Yours and Mine

Ki Tissa
Exodus 30:11-34:35

Précis: The parasha begins with a census of the people, accomplished by the collection of a half shekel, and with a description of Tabernacle items, including the basin, anointing oil, and incense. The holy work of building the Tabernacle is to be interrupted by Shabbat. Then we return to narrative. Moses is given the two tablets and he descends from Mount Sinai. There he sees the people worshipping the Golden Calf.  The tablets are smashed and the evil doers are punished. Moses returns up the mountain, and we learn the 13 attributes of God. Moses carves a new set of tablets, and returns to the People, his face radiant.

Exodus 32:7 "Your people have become corrupt." 

Moses is high up on Mt. Sinai, while below the Israelites have made a Golden Calf. God tells Moses of this, and of His plan to destroy the people.  Moses pleads for the people, reminding God about all they had done to deserve forgiveness: they had believed Moses’ declaration of the Exodus and they had accepted the Torah. Our text here says, with God speaking to Moses, “Your people have become corrupt."

A midrash tells us that Moses responded as follows: "Why is it that when the people are good, You call them 'My people' but when they are bad, You call them 'your people' (meaning Moses' people). If they are Your people, You should always call them 'My people.'"

Once again, midrash is instructive in explaining human relationships. Is it not the case that we engage in similar behaviors ourselves? When our children misbehave, do we tell our spouses “Your son” has done such and such? When we observe our congregants or fellow members of a group engaged in inappropriate behaviors, do they suddenly turn those engaged in improper conduct into “them” instead of remaining a part of “us”?

It’s easy to make this disassociation from those we usually care about. But when acquaintances and loved ones are “acting badly” we need to remember all of the things they have previously done to deserve forgiveness, and remember that they are still a part of "us".