Shabbat Ki Tissa 5782
While this week’s Torah reading, Ki Tissa, doesn’t begin with great drama, it soon turns to one of the most troubling narratives in all of Torah. The Israelites, unable to tolerate Moshe’s absence, insist that Aharon build them a replacement. Het Ha’Egel, the Sin of the Golden Calf, is a stain on almost everyone involved. Not even God, who seems on the verge of reenacting the Flood on a national if not global level, is without flaw in this story. The parshah ends with reconciliation but concealment, as Moshe’s face is from this point forward to be veiled, as if to say that the Israelites cannot have access to any image of their leader in utter fullness.
My goal in offering the weekly musical scavenger hunt is to entice people to read the Torah portion carefully, as well as to have some fun with music. Even if you don’t care for the video clips, it’s worthwhile to read the parshah anyway. For those who want to play along, why did I think of these songs?
Answers will be revealed after Shabbat minhah, which begins this week at 5:10 PM. Remember that we are no longer having early minhah.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and happy listening,
Rabbi David Wise
Candle lighting: 5:15 PM
Torah Reading: Exodus 30:11-34:35
Haftarah: I Kings 18:1-39
