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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Ki Tisa
First let us understand what it means that Moshe’s face was karan. Both the earlier and the later commentators explain that Moshe received some sort of special shine or glow emanating from his face. This is related to the event of receiving the Torah and luchot a second time, and is in line with the pasuk, "The wisdom of a man will light up his face" (Kohelet 8:1). The Rashbam and the Ibn Ezra scoffed at the Karaite who explained that Moshe’s face was dry because he did not eat for 40 days or the person who said that karan is related to the keren (horn) of an animal.
Let us now move on to the form of the luchot. So many shuls display the likeness of these holy tablets, usually above the aron kodesh. In the great majority of the cases, the likeness has rounded tops. This is mistaken. The gemara in Bava Batra (14a) discusses what was in the aron in the Temple in addition to the luchot. In that discussion, the gemara mentions the undisputed measurements of the luchot. The dimensions were six (i.e., an amma (cubit) of six tefachim (handbreadths)) by six by three. Putting one tablet on top of the other, they would form a perfect cube of one cubic amma. It is interesting to note that the Holy of Holies, both in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was also a perfect cube, in that case, of ten ammot in each direction. In any case, every indication was that the luchot were square, not rounded.
Another point worth clarifying is the place of the Ten Commandments on the luchot. It is universally depicted as each tablet containing five of the commandments. This indeed is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda (Shemot Rabba, Ki Tisa 47). However, Rabbi Nechemia (ibid.) disagrees and says that there were ten on each tablet (i.e., the tablets were a repeat of each other). Perhaps the curious possibility of their being a repeat caused most people to just assume that Rabbi Yehuda is correct.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
