Ki Tisa,
Exodus 30:11- 34:35
This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tisa, is well know for the incident of the golden calf but surrounding this story we find other interesting snippets. It begins with the instructions for a poll tax - a shekel to be paid by all of a certain age. It then reminds the Israelites to keep Shabbat (the verses from V’shamru which we sing in synagogue every week come from this old text in the Book of Exodus!). Only then the narrative of the golden calf comes up, followed by God’s ‘anger’ at Israel’s loss of faith, Moses’ persuasive powers to save the Israelites and the second ascent to the mountain -where Moses spends another 40 days and 40 nights - to replace the broken tablets.
Hidden in the vast canvas of this portion are some of the most beautiful and mysterious verses of the Torah. Moses, having convinced God not to destroy the Israelites, feels he can now take advantage of God’s ‘good will,’ so to say. As soon as God says to Moses “...for you have truly gained My favor and I have singled you out by name.” Moses presses his luck and retorts, “Oh, let me behold Your Presence!” But God cannot go that far, not even for Moses, “I will make all My goodness pass before you… and the grace that I grant and the compassion that I show. But, God said, you cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live...”
It seems that Moses is telling God: “Seeing is believing” and God replies “No Moses, seeing is knowing, and there is a difference between knowledge and faith.” If you start with faith then you can behold God’s goodness, grace and compassion all around you. If you reach the point of faith you can strive to emulate that which tradition calls “God’s attributes.” If you are a seeker you can start by living ethically and reaching towards faith. It doesn’t make a difference what your point of departure is. It doesn’t make a difference whether you are Moses or the lowliest water carrier, prince or pauper. Every human being has the potential to behold the signs of God’s presence in the world around them, within them and in the loving relationships we establish with others. And, no, you can’t magically influence God’s behavior.
God has no face, no back, no hands… Forget the anthropomorphisms in these verses. They are the rich, old language of our past that through metaphor comes to teach us about how to be in the world, what it is we can reach for, and how faith can help us on the journey.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
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