Torah Teasers
Parshas Ki Sesa
1. Although Bnei Yisrael received the Torah on Har Sinai, only afterward did Moshe go up and write it. Hashem gave him the Luchos that were written with the Etzba Elokim, only when He finished teaching Moshe the entire Torah in Shamayim (Ki Sisa 31:18). Why did Hashem not give the Luchos to Bnei Yisrael at Matan Torah? Ans… Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz says that it is written in the Sifrei Mussar that you must not scare a Ba’al Tshuva as to the consequences of his past actions. The Zohar says that in the Luchos were written the punishment of any violation, which is why the pasuk says it was written, “B’Etzba Elokim,” the finger of Elokim which is the mida of harsh judgment. This is why Moshe broke the Luchos. The Bnei Yisrael had just committed a great aveira and he did not want them to see the harsh consequences of their mistake. He did not want them to despair from tshuva. Similarly, Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael to accept the Torah out of love and not out of fear. That is why Hashem waited until later to give the luchos to Moshe Rabbeinu.
2. Hashem tells Moshe (Ki Sisa 30:34), “Kach Licha Samim; Take for yourself fragrances.” Why does Hashem say, “Licha – For you” Ans… The Maharal MiTzintz answers that the medrash tells us that when Moshe went up to Shamayim to take the Torah, each Malach gave him a special gift. Even the Malach HaMaves gave Moshe a gift, the gift of life. He revealed to Moshe the secret to stop a plague, which was with the Kitores. Moshe later used this secret to stop a plague that threatened to wipe out Klal Yisrael after the Machlokes of Korach. There is no question that the gift of saving Jewish lives was the most precious gift of all to Moshe Rabbeinu, says the Maharal Tzintz. However, Moshe had no ability to use this gift since there is an issur, punishable through Kares, to make your own private Kitores. Now, when Hashem finally told Moshe to make the Kitores, Hashem said “make it for yourself”, since this is the realization of your present that you received from the Malach HaMaves.”
3. Why is Shemiras Shabbos considered the litmus test if a person is religious or not? Hashem says regarding Shabbos (31:13) “Ois He; It is a sign.” Ans… The Chofetz Chaim explains with a Mashal of a sign on a person’s store. Every business has a reputation and the name on the sign tells the whole world who the owner of the store is. Even if the owner travels away for a while, as long as the sign is still up, we can rest assured that the owner will eventually return. If the owner takes the sign down and leaves town, then it is clear that the owner has left with no intention of returning. Similarly with Shemiras HaMitzvos. Keeping Shabbos is a sign that the Jewish spirit resides in the person. Even if a Jew leaves the path, as long as he keeps Shabbos, we know the Ruach HaTorah is still in him and he will one day return. However, once a person is Michalel Shabbos, he has taken down his sign and we know that the Ruach HaTorah has left them.”
4. After the Eigel came out of the fire, Aharon declared (Ki Sisa 32:5), “Chag Lashem Machar”. The next morning it says, “Vayashkimu… Vayeishev HaAm Le’echol… Vayakumu LiTzachek, They woke up early, ate and drank were very jovial.” The Shnayim Mikra brings from the Kerem HaTzvi that the Eigel was made at midday after the Mun already fell. Aharon was convinced that there is no way the Mun will fall again the next day after they made an Eigel. He, therefore, wanted to push off the party until the next day, so when the Mun wouldn’t fall, they would see their error and do tshuvah. What happened? Ans… The Medrash Tanchuma tells us that Hashem doesn’t work that way and He sent Mun even on that historically dreadful morning. The Medrash continues and says that they even took the Mun and were makriv it before the Eigel. After hearing mussar from the Maaminim, the entire previous day, that the Mun would not fall and they would starve because they were doing wrong, they spent a tense night waiting to see what the morning would bring. After they saw the Mun did indeed fall, they were drunk with victory and began to party and laugh at those who admonished them.
5. When Moshe asked Aharon how the Eigel could have happened under his watch, Aharon answered (Ki Sisa 32:22), “Ata Yadata Es HaAm Ki BiRa Hu”, you know that the nation is bad. Aharon then goes on to tell Moshe how they forced him to make the Eigel. It seems quite uncharacteristic of Aharon, who was beloved by all of Klal Yisrael for always finding the good in others, to blame the people rather than take responsibility himself. Why did he do it? Ans… The Malbim explains that we must read the pasukim with a deeper understanding and see that every word of Aharon’s was a defense of Bnei Yisrael and an acceptance of the blame on his part. “Ki BiRa Hu,” says the Malbim, “means you know the difficult circumstances of their existence in the barren wilderness and now they thought their leader was dead.” Aharon then says, “They asked me to make something, ‘Asher Yeilchu Lifaneinu.” They wanted a leader who would replace Moshe, and not a replacement for Hashem, chas v’shalom. Aharon did not blame it on the Chartumim since Bnei Yisrael would have been guilty for believing in a calf made by the Chartumim. Rather, he says, ‘I was the one who asked them for their gold. They didn’t do anything as I threw it into the fire, and, miraculously, a golden calf emerged. How can they be blamed for believing in a miracle made by a Navi V’Kadosh? The Torah says that Moshe saw through the tzidkus of Aharon, “Vayar Moshe Es HaAm Ki Parua Hu.” Despite all of Aharon’s stories, Moshe knew the guilt belonged to the nation. “Ki Pira’oi Aharon; That which Aharon took the blame, Lishimtza B’Kameihem; because he was scared of the embarrassment in the eyes of our enemies.” This was the tzidkus and devotion of the real Aharon.

“Most Orthodox New Yorkers tend to marinate their steak in some store bought sauce and call it ‘barbeque’, but for something to really be barbequed, it needs to be wood-smoked, and there’s no way to fake that genuine, barbequed taste.” “Got Cholent” president, Ari White, on the importance of his 2-ton wood-burning “HaKodesh Barbeque” which provides “pop-up” barbeques, complete with a dining tent, bales of hay and country music.

“Simply wait for Passover and see how many of the inmates can get along eating matzah for eight days and sticking to a diet of potatoes and more potatoes because of the Ashkenazi restriction on eating “kitniyot,” such as corn and other grains.” Linda Seligson, the cultural director at York’s Jewish Community Center, on Pennsylvania prisoners who claim they are Jewish simply because they want kosher food, which inflates the prison budget.

“He thought it was disgusting and that there is absolutely no place or justification for it.” a spokesman for NY Mayor Blumberg, agreeing with a group of Brooklyn pols assembled on City Hall steps denouncing Assemblyman Dov Hikind’s black face Purim costume.

≈ Great Sayings By Great People ≈
“Life is like a long Drasha where hard questions are asked one after another. The simple person thinks these are all unrelated questions. But the Lamdan knows that they are all intertwined, and with one revelation at the end, all the questions will be answered.”
– Rav Chatzkel Levenstein
“‘V’Anshei Kodesh Tihiyun Li’, I need Humans with all their folly to remain Holy, says Hashem. Malachim, I already have plenty of.”
– Kotzker Rebbe
“Six segulos help to have your aveiros forgiven and everyone should be very careful with them, especially a Ba’al Tshuva. One of them is to say Az Yashir every day audibly and with great joy, as if that very moment, you left Mitzrayim – Sefer Chareidim

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