YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Ki Tisa
The command to count the nation is expressed as: "Ki Tisa et rosh Bnei Yisrael." Literally, "When you lift up the head of the nation." What a strange expression! What does it mean? Why not use the more common expression for counting, "Ki Tifkod?" And why do we say - no less than 4 times - that giving the half-shekel brings "kapara," atonement for the giver? How does that work?
Recently, we learned about the objects in the Mishkan. One of the most important of these is the Kaporet, the cover of the Aron/ark, from which the voice of Hashem emanated. "Kaporet" has the same exact root as "Kapara." The connection? A cover serves to protect. And just as the Kaporet "protected" the Luchot lying in the Aron, so the performance of Mitzvot – such as the giving of the half-shekel for communal offerings – "covers" & protects the giver, allowing him to "raise his head" in full confidence that, through his actions, he has elicited G-d’s favor & blessing.
As the saga of the Egel HaZahav begins, the nation miscounts & believes that Moshe was not coming down from Mt. Sinai with the Luchot. The pasuk there uses the unusual word, "Boshesh," usually translated as "delayed" but clearly implying a certain "busha," embarrassment or lack of faith in one's self. A vicious cycle thus begins: The people panick; they lose confidence in their ability to relate to Hashem without an intermediary – such as Moshe - & so they build a calf, the only "god" they had ever seen before, in Egypt.
When Moshe sees this, he says, "The nation is faruah," a word Rashi says means, "exposed." The people had lost their sense of self-worth & so they sinned; in doing so, their protective "cover" was now off. Only when they eventually repent, & regain Hashem’s favor, does the "cover" return & they are granted a new, second set of Luchot.
Perhaps this is the deeper significance behind the "mask" which Moshe wore at the end of the Sedra (which fits well for the day after Purim!). A mask is also a type of cover; Moshe may have been intimating to his people that as long as we "cover" ourselves in Mitzvot & acts of Chesed, we will be protected by Hashem & worthy of receiving the Torah.
Most of all, our Sedra emphasizes that when we are in consonance with the ways of Hashem, we can hold our heads up high – individually as well as among the nations of the world – confident that we will always be the beneficiaries of G-d’s mercies. And that is why we are certain of our eventual victory: While our terrorist enemies tend to wear masks, our masks will always triumph over theirs.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.