Overview of the Weekly Reading: Ki Tissa, Shabbat
Para ("Red Heifer")
To be read on 20 Adar 5764 (March 13
)
Ki Tissa is the 9th Reading out of 11 in Exodus
and 21sth overall, and 8th out of 54 in
overall length.
Exodus 30:11- 34:35, Maftir Parah: Numbers 19:1-22;
Haftorah: Ezekiel 36:16-18 (for Parah-"the Red Heifer")
Commandments
to make a census in which each male over the age of 20 gave half
a shekel, and to make a washstand and basin, anointing oil, and
incense for the Tabernacle. Betzalel and Oholiav were chosen as
the head craftsman for the construction of the Tabernacle, its contents,
the priestly clothes, oil, and incense. The Jews were commanded
to observe Shabbos, the day of rest. Believing Moshe’s descent overdue,
the Jews asked Aharon to make them a deity. From gold the Jews gave,
a calf was formed which the Jews began to worship. On the mountain,
G-d told Moshe of what the Jews had done. Moshe pleaded with G-d
not to annihilate them, reminding His promise to the forefathers
to make the Jews a nation. Upon his descent, Moshe saw the Jews
idolatrous behavior and threw down the tablets of the 10 commandments,
breaking them. Then G-d, Moshe and the Levites punished offenders.
G-d said that an angel would lead them in the desert, but eventually
agreed to Mocha’s plea that He directly lead the Jews. G-d granted
Moshe a special vision of His glory. G-d told Moshe to carve out
two new tablets and return to the mountain top. Moshe recited special
verses which mention G-d’s attributes of mercy. The Jews were reminded
not to commit idolatry, not to make peace treaties with the nations
living in Israel, to observe Passover, Shavuos and Shabbos, to dedicate
first born males, animals and first fruit to G-d, that all men should
appear before G-d at the Temple thrice yearly at certain times,
and not to mix milk and meat. Moshe wrote down all the commandments,
and G-d wrote the ten commandments on the two new tablets. When
Moshe descended this time, his face was so luminous that he had
to wear a veil over it.
FROM THE MASTERS
OF KABBALA (K:21-64/Ki
Tissa )
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:21-64/Ki
Tissa )
"If your outcasts have been driven out to the farthest parts of heaven,
from there will the Lord your G-d gather you, and from there He will
fetch you."
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy
Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:21-64/Ki
Tissa )
We are therefore taught that providing for mankind is as difficult
for G-d as the Splitting of the Sea ( Bereishit Rabba 97:3, 20:22),
for both are subject to G-d's judgment, as mentioned in the Zohar.
(Zohar II 170a)
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:21-64/Ki
Tissa )
By taking pains to demonstrate that each ingredient of the anointing
oil is a manifestation of the name Elo-him, the Arizal is showing
us that this essential element is the awareness that all our efforts
are at best and at most in order to make ourselves and our lives receptacles
and channels for G-d's blessing.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V:2164/Ki Tissa)
Ki Tissa
"Half a shekel, after the shekel of the Sanctuary."
(30:13)
A Jew is only "half" an entity in two senses, attaining
completion and wholeness by uniting with G-d, or alternately, with
another Jew. Yet these explanations are interrelated, for when a
person helps his fellow Jew and unites with him, he simultaneously
merits G-d's blessing and draws closer to Him at the same time.
(Likutei Sichot) (from L'Chaim #559)
This verse contains an allusion to the mitzva of tzedaka, charity,
for the word shekel has the same numerical equivalent as nefesh,
soul (430). This teaches that giving tzedaka has the power to effect
atonement for the soul.
(Baal HaTurim) (from L'Chaim #559)
Para
"…that is unblemished, that never had on it a yoke…"
[Numbers 19:4]
When someone thinks he has already achieved spiritual perfection
and has no blemishes or defects, that in itself is a clear sign
that he has never taken upon himself the "yoke of heaven",
a sincere commitment to consistent spiritual effort. For if he had,
he would have quickly realized that it is impossible for him to
be unblemished.
(Seer of Lublin [translated from Sichat HaShavuah
429])
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent 
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here) (W:21-64/Ki Tissa )
This week's portion tells about Moshe breaking the first tablets,
and G-d ordering the making of the second set. What was the difference
between the two sets, and how does it impact on us today? Whereas
the first tablets were completely made by G-d, Moshe carved out the
second set. Even though G-d later engraved the tablets, Moshe made
them. The inference is that even though the first set was smashed
because of the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe, acting as our representative,
was given the task of making the second tablets because the Jewish
people's tshuvah (repentance) was accepted.
In his commentary, Rashi quotes the Talmud that G-d appreciated Moshe
for breaking the tablets --'Yashar koach she'shavarta'-"Thank
you for breaking the tablets!". He explains that the tablets
were like a marriage contract between us and G-d. Breaking the tablets
at the time of the Golden Calf was like breaking the engagement, so
that the punishment for being unfaithful to G-d would be limited.
Even still, Rashi should congratulate Moshe for saving the Jewish
people, but why the praise for breaking the tablets?
When the Jewish people received the Torah, it was because G-d chose
and elevated us from all the other nations. When a person feels chosen
and elevated, he feels good about himself. He does not feel he is
lacking anything, and this perception is not conducive to Torah learning.
To learn you have to feel that you are low and lacking, that you need
what you are about to study-"My soul is like dust to all".
How do you get an entire people to go from feeling elevated to feeling
lowly? This is the meaning of "Thank you for breaking the tablets!"
that Rashi wrote. When Moshe broke the tablets he made each and every
single Jewish person feel lowly, broken hearted. And through this
broken heart, he opened them up to the study of Torah without limitation
for all time, making them a true vessel for the Torah they received.
A narrow strait opens up to a broad avenue.
Furthermore, this is why G-d commanded Moshe to form the second tablets
"for yourself" (l'cha). "For yourself" means for
your own benefit. Since the destruction of the first set was due to
Moshe's intuition and foresight, the forming of the second set was
his reward because in the second tablets were included all of the
power of the events that preceded them.
Purim and Ki Tisa always occur at the same time of the year, and
these events are presently happening again. Each and every Jew is
strengthened by the renewed reception of the Torah-as happened during
Purim-as well as the humbling experience of the breaking of the tablets
by Moshe. And through our repentance, we will be able to learn Torah
in the most effective and powerful way, and thereby bring Mashiach
right away.
Since my 51st birthday was on Monday, Shushan Purim, let me take
the opportunity to bless each and everyone of my readers, my family,
all the students, staff, friends and the contributors of Ascent, with
a wonderful coming year, filled with all possible physical and spiritual
blessings, and a lot of effective Torah study. Through our efforts,
may we see the speedy arrival of Mashiach, and march together to the
rebuilding of the third temple, now.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul Leiter
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
For all our insights for this parsha:
from last year
from two years ago
