Parshas Ki Sisa





This is in the merit of my grandmother, Esther bas Mazal. May she have a speedy and complete recovery.





I want to apologize for the utter lack of professionalism in this devar Torah.





Question:

Look at Exodus 33:1-3. What are the implications of this statement given that the first tablets have been broken and the second have not yet been given ?





We must ask the question, the nation which stood at Mount Sinai and heard the words of the Living G-d Himself worshipped an idol forty days later ?



There are many different approaches to "soften" this sin.



Ramban says they were only replacing Moses.

Rabbenu Yehuda HaLevy in the Kuzari states they only wanted a tangible image with which to worship G-d who they all knew had no body.



Regardless, the question remains, how could they do it?



For an answer, Rav Chaim Shmueleviztz ztz"l points us to a medrish. Our Sages teach us that at the splitting of the Sea of Reads, even a lowly maidservant experienced a greater level of prophecy than Ezekiel.



Rav Chaim asks, if this is the case, why did the medrish refer to them as still maidservants and not prophetesses ?



His answer is a fundamental of religious growth.



Rav Chaim says that becoming a prophet takes work, hard work. The Jews at the sea did not undergo all of the struggles to reach the level of prophecy, G-d simply gave it to them. Prophets do not build golden calves, ordinary people do (including us if we were alive back then).



Religious growth does not happen automatically, it takes work. Sudden leaps and spiritual highs do not last. Work is involved.



It is not the most desirable message and I am sure people have heard it already. Still, it is worth repeating.




Have a good Shabbas,
Mordechai