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True, it is difficult to understand how, immediately following the Giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel made a Golden Calf and began to worship it. Such a sin, it would be expected, should have brought irrevocable disrepute upon that generation. But when one approaches this whole event from broader, more all-encompassing view, things take on a different light. It turns out that the generation of the Exodus, despite everything, was in fact a great generation.
How, then, did the Sin of the Golden Calf come about?
After witnessing the Giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel eagerly awaited the return of Moses. Moses had climbed the mountain and had not taken any provisions with him. It appeared as if he planned on returning the same day to bring the Tablets of the Covenant from God to the people. The people stood waiting for Moses to bring the Tablets, they stood waiting to receive something from Moses, something tangible toward which they would be able to direct their prayers to God. Moses, however, tarried upon the mountain for many days.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
21 - 21. God's Elite Line
22 - 22. The Sin of the Golden Calf Reconsidered
23 - 23. Why Was Torah Given to Israel Alone?
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Eventually, a small group of people began to lose confidence in Moses' ever returning. The nation became divided into factions. The factions held disparate opinions regarding how to respond to the situation.
Some felt that it was necessary to stop waiting around and to start taking action. They prescribed making some sort of graven image toward which the people would be able to turn when they desired worshiping God. Not that the Israelites should worship the image itself, heaven forbid, but that they be able to worship God via such a vehicle. They felt it necessary to have such a tangible object to help them direct their prayers to God and recall His wonders - not unlike what we do today when, in referring to God, we look to the sky and speak of God Who "sits on high." In other words, the people's offense lie in the fact that they created an image. They attributed Divine significance to that which they created with their own hands, of their own will, without being commanded by the Almighty - and such an act is forbidden.
They entertained, then, no intention of disavowing the Almighty God Who had released them from Egyptian bondage. To the contrary, they believed that by creating such a medium they would be capable of serving God even more effectively and devoutly. This was the reason that they approached Aaron with the request that he make the Golden Calf for them. Though their intentions were pure, they erred and committed an offense, for God had commanded not to make any such graven image, even with the purest of intentions. Their transgression was a serious one, yet, while it clearly constituted a violation of one of God's commandments, it did not reflect an attempt to betray Him.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
