KiSisa-2016
· The 2nd and 3rd commandments at Har Sinai are clear:
o You should have no other gods before Me.
o You should not make for yourselves any graven image.
· Shemos 32:1When the people saw that Moshe was late in coming down from the mountain, they gathered against Aharon and said to him, Arise make us gods that will lead us.
· 32:6 – They arose early the next morning… and sat down to eat and drink and got up to make merry (Letzachek).
· Rashi: Letzaheck implies sexual immorality.
· 32:7 – Hashem spoke to Moshe - go down, for your people have become corrupt (Sheechate). Now leave Me alone and My wrath will blaze against them and destroy them.
· 32:30 – Moshe said to Bnei Yisroel: You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to Hashem, perhaps I will gain atonement for your sin.
· 33:4 – When the people heard this bad news they mourned…. Hashem said to Moshe, say to Bnei Yisroel, you are a stiff necked people. If I went among you for one moment, I would destroy you.
· The Jewish people realized how they had been on the brink of almost throwing everything away.
· They felt remorse, did Tshuva, and Moshe argued successfully for a reprieve. As a result:
· 34:10 – Hashem said, I hereby make a covenant; before all your people I will perform wonders such as have not been created in all the earth or for any nation. And all the people in whose midst you are will see how awesome is the deed of Hashem.”
· This pattern – of the Jews coming to the edge of disaster, doing Tshuva, and getting a reprieve - happened again during the events of Purim, 1000 years later.
· Megilla 14a – When the king removed his ring (of power and gave it to Haman) it was more effective than the forty-eight Neviim (prophets) and seven Neviot (prophetesses) who had prophesied to the Jews. For all these Neviim were not able to turn the Jews to go in a better direction. But the removal of the ring woke them up, and they then turned in the right direction and did Tshuva.
· Shabbos 88b: The Jewish people reaffirmed their acceptance of the Torah in the days of Ahashverosh, as it is written (Esther 9:27), 'The Jews observed it and accepted (Keemu Ve Keeblu) it upon themselves'
· The same pattern happened with Adam and Chava:
· Breshis 3:6 – Chava took of its fruit and she ate, and she also gave it to her husband, and he ate. Hashem said, “From the tree that I commanded you not to eat of it, have you eaten?”
· 3:16 – To the woman Hashem said: I will greatly increase your sorrow.
· 3:17 – To the man Hashem said:…By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, until you return to the ground.
· 3:24 – Hashem banished them from the garden.
· This pattern happened with Kayin:
· Breshis 4:5 – Kayin became very angry and depressed. Hashem said to Kayin, Why are you angry? Why are you depressed? If you improve, there is forgiveness, but if you do not improve, sin rests at the entrance. Its desire is unto you, but you can dominate it.” … … Kayin rose up against his brother Hevel, and killed him.
· 4:10 – Hashem said to Kayin: What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed… Kayin said to Hashem, My sin is greater than I can bear.
· Midrash Rabbah 22:13 - Breshis. 4:16:. Adam met Kayin and asked him, "What happened with your judgment?" Kayin said, "I did Tshuva and was reconciled [with Hashem]." Adam slapped his own face and said, "Such is the power of Tshuva, and I did not know about it."
· There is a reason for this pattern:
· Kiddushin 30b- A person’s Yetzer Hara renews itself against him every day. A person’s Yetzer Hara threatens to overpower him every day and seeks to kill him… If Hashem didn’t help a person, he would be unable to withstand the Yetzer Hara…Hashem said to Israel, I have created the Yetzer Hara, and I have created Torah as its antidote.
· Maharsha – Without Divine assistance it is impossible to withstand temptation.
· This happens every time we go off our diet, and weigh ourselves the next morning.
· A Rabbi once told me a story about his niece who was allergic to sesame seeds. She took a sesame bun, took off all the seeds, and ate it to taste a bit of the Tam. She had a seizure from the allergic reaction, and died.
· The Jewish people are faced with a similar choice today.
· Megilla 17b –Why is the 10th Brocha (of the Shemoneh Esreh) of Kibbutz Golios (ingathering of exiles) placed after the 9th Brocha of Birkat Hashanim (to have a prosperous year). For it is written (in Yecheskel 36:8): You mountains of Israel, sprout forth your branches and give forth your fruit to My people Israel, for they are close to returning.
· In other words, Eretz Yisroel has to provide a flourishing economy for the returning Jews as the time that redemption begins.
· We can see how Eretz Yisroel is flourishing after 2000 years of emptiness.
· Israel’s GNP went from virtually 0 in 1948, to $50 billion in 1990, $150 billion in 2006 to $315 billion in 2015, to $390 billion in 2019.
· Sanhendrin 97b – (discussing the final redemption) If the (Jewish people) do not repent, they will not be redeemed (on their own). But then Hashem will set up a king over them whose decrees will be as cruel as Haman's, and as a result Israel will do Tshuva, and Hashem will thus bring them back to the right path.
· Sanhendrin 98a –(explained by Rabbi Pinchus Winston) - The Talmud explains that the redemption will either be achishenah - hastened, early - or b'ittah - in its time, as in the last possible moment. The Talmud explains that the difference - between the two possible arrival dates of Moshiach and the final redemption from exile - is up to us. If we do that which can trigger the redemption on our own, which translates into a specific formula of Tshuva and good deeds, the precise amount of which is known only to Hashem, then Moshiach will come "early", that is, before the last possible moment he can.
· Psalm 81 (psalm for Thursday) – If only my people would heed me, if Israel would walk in My ways. In an instant I would subdue their foes, and against their tormentor turn My hand.
· Yuma 86b - Resh Lakish says there are two levels of Tshuva
o Tshuva shel Yira – Repentance that is done from fear – Then intentional sins (be mazid) are counted as unintentional sins (shegagos)
o Tshuva shel Ahavra – Repentance that is done out of love – Then intentional sins (be mazid) are considered as mitzvot
· The choice is up to us. The time is now.