all in. This is a G-d Israel can live with and gladly welcome into their midst! . |
Re-Establishing The Levitical Choir For The Rebuilt Holy Temple! The Temple Institute has recently reestablished a Levitical Choir consisting only of Levites, who been practicing and rehearsing for the past year or more, and have begun performing at public events here in Israel during the holiday seasons. The music is beautiful and we want to continue and play the beautiful music for all the world to enjoy. In order to do that we need your support! Donate generously to the Temple Institute! |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven discusses the broken tablets & the revelation of Divine forgiveness, introduces Betzalel & Ohaliav the project managers of the desert Tabernacle, and, of course, the half-shekel offering - our share in the Holy Temple! Parashat Ki Tisa is action packed, taking us from the heights of Mount Sinai to the depths of golden calf idolatry, from shattered tablets of the law to the recipe for the sublime ketoret incense, and opening with the equal opportunity & obligation of the half-shekel offering, making us all equal partners in maintaining the Divine service of the Holy Temple! |
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time! Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time! |
Cataclysmic occurrences change the course of history. One of Israel's most cataclysmic and enduring incidents was the golden calf. Yet, in spite of the utter seriousness of the event, what changes really occurred to Israel and to Moshe in its aftermath? Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11 - 34:35)
Parashat Ki Tisa is read on Shabbat:
Adar Rishon 22, 5784/March 2, 2024 |
Haftara For Shabbat Parashat Ki Tisa
Kings I 18:20-39: "And Ach'av sent among all of the Children of Israel, and he gathered the prophets to Mount Carmel. And Eliyahu drew near to all the people and said, 'Until when are you hopping between two ideas? If HaShem is G-d, go after Him, and if the Baal, go after him...'" |
Become a Member of the Temple Institute! Introducing the Temple Institute's new membership card, in PDF format to conveniently download onto your phone. We are issuing the new membership cards to all new donors and will soon be sending the new card to our veteran donors, as well! (If you are expecting to receive your card, please check your spam folder!) |
Rare First Temple Clay Seal Unearthed In Jerusalem A rare and exciting archaeological find has been unearthed in Jerusalem, providing an extraordinary glimpse into the ancient past. During excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Western Wall Plaza a few years ago, a small stamped clay seal was discovered dating back to the First Temple period around 2,700 years ago. |
The Gates Of The Northern Court: The Gate Of The Offering The Gate of the Offering was the second gate from the west of the four northern gates of the Court. Through this gate, offerings of the highest level of sanctity were brought to the slaughtering area, since the slaughter and the retrieval of their blood was performed in the northern section of the Court. (Source: Midot 2:6). |
The Privilege Of Performing The Ketoret Incense Offering A type of lottery was held each morning to determine which kohen currently serving in the Holy Temple would receive which task of the Daily (Tamid) Service to perform. Concerning the commandment to perform the incense offering, an exception was made. A lottery was held, but only kohanim who had never in their lives performed the incense offering were allowed to participate. This was to insure that every kohen would have a chance to perform the offering once in their life. |
The Tzitz - Golden Crown Of The Kohen Gadol The final detail of the garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) described by Torah in last week's reading, Tetzave, is the tzitz - the golden crown of the that rests upon the forehead of the Kohen Gadol: "And you shall make a showplate of pure gold, and you shall engrave upon it like the engraving of a seal: Holy to HaShem. And you shall place it upon a cord of blue wool and it shall go over the cap, and it shall be opposite the front side of the cap. It shall be upon Aharon's forehead, and Aharon shall bear the iniquity of the holy things that the children of Israel sanctify, for all their holy gifts. It shall be upon his forehead constantly to make them favorable before HaShem." (Exodus 28:36-38) |
Tiny First Temple-Era Phoenician Pendant Is ‘Earliest Gold Artifact’ Found In Jerusalem
This week a rare, 3,000-year-old gold pendant discovered in Jerusalem was revealed to the public as part of a US-based exhibit of artifacts related to the First Temple period. The tiny pendant or earring was found a decade ago during excavations in the Ophel, a raised area south of Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But until last year, the item had been largely overlooked, according to archaeologist Brent Nagtegaal of the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology. |
