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B"H

Thursday, Adar 16, 5786 / March 5, 2026

This week’s Parsha,Ki Tisa, is about the story of the Golden Calf.

 

This was one of the gravest sins which the Jewish people committed. It took place very close after the Giving of the Torah, while they were still at Mount Sinai. It took place only 40 days after the greatest G-dly revelation in history, when G-d came down Mount Sinai and spoke the Ten Commandments to the entire Jewish people.

 

The Parsha begins with G-d’s commandment that every Jew over the age of twenty should contribute a Half Shekel, as atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf. Only later in the Parsha does the Torah tell us how the people came about making the Golden Calf and worshipping it.

 

The Torah tells us that when the people saw that Moshe was not back yet from the mountain, they approached Aaron and asked him to make them a replacement for Moshe. Aaron told them to bring him their wives jewelry. Aaron then threw it into the fire and a Golden Calf emerged.

 

Q. Why was Moshe still on the Mountain when the people made the Golden Calf?

 

A. After G-d’s revelation at Mount Sinai and speaking the Ten Commandments, G-d told Moshe to come up the mountain, where G-d would give him the Tablets and teach him the entire Torah to later teach it to the Jewish people. Moshe was still up on Mount Sinai and was to return the next morning, when they made the Golden Calf.        

 

Q. Did all the twelve tribes have a share in this sin?

 

A. The tribe of Levi had no share in the sin of the Golden Calf. According to our sages, not even one person of the tribe of Levi participated in the Golden Calf. As a result, the tribe of Levi was chosen to perform G-d’s service in the Mishkan and later in the Holy Temple. The Kohanim and the Leviyim were all from the tribe of Levi.

 

Q.Why did the Torah change the order of events to tell us in the beginning of the Parsha, about the half- shekel, which was to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf, beforetelling us about the actual sin of the Golden Calf? If the half Shekel was atonement for the Golden Calf, shouldn’t it tell us about the sin of the Golden calf first?

 

A.Our sages tell us that G-d prepares the remedy before the plague and the cure before the sickness. This is why the Torah tells us about the building of the Mishkan and about the giving of the half Shekel, which was to atone for the Golden Calf, before telling us about the sin of the Golden Calf to teach us this important lesson: G-d always prepares the cure before the ailment.

 

It is a lesson in life that G-d has the cure and remedy ready before the challenge.

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY

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

B"H

Monday, Adar 20, 5786 / March 9, 2026

 

Now that the holiday of Purim is behind us, we are getting ready for the coming holiday of Pesach (Passover) – the Holiday of Freedom. The first Pesach Seder will be celebrated on Wednesday night, April 1st and the second Seder on Thursday night, April 2nd. In Israel, there is only one Seder on Wednesday night, April 1.

 

In the next few weeks, we will discuss some of the laws and customs of Pesach.

 

This coming Shabbat we read the last two Parshiot in the book of Exodus, Parshat Vayakheland Parshat Pekudei, which tell in great detail about the items which the Jewish people donated for the Mishkan-Tabernacleand how they were used. These two Parshiot are mostly a repeat of the two Parshiot, Terumah and Tetzaveh, which we read a few weeks ago.

 

Q.  What’s the connection between these Parshiot, and the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa?

 

A.   In the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa, we read the Story of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the Tablets as a result. We read about Moshe’s prayers for G-d’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf and Moshe’s coming down with the Second Tablets on Yom Kippur after G-d forgave them. 

 

Parshat Vayakhel, begins with Moshe gathering the entire congregation and telling them about the donations and construction of the Mishkan. This gathering took place one day after Yom Kippur, the day in which G-d forgave the people for their sin of the Golden Calf. Thus, this Parsha is connected with the previous Parsha, in which we read about the sin of the Golden Calf. The building of the Mishkan was to show that G-d forgave the people for the sin of the Golden Calf.

 

Q.   Every word, indeed, every letter, in the Torah is precise.  Why is the story of the building of the Mishkan, G-d’s sanctuary and dwelling place, repeated in such great length in the Torah?

 

A.   As mentioned, the building of the Mishkan was a sign of G-d’s forgiveness for the gravest sin committed by the Jewish people - the sin of worshipping the Golden Calf. The Mishkan is called, “Mishkan Ha’eidut” – “The Mishkan of Testimony.” It served as testimony that G-d forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to prove that this sin was forgiven and show that His love for the Jewish people did not waver, G-d instructed Moshe to write about the contributions and the building of the Mishkan in such great length.

 

Q.   Moshe’s great great nephew, Betzalel, was in charge of the building of the Mishkan; The Torah says, “And Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur of the tribe of Yehuda, had made all that G-d had commanded Moshe.”  How old was Betzalel when he took charge of building the Mishkan? 

 

A.   Betzalel was only thirteen years old when he built the Mishkan!

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Adar 21, 5786 / March 10, 2026

 

The holiday of Pesach (Passover) is in three weeks. The holiday begins Wednesday night, April 1, with the highlight of the Pesach Seder, when the entire family gets together to celebrate our holiday of freedom. Pesach we celebrate not only the freedom from the Egyptian bondage which took place over three thousand years ago, it reminds us that G-d protects us to this very day from all who want us gone. It is especially true these days with the war with Iran. We are a people whose existence is a miraculous one throughout the generations to this day.

 

Q.Are there any differences between the way Pesach is celebrated in Israel and in the Diaspora?

 

A. Yes. 1) Pesach in Israel is celebrated for seven days, while in the Diaspora the holiday is celebrated for eight days.

 

2) In Israel only one Seder is performed (Wednesday night). In the Diaspora, two Seders are celebrated (Wednesday night & Thursday night).

 

3) In Israel the first day and the seventh day of Pesach are days of rest in which work is not permitted. In the Diaspora the first two days and the last two days are days of rest in which work is prohibited.

 

Q. Why is there a difference between Israel and the Diaspora?

 

A. This goes back thousands of years to the days of the Temple. According to the Torah Pesach is a seven-day holiday. It begins on the 15th day of Nissan and ends on the 21st day of Nissan. From the time of the giving of the Torah, when G-d gave us the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each new month was determined by two witnesses who came to the High Court in Jerusalem and testified that they saw the re-appearance of the moon, which at the end of each month is not visible. If the High Court was satisfied with the accuracy of their testimony, they would declare that day the first day of the new month and proclaim that day Rosh Chodesh. Messengers were sent out throughout the Land of Israel to notify everyone when the first day of the month was. If that month was the month of Nissan, in which the 15th day of the month was Pesach, Jews all over Israel would know exactly when the 15th day is and when Pesach would begin.

 

However, Jews living outside of Israel, where the messengers couldn’t get there on time, didn’t know the exact day when Rosh Chodesh was and thus were in doubt which is the 15thday of the month and when Pesach begins. Thus, they kept an extra day holiday to be sure they were not violating the holiday laws and performed two Sedarim, just to be sure. We, today, do the same as they did. Those living in Israel, do one Seder and keep seven days holiday, while Jews living in the Diaspora celebrate two Sedarim and keep eight days holiday.

 

May we merit the coming of Mashiach and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple speedily in our days.   

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY

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