We live in a time of fear and anxiety. Massive economic dislocation, changes in social values and norms, climate change and COVID pandemic have left many of us feeling unmoored and without solid ground on which to stand. Then there is the particularly Jewish stressor of the rise of open antisemitism on both the left and the right. It is easy to understand why we give in to our fears, but fear is a dangerous place from which to act. In this week’s Torah portion the Israelites build an idol, the Golden Calf, violating the commandment to not worship false gods which they received just a small time before. Our sages of blessed memory wondered how the Israelites could do such a thing so quickly after their experience at Sinai and provided an explanation in the Talmud. There was a misunderstanding between Moses and the Children of Israel. They thought he would return after 40 days, but Moses said he would return after 40 days and 40 nights. So at the end of the fortieth day the Children of Israel became nervous. Satan appeared to them and told them Moses had died. This is when they called on Aaron to build the Golden Calf. (Talmud Bavli, Berachot 89a) Newly freed, alone in the wilderness, without their leader, the Israelites became afraid. In their fear, to comfort themselves, they turned to the ways they knew, those of Egyptians: idol worship. Thus they erred, turned away from the values they were meant to live by and broke faith with God. If they had only waited a few more hours all would have been well. There is a lesson here for us. To remain true to our deepest convictions, to remain optimistic, to act from a place of hope and never surrender to our fears.
Ki Tisa, Exodus 30:11-34:35, Parashat Hashavua for Shabbat March 2, 2024
February 29, 2024 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
We live in a time of fear and anxiety. Massive economic dislocation, changes in social values and norms, climate change and COVID pandemic have left many of us feeling unmoored and without solid ground on which to stand. Then there is the particularly Jewish stressor of the rise of open antisemitism on both the left and the right. It is easy to understand why we give in to our fears, but fear is a dangerous place from which to act. In this week’s Torah portion the Israelites build an idol, the Golden Calf, violating the commandment to not worship false gods which they received just a small time before. Our sages of blessed memory wondered how the Israelites could do such a thing so quickly after their experience at Sinai and provided an explanation in the Talmud. There was a misunderstanding between Moses and the Children of Israel. They thought he would return after 40 days, but Moses said he would return after 40 days and 40 nights. So at the end of the fortieth day the Children of Israel became nervous. Satan appeared to them and told them Moses had died. This is when they called on Aaron to build the Golden Calf. (Talmud Bavli, Berachot 89a) Newly freed, alone in the wilderness, without their leader, the Israelites became afraid. In their fear, to comfort themselves, they turned to the ways they knew, those of Egyptians: idol worship. Thus they erred, turned away from the values they were meant to live by and broke faith with God. If they had only waited a few more hours all would have been well. There is a lesson here for us. To remain true to our deepest convictions, to remain optimistic, to act from a place of hope and never surrender to our fears.