Two Minute Torah Podcast

Ki Tissa 5773 by Samuel Hollander

This weeks Parsha is Ki Tissa. Ki Tissa is known for the smashing of the first set of tablets of the Ten Commandments and the creation of the golden calf.

Some things in life do not work out on the first try. As children, we practice riding a bike with training wheels, but after some time we remove those wheels and without a doubt we fall a few times before being able to ride the bike successfully. In college, we study for the exam, but you may not always get an A every time.

So then why do we find it so shocking that the Israelites did not succeed the first time when Moses left on Mount Sinai to receive the tablets from G-d. Making mistakes is part of learning. Just like the first time riding a bike without training wheels, there will be a few cuts and bruises on the way. But after attending to wounds, it is important to get back up and try again.

Failure is the necessary process to finding the solution. Moses pleas with G-d for the opportunity to restore the covenant. It is this moment of struggle that we see the true level of desire and belief of Moses and the Israelites. It is true that we appreciate the things in life that we struggle with and work hard to earn.

This semester embrace the struggles and failures you may face in your courses, and on campus because with a strong sense of belief and courage to fight for what you want, you will appreciate all of your accomplishments so much more when you come down the mountain the second time.