Ki Tisa

In this parsha

The parsha opens with the half-shekel census, the copper laver, the anointing oil and incense, and the appointment of Bezalel to lead the Mishkan's craftsmanship, followed by Shabbos as the eternal sign between God and Israel. While Moses lingers on the mountain, the people make the Golden Calf; descending, Moses shatters the tablets, and the sinners are punished. Moses pleads for the nation, and God relents, teaching him the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Moses carves second tablets, and his face shines with divine radiance.

Themes

• Shabbos reveals the inner point
• The gift untouched by sin
• Shabbos as unmediated light
• The extra soul and teshuvah
• Shabbos above the Mishkan's repair
• Shabbos and Israel as Creation's soul

Must-read teachings

1. 1Shabbos reveals the hidden inner pointIn Rashi: "Yet [keep My Shabbosos]…" to exclude Shabbos from the work of the Mishkan. The Torah places the command "you shall keep My Shabbosos" right alongside the building of the Mishkan, and Rashi explains the word "yet" ( ) as coming to…תרל"א
2. 2Shabbos: the gift untouched by sinOn the pasuk: "And you, speak to Bnei Yisrael… but My Shabbosos you shall guard…" (Shemos 31:13). The Sefas Emes begins with the command of Shabbos given at the Mishkan, focusing on the limiting word "but" (ach). What does "but" (ach) come …תרל"ז
3. 3Shabbos as mercy above the Mishkan's repairOn the verse "Only you shall keep My Shabbosos" (Shemos 31:13), Rashi explains that this comes to exclude Shabbos from the work of the Mishkan. Even the holy labor of building the Mishkan does not override Shabbos. Rashi reads the word "onl…תרמ"ז
4. 4Shabbos reveals the soul's intrinsic holinessThe expression "Akh (only) My Shabbosos you shall guard... it is holy for you" (Shemos 31:13-14) may be further explained. The Sefas Emes turns to explain the limiting word "akh" ("only/but") at the head of the command to keep Shabbos, toge…תרמ"ח
5. 5Shabbos as unmediated holiness replacing the MishkanOn the pasuk "However (ach), My Shabbosos you shall keep" (Shemos 31:13) — to exclude Shabbos from the work of the Mishkan. The word "ach" teaches that even the holy labor of building the Mishkan does not override Shabbos — Shabbos stands a…תרמ"ט
6. 6Shabbos as unclothed light of TorahOn the verse, "And you, speak to Bnei Yisrael… surely My Shabbosos you shall keep" (Shemos 31:13). The Sefas Emes opens on Hashem's charge to Moshe Rabbeinu to convey the keeping of Shabbos to Bnei Yisrael. For it is taught that Moshe Rabbe…תר"נ
7. 7Shabbos reveals the hidden inner soul like wineOn the verse, "but My Shabbosos you shall keep... between Me and between you..." (Shemos 31:13). The Sefas Emes examines Shabbos as a "sign between Me and you," and the command to "keep" it. Chazal said that Shabbos was given in private (b'…תרנ"ג
8. 8Shabbos as unclothed revelation of Hashem's NameOn the pasuk (verse): "Only My Shabbosos you shall keep…" The Sefas Emes opens with the verse that singles out Shabbos even in the midst of the command to build the Mishkan, signaling that something about Shabbos stands above the work of bu…תרנ"ד