Dvar Torah Parashat Ki Tisa

Dedicated Leilui Nishmat

Rachel bat Sarah A’h and Shulamit bat Helen A’h

By Jack & Debbie Rahmey

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Parashat Ki Tisa

Machatzit Hashekel

This week’s parasha begins with Hashem telling Moshe to take a census of Bnei Yisrael. Hashem said to Moshe, “Every man from twenty years and up shall give a half shekel as an atonement for his soul when counting them. They shall give machatzit hashekel—half a shekel… the wealthy shall not give more, and the poor man shall not give less.”

According to Chazal, Hashem showed Moshe a coin of fire and said to him “Zeh yitnu⸺This you shall give.” Rashi explains that Hashem showed the half-shekel under the Kiseh Hakavod—Hashem’s throne in a ball of fire to teach us that money is very similar to fire. Fire, like money, can be good, but it can also be very harmful. Fire can heat our homes and cook our food, but if we use fire in the wrong way, it becomes a destructive force that can burn everything. Money can be good when it’s used to help people and support Torah causes, but it can also be very destructive. Money has been known to cause conflicts that break up families and destroy business partnerships. Statistics even show that most divorces are a result of financial issues. Even lottery winners lose their winnings within a few years, and sometimes they lose their lives!

In Hebrew the word machatzit is spelled with the letters mem, chet, tzadi, yud, taf. The middle letter is a tzadi, which stands for tzedakah—charity. The two middle letters that surround the tzadi are chet and yud, which spell chai—life. The outer letters are mem and taf, which spell met—death.

The question is asked, why half a shekel and not a whole? One reason is because each Jew on his own is incomplete, like half of something. All of Bnei Yisrael need to unite, because only then are we one whole. “Kol yisrael arevim zeh lazeh — all Jews are responsible for one another

Rabbi Shlomo Landau shares a story about the Minzer family who ran a bakery near Krakow during the start of World War II. The bakery always gave free bread to the poor, travelers and charity collectors that passed by. When refugees started pouring into their town, their charity increased and their ovens never cooled.

When the Nazis took control of their town, they transferred ownership to a non-Jew who decided to repay the favor and feed the Minzer family and other Jews in need. When the Minzers were forced into ghettos and some of the Minzer sons volunteered to work in the tin factory. The Polish owner of the factory hated Germans, and the Minzers helped him hinder German production. Every night the owner would bring the Minzer boys about forty rolls of bread which they were able to eat and sell.

When the country became too dangerous the factory owner helped the Minzer family escape and they miraculously survived the war. Looking back the Minzers attributed their survival and that they always had what to eat to their charity before the war. The word machatzit teaches that when you give charity, you will have life; but if you don’t, it may lead to the opposite, chas veshalom. As the passuk says, “Tzedaka tatzil mimavet — charity saves from death!”

The Golden Calf

Moshe Rabbenu had gone up on Har Sinai to receive the tablets. Bnei Yisrael waited eagerly for forty days for their leader to come back. But they miscalculated the time that Moshe was supposed to return and were in a panic that he was late. After just six hours, they approached Aharon to make a golden calf as an intermediary between them and Hashem to replace Moshe.

According to a Gemara in Masechet Sanhedrin (7a), Aharon saw that Bnei Yisrael had killed his nephew Chur for protesting the golden calf. Aharon calculated that if he would protest and they would kill him too, then they would be in violation of the sin of killing a kohen and a navi—prophet in Hashem’s Mishkan, for which they would not be able to do teshuvah. He figured that it would be better to let them build the golden calf, and they could repent.

He tried to drag the process out as much as possible, to stall for time until Moshe returned. Aharon told them “Bring me your wives’ gold jewels.” Aharon assumed correctly that the wives would be reluctant to give up their jewelry, especially for creating a golden calf. For refusing to participate in the golden calf, the women were granted every Rosh Chodesh as a personal holiday, when it’s customary for women to refrain from work and housework.

Don’t Make Decisions When Panicking

How could a nation who was at such a high level, after being saved by Hashem with open miracles and reaching the pinnacle of receiving the Torah, stoop to such a low level where they could erect an idol in the form of the golden calf?

The answer is anxiety. According to Rav Chaim Schmuelevitz, once the people began to worry and had become anxious, the Satan was able to find their weak spot and attack. Rabbi Twersky says that the lesson is not to make any important decisions when you’re in a worried state of mind. Bnei Yisrael let their fears and anxieties take hold of them, and they lost the faith that everything is in Hashem’s control.