Parashat Ki Tisa: The Ketoret Incense Offering In parashat Ki Tisa, HaShem presents Moshe with the recipe and instructions for the preparation of the ketoret incense to be offered upon the golden altar in the temple sanctuary: "And HaShem said to Moshe: ‘Take for yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense; of each shall there be a like weight. And you shalt make of it incense, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy..." (Exodus 30:34-38) |
2,000-Year-Old Hasmonean Coin Discovered By Child Evacuated On Oct.7 While exploring the area around the hotel that he had been evacuated to along the Dead Sea, Nati Toyikar came across an ancient coin dating back to the Hasmonean period
An 11-year-old boy found a 2,000-year-old coin belonging to the Hasmonean king and high priest Alexander Yanai, Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday. |
Ki Tisa 5784: Apocalypse Cow! by Rabbi Yitzchak Zweig Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) GOOD MORNING! Several months ago, media outlets breathlessly reported the electrifying news that a completely red heifer had been born in Israel. Some of these stories even went on to claim that it was the first time it had happened in two thousand years and was therefore “a bible prophesy realized.” This, of course, led to the natural conclusion that “the end of times is upon us.” |
Parashat Ki Tisa: The Anointing Oil In parashat Ki Tisa, HaShem instructs Moshe to make anointing oil to consecrate the Tabernacle and all its sacred vessels, the Kohen Gadol Aharon and his sons: "HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: 'And you, take for yourself spices of the finest sort: of pure myrrh five hundred [shekel weights]; of fragrant cinnamon half of it two hundred and fifty [shekel weights]; of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty [shekel weights], and of cassia five hundred [shekel weights] according to the holy shekel, and one hin of olive oil..." (Exodus 30:22-33) |
Parashat Tetzave & The Bigdei Kehunah!
View this dynamic video by Noam Yaakovson all about the bigdei kehunah - the priestly garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) that we read about in last week's parasha Tetzave. Noam is a popular Israeli musician, singer, songwriter, bandleader and actor. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Sit back and enjoy (and learn)! Filmed at the Temple Institute's Jerusalem's old city exhibition. (Make certain your CC English subtitles are enabled!) |
G-d Bless Israel's Courageous Soldiers! Israel's war against her enemies in Gaza and on the border with Lebanon rages on. Israel is closing in on the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza and is preparing for a full fledged confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel's courageous soldiers sworn to defend our homeland and our families need our prayers! "He who blessed our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov — May He bless the courageous fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over the holy land and all the cities of our G-d. Amen" |
This Week: Ki Tisa - The Copper Laver!
This week's Torah reading, Ki Tisa, (Exodus 30:11-34:35) includes the description of the copper laver to be created to insure the sanctity of the kohanim performing the Divine service in the Tabernacle/Holy Temple: "HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: 'You shall make a washstand of copper and its base of copper for washing, and you shall place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water therein..." (Exodus 30:17-21) |
Mikdash Monday - Shana Me'uberet (Leap year) - Part 4 “These are the set times of Hashem, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time.” (Vayikra 23:4) |
The Gates Of The Northern Court: The Yechoniah Gate In the northern part of the Court were four gates (from west to east): The Yechoniah Gate, also called the Gate of the Spark; The Gate of the Offering (through which the offerings of the highest level of sanctity were brought); The Gate of the Women (through which women entered to make their offerings); and the Gate of Song (through which the Levites and musicians entered to reach the platform of the Levitical Choir). |
This Week: Ki Tisa - The Half Shekel Offering! This week's Torah reading, Ki Tisa, (Exodus 30:11-34:35) opens with the call to collect the half shekel offering (donation) from the entire population of Israel, to be used for the building of the Tabernacle. In Temple times the half shekel donation was used to fund the public offerings in the Temple. "HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: 'When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to HaShem an atonement for his soul when they are counted; then there will be no plague among them when they are counted..." (Exodus 30:11-16) |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! The Temple Mount is the beating heart of the people of Israel and humanity's hope for a better future. Israel's current war against its bitter enemies near and far is nothing less than a war for the Temple Mount and the future Holy Temple! |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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