After a couple portions that might be called "setup," for the upcoming construction of the mishkan, or tabernacle, this week parsha Ki Tisa (Exodus/Shemot 30:111 through chapter 34) returns to the story of what happens while, and after Moshe returns from his first trip up Mount Sinai.

And it's not pretty.

In fact, it is perhaps one of the most painful and tragic stories in the whole Book. All the more so because it keeps repeating.

But, again, it's the 'What?' AND the 'WHY' that are key to our understanding.

The Erev Shabbat overview of the whole parsha :

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SSM-3-10-23-Ki-Tisa-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3

The Sabbath day teaching this week certainly has to address what Mark suggests is one of THE most succinct stories out there to address the question, "what is Torah-obedience?"

Even if part of the story has undeniably 'negative connotations.'

The 'golden calf' is probably the most well-known example in the entire Bible of what has become a synonym for idolatry. And the irony is that its fame is well-deserved as well, because it is so PERSISTENT. Which is the problem.

Because virtually everything about the story fits as well now as it ever has.

"Ki Tisa: Worship Him AS He SAYS"

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WT-CooH-3-11-23-Ki-Tisa-What-does-Torah-observant-MEAN-Worship-Him-as-HE-says-podcast-xxx-1.mp3

 

The combined two-part podcast is here: