JOIN A TEMPLE NOW! 30% OFF Golden Calf Illustrates Weakness In Everyone RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ Special to The Jewish News T he story of the Golden Calf that is part of this week's sidrah is shrouded in superstitious mysteries. The rabbis of the Talmud suggested (Meg. 25b; Meg. 4:10) that the account of the golden calf should be read at public worship only from TORAH PORTION the original Hebrew, with no translation, in order that the people might not hear how sinful Israel has really been. Yet, the story of Moses going up to Mt. Sinai to spend 40 days working on the Ten Commandments, fashion- ing them under Divine Inspi- ration, and then returning to find the Israelites without faith, reveals an essential weakness of which we are all guilty. Those 40 days must have been difficult ones for the Is- raelites to bear without the dynamic leadership of Moses. Ki Tisa, Shabbat Parah: Exodus 30:11-34:35, Ezekiel 36:16-38 Many a time the people had wanted to return to the fleshpots of Egypt rather than push on into the wilder- ness. The days must have dragged on for the people. Each day found them more cantankerous and rebellious, too much for Aaron to handle in Moses' absence. The people became more and more quizzical. They thought, "Perhaps Moses had deserted us!" "Perhaps Moses said 40 days in order to give himself plenty of time to flee!" "Perhaps Moses is dead!" Indeed, the Midrash tells us that two Egyptian magi- cians appeared before the people, and by means of signs and wonders made the body of Moses appear before the gullible minds of the people so convincingly that they thought Moses was really dead. A wail went up. The people began to clamor for a god to lead them out of the wilderness. They wanted a visible image of the god who had delivered them from Egypt. Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El. When Hur, a faithful Is- raelite, stepped forward and reprimanded the people for being faithless to the one, true invisible God, he was cut down by hysterical people and put to death. Aaron was threatened with the same fate unless he yielded to the people's demand for a visible god fashioned with their own hands. The Midrash raises three questions regarding Aaron's conduct: First, why didn't Aaron re- fuse to do what the people demanded? Answer: He realized it would be futile to do so, because they had mur- dered Hur on that account. Second, why did he himself make the idol? Answer: He preferred to be made alone responsible for the sin of which he was deeply con- scious. And finally, why did he build an altar in addition to the golden calf? Answer: He felt sure that the whole un- dertaking would be frustrated by the return of Moses during the long time that it would take him to build it single- handed. The rabbis say that Aaron, always a man of peace, sought out a device by which he hoped to stall the people until Moses could return. He ordered the children of Israel to bring golden ornaments and jewelry from the wives, for he believed that the women of Israel had greater faith than the men and would refuse to give up their jewelry for an idolatrous practice. The Midrash says that the women of the wilderness gen- eration, • Dr. Hamidbar, were the first to be called "women of Israel," an honored name in Jewish history. Faithful women have never ceased since that time. Today we say that women are the backbone of the synagogue and are the most faithful devotees of reli- gion. The story continues that to the disappointment of Aaron, the men gave up their golden earrings, even when the women had refused. Aaron put the gold in the fire, and out came a calf! People shouted and danced. "This is thy God, 0 Israel." When Moses came down the heights of Sinai and heard the rumblings of the people shouting and dancing before the golden calf, he was deeply overwrought to think that his people could be of such little faith as to make a golden calf in place of the one true God! For the early Church With The High Holy Days Seven Months Away? YES! Become a member and share with us as we Celebrate the Purim Carnival Passover Sedar Lag B'Omer picnic and much more. CUSTOM FRAMING TROY JEWISH CONGREGATION Rased Grossman — A Reform Congregation With Traditional Values, Sensi- tive to All Concerns. glIkry We invite you to participate. in the Sunset Strip 29528 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield Call Bob Smith 689-9195 or Bruce Turbow 819-9020 Iry Wengrow 643-8133 350-1686 The Midrasha-College of Jewish Studies and Allan/Touro College Mazal Toy to the Spring 1987 Graduates Batia Eizikovic Master of Hebrew Letters Carol Seligson Teachers Certificate Rivkah Nachlas Teachers Certificate Philip Halper Master of Hebrew Letters THE CULTURAL COMMISSION OF CONGREGATION B'NAI DAVID Cordially Invites You to Hear DR. TODD ENDELMAN Professor of History, University of Michigan on "The Jewish Communities of Western Europe: Do They Have a Future?" Sunday, March 22, 1987 11:00 A.M. at CONGREGATION B'NAI DAVID 24340 Southfield Road Southfield, Michigan 48075 557-8210 The Community is Invited Question & Answer Period No Charge Continued on next page , , 39.