Weekly Story for Ki Tisa: Never Too Far Gone

We all make mistakes, but usually we recover and we move on. But sometimes, our mistakes have devastating consequences; the damage can seem irreversible. This week’s Torah portion is about one of those mistakes. The sin of the golden calf was so catastrophic that we are atoning for it to this day. Yet ironically, the name of this parsha Ki Tisa, suggests anything but an epic downfall. Ki Tisa literally means “when you will lift up". The message is clear: no matter how low we may have fallen, we can harness this great descent to reach higher with an even greater ascent. This week's story is about a Jew who seemed too far-gone, but something amazing happens that turns it all around.