The People’s Party: Purim for All. Shabbat Ki Tissa/Zakhor 5786
It delights me when reading halakhic texts that are frankly dry to discover a glimpse of the dramas of daily life in centuries past. One such glimpse is on view in the discussion of the special Shabbat before Purim, known as “Zakhor” for its Maftir instructing us to remember the despicable attack of Amalek on…
Missing Miriam: Ki Tissa 5779
I feel sympathy for Aaron. While his brother Moses is enjoying a one on One visit with God on top of Sinai, Aaron faces a restive crowd below, desperately trying to hold them off. As Rashi notes, Aaron’s suggestion that the people surrender their jewelry was a delaying tactic until Moses would return, but the…
Show Me Your Glory: Ki Tisa 5777
What is Moses asking when he demands that God show him the glory? The Torah already had reported in Ex. 33: 11 that in the Tent of Meeting, the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face, like a man to his friend.” That sounds pretty direct—shockingly so—and yet somehow, Moses isn’t satisfied. A few verses…
The Perfect Perfume: Ki Tisa 5774
One Shabbat in Jerusalem, about 22 years ago, my wife and I were walking down Kovshei Katamon to our minyan. We fell in step with an older Yemenite woman who was holding a fragrant bouquet of basil flowers to enjoy in synagogue. She was already heading home (Temanin pray at 6 AM, even on Shabbat), and spontaneously gave…
Rabbi Danny Nevins 