Tearing Up the Contract

Moshe finally descended from Har Sinai with the two sapphire tablets in his hands, which were the handiwork of Hashem. The very manner in which the tablets were inscribed were testimony to their Divine origin, because the letters could be read from either side. Additionally, the Hebrew word for “engraved” is charut. According to our rabbis, it can also be read cherut, which means “freedom,” to teach us that the only person who is truly free is one who engages in the study of Torah (Pirke Avot 6:2).

When Moshe reached the bottom of the mountain, he saw with his own eyes how Bnei Yisrael had made a golden calf and begun to worship it. In his anger, he threw down the tablets and shattered them at the foot of the mountain.

Why did Moshe have to shatter the tablets? Chazal explained that breaking the tablets was like tearing up Bnei Yisrael’s ketuvah with Hashem, which actually saved them. Bnei Yisrael was like Hashem’s bride, and making the golden calf was being unfaithful to Him. Because they were unfaithful to Hashem, they deserved to be destroyed. Moshe saved them by throwing down the tablets or tearing up the contract between Bnei Yisrael and Hashem. If there was no contract, they couldn’t have violated it! Although a sin, it was not the ultimate sin, so they were still able to do teshuvah.

The Torah goes on to elaborate, “The Tablets were G-d’s handiwork, and the script was the script of G-d, engraved on the tablets (32:16).” Rabbi Frand points out that when Moshe received the tablets from Hashem, the passuk simply stated “Hashem gave the two Tablets of Testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of G-d (31:18).” Why doesn’t the Torah say much when the tablets were given to Moshe, but then it elaborates when Moshe destroyed them? Rabbi Frand answers that when we have something that’s precious to us, we don’t always appreciate it until we lose it.

Stiff-Necked

In the aftermath of chet ha’egel, Hashem referred to Bnei Yisrael as “Am kesheh oref—a stiff-necked people” in three separate pesukim (32:9, 33:3, 33:5) as His reason to destroy them and make a new nation from Moshe. The term is not one of endearment, it implies the stubbornness of the Jewish people is what led to the sin of the golden calf. However, a chapter later, Moshe uses this same term in his defense of Bnei Yisrael, when he tried to convince Hashem to spare them. “If I have found favor in Your eyes my Master, let my Master go among us, ki am kesheh oref hu—because it is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sins (34:9).” How could a trait that Hashem used as a reason for the sin possibly be used as the reason Moshe begs for the nation’s forgiveness?

Rabbi Scheinbaum explains this in his book Peninim on the Torah. Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, Shlita, clarifies that Moshe turned to Hashem, and said, “Ribono Shel Olam, You are reprimanding the nation because of their stiff-necked nature. Is this really a negative trait? Is this a reason to find them guilty? If anything, this very trait is what distinguishes the Jewish people from the rest of the world.”

‘Stiff-necked’ indicates that they have a backbone, an ability to withstand outside pressure and numerous difficult challenges to their faith. Every nation caved in under various challenges. When any of the others were under the slightest pressure, they wavered and resorted to a swarm of other beliefs, including Islam and Christianity. Why? Because they had no backbone. They were not stiff-necked; they were weak!

Moshe really said, “It’s true, the nation sinned gravely against You. But, because of their strong, stiff-necked nature, they will not only repent, but cling to You, and never renege on their commitment to Hashem.”

May we all cling tightly and be stubborn for Hashem’s will like Moshe Rabeinu. Traits are not inherently bad or good. They are just traits; the key is how they are implemented. Moshe turned stubbornness into something that could be used for good things, like clinging to Hashem and staying true to our word when we accepted His Torah.

Forgiveness

Rabbi Biderman shares a story from Reb Yaakov Meir Shechter Shlita: Baron Rothchild had a clever manager who took care of all the Baron’s businesses. The Baron became extremely wealthy due to this manager’s counsel and skills. Naturally, the Baron promoted him to a very high position. There was a problem, though. The manager understood the Baron’s success was due to his management, and he became haughty. He treated his boss, Baron Rotchild, with so much disrespect that it appeared as if the Baron was working for him!

Initially, the Baron accepted this situation. He figured it was worthwhile for him to suffer some humiliation from his manager if his businesses were prospering. But as time went on, matters became worse. The manager almost entirely disregarded the Baron’s opinion and did what he felt was better. The Baron fired him.

