Parashat Ki Tisa - פרשת כי תשא
Sefer Shemot (Exodus) | Exodus 30:11 - 34:35
About This Parasha
Parashat Ki Tisa begins with the commandment of the half-shekel census tax, continues with instructions for the copper laver, the anointing oil, and the incense. God designates Betzalel and Oholiav as the chief artisans for building the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and reiterates the importance of keeping Shabbat.
The parasha then recounts one of the most dramatic episodes in the Torah: the sin of the Golden Calf. While Moshe is on Mount Sinai receiving the Tablets of the Covenant, the people grow anxious at his prolonged absence and pressure Aharon into fashioning a golden idol. God informs Moshe, who descends and shatters the tablets in anger. He grinds the calf to powder, mixes it with water, and makes the people drink it. The Levites rally to Moshe’s side, and a severe punishment follows.
Moshe then ascends the mountain again to plead for forgiveness on behalf of the people. In a deeply intimate exchange, Moshe asks to see God’s glory. God reveals the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, renews the covenant, and gives Moshe a second set of tablets. The parasha concludes with the radiant glow on Moshe’s face when he descends, requiring him to wear a veil when speaking to the people.
Aliyot
| Aliyah | Hebrew | Verses |
|---|---|---|
| Aliyah 1 | ראשון | Exodus 30:11-31:17 |
| Aliyah 2 | שני | Exodus 31:18-33:11 |
| Aliyah 3 | שלישי | Exodus 33:12-33:16 |
| Aliyah 4 | רביעי | Exodus 33:17-33:23 |
| Aliyah 5 | חמישי | Exodus 34:1-34:9 |
| Aliyah 6 | ששי | Exodus 34:10-34:26 |
| Aliyah 7 | שביעי | Exodus 34:27-34:35 |
Key Themes
- The Half-Shekel: The census tax as a symbol of equality — every person gives the same amount, rich and poor alike
- The Golden Calf: The catastrophic failure of faith and its aftermath, testing the covenant between God and Israel
- Moshe’s Intercession: Moshe’s powerful advocacy on behalf of the people, culminating in God’s revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
- The Second Tablets: The renewal of the covenant and the concept of teshuvah (repentance) at the national level
- God’s Glory: The limits of human perception of the Divine — “You shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen”
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