B"H
Friday, Adar 17, 5786 / March 5, 2026
This Shabbat we read from two Torahs, as it is the third Shabbat of the fourspecial Torah readings at this time of the year. Two are read before Purim and two between Purim and Pesach.
In the first Torah we read the weekly Torah portion, Ki Tisa. In the second Torah we read Parshat Parah – the laws of the Red Heifer. It is about the spiritual purificationprocess for someone who became impure as a result of coming in contact with a dead body and as a result they were prohibited from entering the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) and bringing a sacrifice.
Q.Parshat Parah is read in preparation for Pesach (Passover). What is the connection between the purification process read in Parshat Parah and the holiday of Pesach?
A.In the days of the Holy Temple, every Jew was required to be part and share in the mitzvah of the Passover sacrifice. The process of the Para Adumah was to purify a Jew who was spiritually unclean, so that he too will be able to bring sacrifices. Being that every Jew had to have a share in the Pesach sacrifice and eat of its meat and although we do not have sacrifices today and don’t have the actual Red Heffer, we still read from the Torah about the spiritual purification process now before Pesach.
In the weekly Torah portion, Ki Tisa, we read about the sin of the Golden Calf which the Jewish people made in the desert. This resulted in Moshe’s breaking The Tablets when he came down Mount Sinai and actually witnessed them worshipping the idol. Moshe went back up the mountain to pray for their forgiveness which G-d granted. He told Moshe to bring up another set of Tablets and once again engraved The Ten Commandments. The broken Tablets were eventually placed in the Holy Ark together with The Second Tablets.
Q. How long after The Giving of the Torah did they make the Golden Calf? And why?
A. Forty days later. Because they thought that Moshe was not coming back down.
Q. In total, how many times did Moshe go up Mount Sinai and for how long did he stay there?
A. Moshe went up and down three times! The first time was when G-d gave The Torah. He stayed on the mountain for forty days and broke The Tablets on his way down when he saw the Golden Calf. He went up again and stayed for forty days praying for forgiveness, which G-d granted. Then G-d told him to bring up two new Tablets, which he did. He went up with the Second Tablets for another forty days. G-d engraved The Ten Commandments a second time. He was up for a total of 120 days.
Q. What were the differences between the first and second Tablets?
A. The First Tablets were completely the work of G-d. The Tablets and the engraving were Divine. The Second Tablets were a mix; Moshe brought up the Tablets and G-d fixed His writing on them.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:30 / Shabbat ends: 6:33