Go Easy On Baalei Tshuva 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, “K’Chaloso Lidaber Ito… Kesuvim B’Ezba Elokim,” 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? 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 judgement.
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 He waited until later to give the luchos to Moshe Rabbeinu.
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Moshe’s Finally Gets His Kitores Hashem tells Moshe (Ki Sisa 30:34), “Kach Licha Samim; Take for yourself fragrances.” Why does Hashem say, “Licha; For you” The Maharal MiTzintz (Milo HaOmer) 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, and that 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 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.”
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Shabbos, If You Take Down The Sign…. 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.” The Chofetz Chaim explains with a Mashal of a sign on a person’s store. “Every business has a reputation and the name on 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.”
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The Big Party The Morning After 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.
However, 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, 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.
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An Aliya Only The Levi Can Take Parshas Kisa has over 90 pasukim in the first two aliyos which amounts to far more than half the parsha. Why? Rav Michel Feinstein says that this minhag may be based on the Sefer Chasidim (768) who says that if someone is suspected of doing an aveira he should not be honored with the aliya where the Torah speaks about that particular aveira, for it is an embarrasment to him.
The Torah says when Moshe cried (Ki Sisa 32:26) “Mi Lashem Eilai?”
“Vayeiasfu Eilav Kol Bnei Levi; All of Bnei Levi answered the call.” Rashi says that we learn from here that Bnei Levi were completely innocent down to the last man. “Therefore,” says Rav Michel, “when we read the parsha of the Eigel, only a Levi could receive the Aliya. Because of this, we stretch out the first two aliyos so that the Eigel will come out in the Levi’s aliya.”

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