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KI TISA 5784
Golden Calf 2024
Rabbi Andrew Shaw Chief Executive, Mizrachi UK
I have returned from my two weeks in America with mixed feelings. I met some incredible people and had some very exciting meetings. Yet, there is a real concern about what is happening in the media, in academia and in politics. There is a sense that America has changed, not for the better, and it is not changing back – for many this is extremely worrying.
Back in the UK, it seems it is not much better. The election of the odious George Galloway as an MP and the overwhelming sense of fear from many politicians on the changing atmosphere of political debate fuelled by the seeming acceptance of Islamism by many, is truly concerning.
What should we make of all of this?
A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece examining the incredible pattern found in Sefer Shemot. It was based on a remarkable piece by Rabbi David Fohrman. It focused on the idea that there are 550 verses from the end of Parshat Mishpatim to the end of Sefer Shemot which follows a chiastic structure, A B C D E D C B A, in which each letter represents a thematic idea in the Torah.
To remind you:
B. Command to Build the Mishkan
C. Observe Shabbat
D Luchot
E. Golden Calf
This beautiful idea is that after the Golden Calf, the rst four themes repeat but in reverse. The focal point of this 550 verse marathon, the centre point of this textual structure is the Golden Calf.
When I discussed this two years ago, my conclusion was this:
There are 550 verses from the end of Mishpatim to the end of Shemot, and the pattern within those 550 verses is telling the story of a journey, a journey that at its heart found us lost and bewildered. However, Hashem never gave up on us and by the end of the Sefer, not only had we been forgiven, but the glory of Hashem was no longer on the mountain, rather he was now dwelling among us – and a new chapter had begun.
However, this week, I have realised that my conclusion needs to be updated.
The Torah is stressing something incredibly important – look at the centre of our pattern, focus on the heart of the chiastic structure, and what do you nd?
You don’t nd Matan Torah, or mitzvot or even the glory of Hashem – you nd the Golden Calf!
Why is this the centre? Why is this the focus? You would think it should be something that we should shy away from? It is a terrible event in our history. An event which led to the smashing of the rst luchot!
That is the whole point, the Golden Calf episode is a central lesson for our people, to understand the constant dangers and the consequences of our actions.
We are living in a world of the Golden Calf, where false gods and false ideas have spread like wild re across the world.
While I was in America, Bari Weiss, the former New York Times columnist gave a seminal address. It is lengthy but well worth a read https://www.thefp.com/p/bari-weiss-what-it-
means-to-choose
Remarkably, she too focused on the idea of the Golden Calf:
We modern Israelites have also been worshipping false gods. Our American idols are prestige, power, social acceptance, popularity, elite opinion, and the Ivy League but I repeat myself. Our idols are the coveted board seat. The best tables. Relationships with the pretty people.
We put truth on the altar, as if it were a tithable commodity, to remain insiders, to have bragging rights. We have been willing to sacri ce what is most precious to us including our own children—for the sake of it
Why are we doing this?
We are doing it because we are a tiny minority, and because we feel vulnerable and scared and alone. And because tting in feels safer than standing apart. We are doing it because we are human beings and so seek temporary pleasure and ease. We are doing it because we feel anxious and unsure. We are doing it because we tell ourselves that accommodation is the best route to safety.
We are doing it because we also live in a culture of idolatry, only this time the materials are pixels and diplomas, adherence to a particular ideology and an emergent social credit system based on likes and retweets. We are doing it because maybe deep down we don’t believe we are capable of more. We are doing it because freedom real, true freedom is so very hard.
Hashem is crying out for us to understand that His way, the way of truth and freedom is not easy, but it is the only way for us to be. Orthodox Judaism has never shied away from ‘standing apart’ if that was what was needed. The Torah reminds us daily of our responsibilities regardless of the zeitgeist in the 21st century.
On my last couple of days in America, I met some of the most inspirational people of my whole trip. I attended a conference organised by Stand With Us as part of their ‘Rabbis United’ initiative. These are Rabbis across the spectrum of the Jewish community, united by their Zionism and love of Israel.
Many of the attendees were Conservative and Reform rabbis who spoke painfully, as does Bari Weiss, of their shock after October 7th. How they are now shunned by some in the progressive world for their views on Israel These Rabbis, however, are not backing down.
We have to realise the way forward for not just the Jewish nation, but the Western world, is to embrace truth and justice.
As Weiss ends:
I do not know what will come next for America or for the Jewish people any more than the Israelites who left Egypt and stood beneath the re at Sinai. Things are uncertain. What I know is that our tradition teaches us that the seal of God is truth.
What I know is that the story of the Jewish people is the story of freedom.
And what I know is that story rings out across space and time in a common struggle against tyranny.
The key to our future has not changed in the last few thousand years. Loyalty to Hashem and Torah Freedom to observe, learn and practice and bring the message of truth, justice and peace to the world.
After the tragedy of the Golden Calf, we were forgiven by Hashem and we received the second tablets.
The Lord said to Moses: "Inscribe these words for yourself, for according to these words I have formed a covenant with you and with Israel." (Shemot 34:27)
That covenant, damaged but not destroyed by the Golden Calf, still speaks to us today and is speaking I believe, to many more of our people, who are realising that it is time to move away from the Golden Calf and embrace the Divine covenant.
A covenant that is a blissful constant in this rapidly changing and decaying world
Shabbat Shalom
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