The manager wasn’t afraid of that. He was certain that many other wealthy people would hire him to run their businesses. He had a lot of experience, and he had made the Baron wealthy; who wouldn’t want to hire him? But he remained unemployed for months. No one was hiring him, and he didn’t know why. He began to advertise that he was looking for a position, but it didn’t help. His savings were shrinking, and he felt the need to find a position, quickly.

After investigating, he found out that when wealthy people considered hiring him, they would speak to Baron Rothchild to ask about him. The Baron would reveal to them that with time, the manager will begin to feel like he is the boss and will begin making his own decisions. Furthermore, he will totally disregard and humiliate his boss. This report prevented him from being hired.

The manager told his family what was happening to him. They replied, “The Baron is renowned for being a kind person. He certainly doesn’t hate you or want to take revenge on you. It must be that he knows that if you are hired, you will be fired soon afterwards because no one can possibly tolerate your behavior. The Baron figures that your emotional well-being shouldn't be hired to another position, rather than to be hired and fired soon afterwards."

The family said, “Therefore, you shall do the following: Tell the Baron that you recognize what you did wrong, and that from now on, you will always recognize your place, that you are merely a hired worker, and you won’t act like the boss. When you tell him this, you will see that he will speak favorably about you to others. Even more, he will hire you once again because the Baron knows, more than anyone else, the good job you can do.”

After the sin of the golden calf, Hashem was furious with Bnei Yisrael, and He wanted to destroy them all. Moshe advocated for Bnei Yisrael, reminding Hashem that He is merciful. In the end Hashem forgave Bnei Yisrael, and we became beloved once more. Let us act in the ways of Hashem and forgive and forget.

May we remember the lesson of the machatzit hashekel to always feel a closeness to all our fellow Jews and help each other in times of need. May we always have faith in Hashem and not chas veshalom panic and make mistakes as Bnei Yisrael did with the golden calf. May we also use all our traits for good and turn stubbornness from a reason to sin, into a reason to cling to Hashem and never waiver from our faith. Amen!

Discussion Points:

Have we ever acted when we were in an agitated state of mind? How did that work out?

Did we ever wait until we calmed down, and then act? Was it worth the wait?

This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim.



Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon! Scan the barcode on the right to purchase from Amazon.

Rabbi Sananes and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Sincerely, Rabbi Amram Sananes and Jack E. Rahmey

AmramSananes@me.com and jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276)

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Le’ilui Nishmat…

Eliyahu Ben Rachel

Rabbi Shimon Chay Ben Yaasher

Avraham Ben Garaz

Sarah Bat Chanah

Esther Bat Sarah

Avraham Ben Mazal

Shulamit Bat Helaina

Rabbi Meyer Ben Chana

Rahamim Ben Mazal

Batsheva Bat Sarah Esther

Rafael Ben Miriam

Ovadia Ben Esther

Rav Haim Ben Rivka

Moshe Ben Mazal

Moshe Ben Yael

Yitzchak Ben Adele

Avraham Ben Mazal

Meir Ben Latifa

Chanah Bat Esther

Yaakov Ben Rachel

Malka Bat Garaz

Moshe Ben Garaz

Avraham Ben Kami

Yaakov Ben Leah

Mordechai Ben Rachel

Chacham Shaul Rachamim Ben Mazal

Natan Ben Rachel

Saadia Ben Miriam

Eliyah Ben Latifa Simhon

Margalit Bat Mazal

Ovadia Haim Ben Malaky

Rabbi Aharon Chaim Ben Ruchama

Luratte Bat Masouda

Esther Bat Menucha

Uri Ben Rahel

Rivka Bat Dona

Shalom Ben Zahra

Rachel Bat Sarah

Shalom Ben Zahra

Chava Yvette Bat Jamile

Yehoshoua Ben Batsheva

Aharon Ben Matel Yehudis

Yitzchak Ben Mazal

Refuah Shelemah…

Rachel Bat Devorah

Gimol Sarah Ester Bat Batsheva

Haim Ben Miriam

Rachmim Ben Leah

Anyone interested in dedicating this Divre Torah Le'ilui Nishmat or Refuah Shelemah or In Honor of someone, can email me at

jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com. Checks can be made out to “A Life of Torah” for $101 and mailed to 2387 Ocean Ave Suite 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 (please put in the memo “Divre Torah”). Anyone interested in past parshiot please go to the website ParashaPerspective.org