Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה
Full Parashah Reading: Shemot 30:11-34:35
- God tells Moshe how to count בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (Benei Yisrael, the Israelites). Every person must contribute a half-shekel coin for the מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan, sanctuary for God in the wilderness).
- God gives instructions for more parts of the mishkan: a כִּיּוֹר (kiyyor, basin for washing), שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה (shemen ha-mishhah, anointing oil), and קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים (ketoret ha-sammim, incense).
- Benei Yisrael worry when Moshe takes a long time to come down from הַר סִינַי (Har Sinai, Mount Sinai). They ask Aharon to make them an אֱלֹהִים (elohim, idol or ruler) to lead them. Aharon collects their jewelry and creates a golden עֵגֶל (eigel, calf).
- God wants to destroy Benei Yisrael, but Moshe pleads for their forgiveness.
- Moshe comes down from Har Sinai carrying the לֻחוֹת (luhot, tablets). Moshe sees what’s going on, shatters the luhot, and destroys the eigel.
- God tells Moshe to carve a new set of luhot. After 40 days and 40 nights, Moshe comes down from the mountain again. His face radiates light. He teaches the Torah to Benei Yisrael.
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