Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Ki Sisa

The following is a brief summary of two thoughts said over by R' Frand in his shiur this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistencies are the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

In Shemos 32:1, the Torah writes "Vay'ar Ha'am Ki Boshesh Moshe Laredes Min Hahar" that the Jews saw that Moshe had delayed in descending from Mt. Sinai. Rashi explains that the word boshesh means "delayed" -- that the Jews had calculated that Moshe was going to come down by that date and he had not yet descended. The Jews were concerned that since Moshe was always precise and he had not come down, that something must have happened to him. Rashi also brings two medrashim that the Satan: (1) made the clouds swirl and the world fill with darkness and (2) showed the Jews an image of Moshe's coffin floating in the sky.

After this occurs, the Jews come running to Aharon for guidance. Aharon attempts to stall by telling them to gather up their gold. They do so and Aharon throws in a gold piece which according to one medrash has the image of a cow and as a result the Golden Calf emerges. Another medrash teaches that Aharon threw in a piece of paper with the Heavenly Name on it, leading to the same result.

R' Frand then asked two questions: (1) Why is that the Jews are punished for worshipping the Golden Calf if all of the above reasons could be interpreted as signs from above that Moshe was gone and the Calf was to be followed? (2) Why does Moshe after he has descended and seen the actions Jews, not plead with Hashem for forgiveness based on the Jews "logical" conclusion?

R' Frand answered that the lesson of the calf is that that there is never a good excuse or logical explanation or extenuating circumstance which justifies worshipping other gods. This is the reason why Moshe does not seek to explain the Jews actions, because he is aware that there is only one G-d and that there can never be justification to worship anything else.

The second vort said by Rabbi Frand was a sheva brachos vort. It is customary at Jewish weddings that the groom steps on a glass. It is usually taught that the reason for this custom is to remember that the Bais Hamikdash is no longer. Tonight R' Frand mentioned an alternate explanation, (in the name of either R' Hai or R' Saa'diah Gaon) that the glass is broken as a remembrance of Moshe breaking the luchos.

R' Frand noted that in the end of Devarim, Hashem writes the epitaph for Moshe Rabbeinu and recites his great acts in order of significance. The final pasuk ends l'eynay kol yisrael (before the eyes of all the Jews) which Rashi explains means that Moshe is being praised for breaking the luchos.

Why is this Moshe's most praiseworthy act? Because Moshe had invested so much time and effort in getting the luchos, yet he realized that the situation demanded that he give up his investment and break the luchos. It is often times difficult to abandon something that one has labored to accomplish, yet the situation demands that it be done.

R' Frand cited to last week's haftorah where Shaul tells Shmuel that he has kept Hashem's order to destroy Amelek. Shmuel responds - no! Shaul then says, I have listened to Hashem. Why? Because he finds it difficult to admit that he has not completely followed Hashem's order.

R' Frand then mentioned that as a Rebbi, he is frequently approached by boys who tell him that the girl they are engaged to is a perfect match because they like all the same things. However, within a few weeks of getting married, the boys start noticing that they are not exactly like their spouses and that sometimes each may want to do something that the other does not want to do.

R Frand closed the vort by explaining that the lesson of the breaking of the luchos is that there are times when a person may feel that they are right and that things should be their way. However, the situation may demand compromise, even if this means abandoning something that you have worked very hard to create or master. The lesson of the luchos is that sometimes the correct course of action is to drop this item or position and admit that your spouse is correct.

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