Parashat Ki-Tisa tells the famous story of חטא העגל – the sin of the golden calf. While Moshe was atop Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah from Hashem, the people made a miscalculation, and assumed that Moshe was supposed to return one day before he actually did. In desperation, they fashioned a golden calf which they then worshipped.
Before Moshe came down the mountain, Hashem told him what the people had done, and that He decided to annihilate them. Moshe prayed on the people’s behalf, and Hashem rescinded the decree.
Then, when Moshe came down the mountain, he saw the people worshipping the calf, and he threw down the luhot – the stone tablets with the commandments. He determined that if the people were worshipping a statue, they did not deserve Hashem’s Torah.
The question is obvious: why did Moshe break the luhot only now?
If he determined that the people’s worship of the golden calf made them unworthy of the Torah, then why didn’t he break the tablets as soon as he heard that they were worshipping a golden calf?
One commentator answered that Moshe realized that a very important decision needed to be made. This was a difficult, painful situation, and he needed to react the right way. Therefore, he did not react immediately. He wanted to wait until he saw the event with his own eyes, to get a feel for what was really going on, to see the whole picture, and only then make his decision.
Of course, he did not doubt that what Hashem told him was true. But he needed to get a clearer, fuller picture before choosing his course of action.
One of the most important characteristics of intelligent people is that they do not act impulsively. They are patient. Their decisions are carefully weighed and measured. They wait before acting. They try to get a feel for the situation.
And this is precisely what Moshe wanted to show the people.
The tragedy of חטא העגל came about because of impulsivity. Moshe did not come when the people expected him to – so right away they reached the drastic decision to reject everything he taught them and worship and golden calf. They did not think carefully and patiently. They were rash and impulsive.
Be Patient, Be Intelligent
Rabbi Joey Haber
Parashat Ki-Tisa tells the famous story of חטא העגל – the sin of the golden calf. While Moshe was atop Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah from Hashem, the people made a miscalculation, and assumed that Moshe was supposed to return one day before he actually did. In desperation, they fashioned a golden calf which they then worshipped.
Before Moshe came down the mountain, Hashem told him what the people had done, and that He decided to annihilate them. Moshe prayed on the people’s behalf, and Hashem rescinded the decree.
Then, when Moshe came down the mountain, he saw the people worshipping the calf, and he threw down the luhot – the stone tablets with the commandments. He determined that if the people were worshipping a statue, they did not deserve Hashem’s Torah.
The question is obvious: why did Moshe break the luhot only now?
If he determined that the people’s worship of the golden calf made them unworthy of the Torah, then why didn’t he break the tablets as soon as he heard that they were worshipping a golden calf?
One commentator answered that Moshe realized that a very important decision needed to be made. This was a difficult, painful situation, and he needed to react the right way. Therefore, he did not react immediately. He wanted to wait until he saw the event with his own eyes, to get a feel for what was really going on, to see the whole picture, and only then make his decision.
Of course, he did not doubt that what Hashem told him was true. But he needed to get a clearer, fuller picture before choosing his course of action.
One of the most important characteristics of intelligent people is that they do not act impulsively. They are patient. Their decisions are carefully weighed and measured. They wait before acting. They try to get a feel for the situation.
And this is precisely what Moshe wanted to show the people.
The tragedy of חטא העגל came about because of impulsivity. Moshe did not come when the people expected him to – so right away they reached the drastic decision to reject everything he taught them and worship and golden calf. They did not think carefully and patiently. They were rash and impulsive.
Moshe taught them – and us – such an important lesson for life. He did not react right away. Hashem Himself told him what happened – but even so, he delayed his reaction until he got a fuller understanding and sense of the situation.
We are expected to be intelligent, to be smart, not to act foolishly. And one of the most important keys to intelligence is PATIENCE. Before doing or saying anything, we need to take some time and think about what we are doing or saying, and make the sound decision of whether or not this is the right thing to do or say.
If we are patient enough to think carefully before acting or speaking, we are on the way to being the intelligent people that Am Yisrael are supposed to be.
Moshe taught them – and us – such an important lesson for life. He did not react right away. Hashem Himself told him what happened – but even so, he delayed his reaction until he got a fuller understanding and sense of the situation.
We are expected to be intelligent, to be smart, not to act foolishly. And one of the most important keys to intelligence is PATIENCE. Before doing or saying anything, we need to take some time and think about what we are doing or saying, and make the sound decision of whether or not this is the right thing to do or say.
If we are patient enough to think carefully before acting or speaking, we are on the way to being the intelligent people that Am Yisrael are supposed to be.