Family Parshah
Ki Tisa Q & A

When you take a census... every man shall give G-d an atonement for his soul... This they shall give...a half-shekel. (30:12-13)

Question: The famous commenter Rashi writes that Moses had difficulty understanding what G-d was telling him; He therefore, showed him a fiery coin which weighed a half-shekel.

Why was it so difficult for Moses to comprehend?

Answer: When G-d spoke about the half-shekel, He called it "atonement for the soul" for Torah violations. Moses could not comprehend how money can accomplish forgiveness for the soul. Therefore, G-d said to Moses, "They should give" just such a coin (a fiery coin). The giving of a coin in itself cannot atone for a grave sin such as worshipping the golden calf. However, if one gives with warmth and enthusiasm that stems from the fiery core of the Jewish soul, then a half-shekel can truly become the cause of forgiveness, even for sins that affect the essence of the Jewish soul.

Moses descended from the mountain with the two Tablets of Testimony in his hand. (32:15)

Question: What was the shape of the Tablets (Luchot)?

Answer: The generally accepted illustration of the Tablets, square on the bottom with rounded semi-circular tops, is inaccurate.

The Talmud1 states that each of the Tablets was six hand-breadths ("tefachim") in length, six hand-breadths high, and three hand-breadths in depth.

From this alone, we see that the Tablets were square at both ends (66 hand breadths) and not rounded at one end.

Furthermore, the Talmud accounts for all the space in the Ark -- how it was filled up -- either by the Tablets and the Torah scroll or the Tablets and silver pillars (called "amudim") alongside them. There were no spaces unaccounted for, as there would have been if the Tablets had been rounded at one end.

Moses's anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. (32:19)

Question: When Moses saw the golden calf, he immediately wanted to break the Tablets. The elders grabbed onto them and did not let him throw them down, until he finally overpowered them and shattered the Tablets.2 What was the basis of the dispute between Moses and the elders?

Answer: There are people who excel in inter-human relationships, but lack in their relationship with G-d. They generously help a person in need but are lax in the performance of purely spiritual Mitzvot. On the other hand, there are people who are meticulous in their relationship with G-d, but much is to be desired in their dealings between man and man. The Tablets consisted of the Ten Commandments, five on each stone. The first five belong to the category of Mitzvot between man and G-d, while the other five are Mitzvot between man and man.

The elders argued, "It is true that the Jewish people violated what is written in the first group of Commandments, but they are all from the category of Mitzvot between man and G-d. Let them at least remain with the second group of Commandments, which belongs to the category of Mitzvot between man and man."

Moses insisted, "Although they were written on separate stones, the two stones were united, in order to accentuate their inseparability. The rationale for obeying the ethical principles of the Torah in dealing with fellow human beings is not because they are self evident and logical, but because these principles were given at Sinai and are the word of G-d."

Do not make any idols... Keep the festival of Matzah; eat Matzah for seven days. (34:17-18)

Question: What is the connection between idol worship and eating Matzah?

Answer: Haman's plan to destroy the Jewish people was a punishment for worshipping idols in the days of Achashverosh.3 Before Esther went before Achashveirosh to plead for the Jewish people, she told Mordechai to declare a three-day period of fasting. Since the fast day took place on Passover,4 the Jews were unable to properly observe Passover that year by eating Matzah for seven days. The Torah is hinting at this event by telling us "Do not worship any idols" and consequently you will be able to eat Matzah seven days during Passover.