YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Shmini
(One can discuss how the midrash reads the pasuk regarding the status of Bnei Yisrael’s calf offering – whether it was an olah or a chatat – and thus in which way it served as an atonement. It is also interesting to note that this is the only appearance of the phrase "egel ben bakar" in the Torah, while we find many appearances of "par ben bakar.")
Many quills have been broken in trying to explain the connection between the two sins for which Bnei Yisrael needed atonement – the sale of Yosef and the Golden Calf – two events that were separated by several generations and were obviously perpetrated by different people. We will discuss this week the Malbim’s explanation, which appears in his commentary on the aforementioned Sifra.
The Malbim explains that in the case of each of these sins, Bnei Yisrael had a claim that minimized their guilt and perhaps could have had them exonerated from the harshest punishments. Regarding the sale of Yosef, the brothers could have claimed that the end result of their action must be considered. Due to their sale of Yosef, Yosef eventually emerged as a powerful leader, and he also was able to save Bnei Yisrael by providing for them food and security during a grave time of famine and danger.
Regarding the sin of the Golden Calf, they could have made the opposite claim. Although the idol worship that resulted from the creation of the Calf was horrible, their intention was just to do something which would cause the Divine Presence to dwell among them. Thus, while misguided, their actions were in the realm of an attempt at service of Hashem.
Before beginning to serve Hashem, properly this time, Bnei Yisrael had to cover themselves. Whether the main factor is the result or it is the intention, they were deserving of full punishment and in need of atonement for at least one of the sins and, to an extent, for both. This is why Bnei Yisrael’s need for atonement was so pronounced. We also should point out that since the goat preceded the calf, the first thing for which they required atonement was for the sin between man and his fellow man. Only afterward did they seek atonement for the sin between man and his Maker.
P'ninat Mishpat Losses from Financially (and Morally) Bad Loans – part III
based on ruling 75001 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
