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Parsha Ki Tisa – What Is Our Idol?

March 6, 2015 by Russell McAlmond

Money_Cash

This week’s parsha of Ki Tisa is probably most known for the “Golden Calf”, the idol that the Israelites decided to worship when Moses did not show up when they expected him.  We may think it is ridiculous that the Israelites of that day thought an idol should be made out of gold, but how many modern individuals worship making money?  There is nothing inherently wrong with money unless an individual elevates it to the most important value in their life.  Do we have our own “Golden Calf” today?

I have worked in the financial services world for over thirty years and have seen the effects of money on people and families.  I have seen families torn apart by money issues and people commit terrible crimes just to obtain more of it.  The worship of money, and all of things one can buy with it, is very powerful in our society.  Money is good to have, but it needs to be balanced with all of our other values.  There are values that are more important.

It is unfortunate when any person places money above their family, their faith or their people.  If they do this, they are creating their own “Golden Calf.”

The Talmud says that when anyone reaches the World to Come, one of the first questions they will be asked is whether or not they conducted your business affairs (money) in a “fair manner.”  It is not important whether one became rich or not, but how they used the money.  Keeping money in perspective, but not an idol one is constantly trying to get more of, will lead to a more balanced life.  There are wonderful opportunities for everyone to obtain the money they need to create a good life in our country.  What we should not think, however, is that the pursuit of money alone is enough to fulfill that objective.

All the money in the world will not make you happy.  Happiness is not about material wealth – it truly comes from within yourself.  Invest money wisely, be responsible with it, respect it, but never think of it as the most important goal in your life.

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud), Judaism & Belief Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, finance, golden calf, happiness, ki tisa, Money, online conversion, parsha ki tisa, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, talmud

Parsha Ki Tisa: Right Belief by the Right Brigade (Ex. 30:11 – 34:35)

February 10, 2014 by Patrick Beaulier

golden calf

Well. . . Our people are up to their old ways this week. Not only do the ancient Hebrews convince themselves that Hashem and Moses have abandoned them once again, they also plead with Aaron to smelt another golden calf. All this happens after the community is asked to pay half a sheckle in tithes while Bezalel and Oholiab start to craft the past few week’s commandments into physicality. Throw in a commandment to always honor Shabbat and you have a lot of invested effort making a walk away from Hashem highly unlikely.

On the surface so many things take place in Ki Tisa one can very easily come away feeling overwhelmed. If that is not enough to make you say “Woah” just beneath the surface the depths of meaning are endless. If you have yet to read this week’s portion , stop right here and go and do it! Fear not I will be right hear where you left me.

Choices, choices, choices…seriously where to begin? Better to choose just one lesson and run, right? Right! Ki Tisa shows us that being Jewish is easier than it seems. Judaism is simply choosing Hashem and His traditions. That latter part has really been expounded upon throughout the centuries but the former remains as is. The anger in this week’s portion exuded verbally by Hashem and Moses and physically by Levitical sword stems from a heart piercing betrayal by the ancient Hebrews. Once again they chose to turn their backs to Hashem and their faces towards a golden calf. Hardly a coincidence then that Moses sees the back of Hashem and then begins to cover his face with a vale.

Three thousand men are figuratively and literally cut from Judaism for two specific reasons. First, this is the second time their hearts yearned for an inanimate god and second the ancient Hebrew’s society was the first true state of Israel. The Hebrew Tribes were surrounded by non-nomadic people worshiping man made divinity, simply put nothing was stopping those slain from leaving the tribe for more “golden” pastures. They chose to stay, stray, and hope for the day when their agenda was the majority one.

Today drawing swords and cleaning the proverbial house is antiquated to say the least, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn inwards and cut out those things that are foreign parasites feeding off our sparks. Judaism like ever other religion is not hyphenated you can not choose Hashem and attach a belief in other deities to your faith. If you feel called to another faith don’t be hindered by your upbringing or family name, if you allow that to happen your diminishing yourself and the Jewish faith. In essence go and be the best practitioner you can be.

Learning about and from others is crucial to a fearless and fulfilling life but at some point you have to be true to your spark. The many traditions within Judaism often times seem at odds with each other over Halakha but choosing Hashem and Hashem only is the lynchpin that keeps us who we are.

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, circlepitbimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, D'var Torah, darshan yeshiva, golden calf, idolatry, ki tisa, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Mooby the Golden Calf and Parshah Ki Tissa (Torah Video Mashup)

March 1, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

Sometimes, you just have to let Kevin Smith movies do all the talking. This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tissa, is about the sin of the Golden Calf. Wonder what that would look like now? Apparently, so did Kevin.

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud), Podcasts & Videos Tagged With: dogma, golden calf, kevin smith, ki tissa

Elul – Preparing for The Days of Awe

August 20, 2012 by Ketzirah

Elul is a month of preparation. It’s a month to continue healing from Av, but mostly it’s about preparing for the Yamim Noraim (ים

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Judaism & Belief, Random (Feelin' Lucky?), Rosh Hashanah Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, Cows, darshan yeshiva, days of awe, elul, golden calf, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, shofar, tashlich, yamim noraim

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