Teen D’Var Torah – Parashat Ki Tisa

We are pleased to share Mira Lev’s Dvar Torah on Parashat Ki Tisa from her recent bet mitzvah at Congregation Har HaShem.

by Mira Lev

At the start of my Torah portion, the Israelites have just been saved by G-d through the splitting of the Red Sea.

Only a couple of weeks after this escape from Egypt, as they were wandering in the desert, Moses was nowhere to be found. We know that he was off speaking with G-d. But the people were nervous and worried about what their future held. In their eyes, Moses had deserted them, and they were alone. 

Despite the incredible miracle that had just happened, the people got upset because Moses was gone. They were impatient, so Moses’s brother Aaron, in an attempt to make the people feel better, told all the men to give him their wives’ gold jewelry to make a golden calf idol. Worshipping idols was comfortable and familiar to the people; it was all they knew from watching the Egyptians, and they felt scared and needed guidance.

I would like to point out that the golden calf was a symbol of an Egyptian god. The people had just escaped from Egypt. This is confusing to me. Why would they build a god from a place they had just escaped from? Then again, this was all they knew. They were trying to find something comforting and familiar when they were feeling scared.

I would also like to point out that Aaron told the men to take their wives’ gold. The women were not on board with this plan. They had faith and patience. The men, however… Not so patient. Does this remind you of any men you know?

Continuing on… When G-d finds out what the people have done, G-d is angry. G-d is upset. G-d is hurt. Specifically, G-d says “now let Me be, that My anger may blaze forth against them and that I may destroy them.” G-d is literally saying that because of the people’s behavior, they will all be killed.

Moses jumps in, and again, I’m paraphrasing here, says, “dude, take a breath. The people are scared and nervous and don’t know what they’re doing. Don’t kill them. Give them love, support, and guidance. They are not doing this to upset you. This is a lot for them. They need your help.” 

This took a lot of bravery and courage. Moses has just heard what G-d planned to do to the people, but even though he knew there was a risk of G-d punishing him (or even killing him!), he still stood up to G-d. It is NOT easy to stand up to someone when they are angry, especially someone significantly more powerful than you are. But that did not stop Moses.

In a gentle, respectful way, Moses helps G-d to recognize that a time of anger and hurt is NOT a time to make decisions. Especially BIG decisions. Moses hears G-d say “Let me be,” and Moses recognizes that, in reality, G-d does not want to be left alone. G-d is asking for help and support. G-d is struggling with a moment of pain and hurt.

For me, this is a perfect example of what matters most in a true, meaningful friendship. Friendship means supporting your friend when they are struggling. When someone is upset about something and cannot clearly see the bigger picture, a true friend will support them. They will help them step back, not take things personally, and look at things differently. 

No one is perfect, not even G-d. But that is ok. That’s part of what makes us who we are. What’s important is that we keep on trying to do the right thing, we keep open minds, and we keep striving to be better. And, just like Moses supported G-d when G-d was angry, sometimes, when we are frustrated, we need the love and tenderness of a good friend to help guide us to wait before making a decision or to help us see another way. 

Ultimately, with the support of a good friend (just like Moses was to G-d), that is absolutely possible.