March 1, 2024 · כ"א אדר א' תשפ״ד
Parashat Ki Tisa · פרשת כי תישא
A PEEK AT THE PARSHA Parshat Ki Tisa begins with Hashem telling Moshe to count Bnei Yisrael, specifically men aged twenty and up. Moshe collected a half-shekel silver coin from each male, and knew the amount of people through counting those coins. Next, Moshe makes the Kiyor. The Kiyor was a large copper pot of water with spouts on the bottom. Before starting the day’s service in the Mishkan, the Kohanim washed their hands and feet from the water in the Kiyor. Hashem tells Moshe how to make the Kitoret, a wonderful smelling incense that was burned on the Mizbayach Hazahav (Golden Altar) each day
ONE BIG IDEA When counting Bnei Yisrael, Hashem wanted each person to give a HalfShekel to the Mishkan, no more and no less. If someone wanted to donate more money to the Mishkan why could they not donate more than a HalfShekel? Perhaps the lesson of the HalfShekel is that money can’t make someone feel complete. Only by connecting to other people can a person feel complete.
in the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies) on Yom Kippur. The Kitoret was a very special Korban (sacrifice), and today, many have the custom to recite the description of the Kitoret every day after Birchot Hashachar. Our parsha continues with Moshe on top of Har Sinai receiving the Luchot, which were stone tablets that had the Aseret Hadibrot (Ten Commandments) written on them. Bnei Yisrael were afraid because Moshe did not return from Har Sinai, so they created an Eygel Hazahav (Golden Calf) to serve as their leader instead of Moshe. When Moshe came down from Har Sinai and saw Bnei Yisrael dancing in a circle around the Eygel Hazahav, he broke the Luchot. Moshe then returned to Har Sinai for another forty days and prayed to Hashem to forgive Bnei Yisrael. Hashem forgave Bnei Yisrael, and taught Moshe the best way to pray to Hashem. Hashem then told Moshe to carve out a new set of Luchot so Hashem could write the Aseret Hadibrot again. Moshe then came down again with the second set of Luchot. Moshe’s face was shining so much that he had to wear a veil to cover his face.
TIMES - זמנים Candle-lighting: 5:29pm Havdalah: 6:26pm allah: 5:25pm