15 Adar I 5771 PARASHAT 19 February 2011

A Crisis of ORG . Leadership Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Chief Rabbi Great Britain

KAHALJOSEPH

. Ki Tissa tells of one of the most shocking mo- WWW

ments of the forty years ● in the wilderness when – less than six weeks after the greatest revelation in the history of religion, It was who should Israel’s encounter with have seen the danger, Prayer Schedule 310.474.0559

● God at – Aaron who should have they made a . stopped them, Aaron SHABBAT Either this was idolatry, who should have told PARASHAT KI TISSA or perilously close to it, them to wait, have pa- Friday, February 18th

, CA 90025 90025 , CA and it caused God to say tience and trust. Instead Minhah & Arbit 5:15 pm to , who was with this is what happened: Candle Lighting 5:21 pm him on the mountain, Hassidic Tish w/ Rabbi Ashlag NGELES “Now do not try to stop Aaron answered them, 5:30 pm A Me when I unleash my “Take off the gold ear-

OS Saturday, February 19th wrath against them to rings that your wives, , L destroy them” (32: 10). your sons and your Shaharit 8:30 am daughters are wearing, Shabbat Lunch and Learn What I want to look at and bring them to me.” with Rabbi Ashlag EVASSER here is the role played So all the people took following morning services OULEVARD by Aaron, for it was he off their earrings and Tehillim before Minhah B who was the de facto brought them to Aaron. Minhah & Arbit 5:00 pm leader of the people in He took what they Motzei Shabbat 6:25 pm ONICA the absence of Moses, handed him and fash- M and he whom the Israel- ioned it with a graving WEEKDAYS ites approached with tool, and made it a mol- Sunday, February 20th ANTA their proposal: ten calf. Then they said, Shaharit 7:30 am “'This, Israel, is your M Monday to Friday The people began to re- god, who brought you

10505 S 10505 Shaharit 6:30 am

● out of Egypt,' When alize that Moses was taking a long time to Aaron saw this, he built CLASSES come down from the an altar in front of the Tuesday & Thursday 4:00 pm mountain. They gath- calf and announced, ered around Aaron and “Tomorrow there will be EREV SHABBAT said to him, 'Make us a a festival to the Lord.” PARASHAT VA YAKHEL ONGREGATION god [or an oracle] to lead So the next day the peo- Friday, February 25th C ple rose early and sacri- Minhah & Arbit 5:15 pm

OL us. We have no idea what happened to ficed burnt offerings and with Scholar in Residence

OSEPH Moses, the man who presented peace offer- Rabbi Moshe Tessone J brought us out of ings. Afterward they sat Candle Lighting 5:27 pm Egypt. ' (32: 1)

AHAL Please confirm daily prayer (Continued on page 2)

K K times with minyan leaders. P a ge 2 19 February 2011

(Continued from page 1) wise intended to buy time, plaint was, “We have no don’t know what has hap- for Aaron was convinced idea what happened to pened to him.’ So I told down to eat and drink that Moses was on his Moses.” They did not them, ‘Whoever has any and got up to indulge in way. want a god-substitute gold jewelry, take it off.’ revelry. (32: 2-6) but a Moses-substitute, Then they gave me the The second defence is to an oracle, something gold, and I threw it into the The Torah itself seems to be found in the Talmud through which they fire, and out came this blame Aaron, if not for and is based on the fact could discern God’s in- calf!” (32: 22-24) what he did then at least that when Moses de- structions – not unlike for what he allowed to parted to ascend the the function of the Urim There is more than a hint happen: mountain he left not just and Tummim that were here of the answer Saul Moses saw that the peo- Aaron but also Hur in later given to the High gave Samuel, explaining ple were running wild charge of the people (Ex. Priest. Those who saw why he did not carry out and that Aaron had let 24: 14). Yet Hur does not the calf as an idol, say- the prophet’s instructions. them get out of control figure in the narrative of ing, “This is your god He blames the people. He and so become a laugh- the golden calf. According who brought you out of suggests he had no ingstock to their enemies. to the Talmud, Hur had Egypt,” were only a choice. He was passive. (32: 25) opposed the people, tell- small minority – three Things happened. He ing them that what they thousand out of six hun- minimizes the significance Now Aaron was not an were about to do was dred thousand – and for of what has transpired. insignificant figure. He wrong, and was then them Aaron could not be This is weakness, not had shared the burden of killed by them. Aaron saw blamed. leadership. leadership with Moses. this and decided that pro- He had either already ceeding with the making So there is a systematic What is really extraordi- become or was about to of the calf was the lesser attempt in the history of nary, therefore, is the way be appointed High Priest. of two evils: interpretation to mitigate later tradition made Aaron What then was in his or minimise Aaron’s cul- a hero, most famously in mind while this drama Aaron saw Hur lying slain pability – inevitably so, the words of Hillel: was being enacted? before him and said to since we do not find ex- Be like the disciples of himself: If I do not obey plicitly that Aaron was Aaron, loving peace, pur- Essentially there are them, they will do to me punished for the golden suing peace, loving peo- three lines of defence in what they did to Hur, and calf (though Abrabanel ple and drawing them the Midrash, the Zohar so will be fulfilled [the fear holds that he was pun- close to the Torah . (Avot and the medieval com- of] the prophet, “Shall the ished later). Yet, with all 1: 12) mentators. According to priest [=Aaron] and the the generosity we can the first, Aaron was play- prophet [=Hur] be slain in muster, it is hard to see There are famous aggadic ing for time. His actions the Sanctuary of Aaron as anything but traditions about Aaron and were a series of delaying God?” (Lamentations 2: weak, especially in the how he was able to turn tactics. He told the peo- 20). If that happens, they reply he gives to Moses enemies into friends and ple to take the gold ear- will never be forgiven. when his brother finally sinners into observers of rings their wives, sons Better let them worship appears and demands the law. The Sifra says and daughters were the golden calf, for which an explanation: that Aaron never said to wearing, reasoning to they may yet find forgive- anyone, “You have himself: “While they are ness through repentance. “Do not be angry, my sinned” – all the more re- quarrelling with their chil- (Sanhedrin 7a) lord,” Aaron answered. markable since one of the dren and wives about the “You know how prone tasks of the High Priest gold, there will be a delay The third, argued by Ibn these people are to evil. was, once a year on Yom and Moses will come” Ezra, is that the calf was They said to me, ‘Make Kippur, to atone for the (Zohar). His instructions not an idol at all, and what us a god who will go be- sins of the nation. Yet to build an altar and pro- the Israelites did was, in fore us. As for this fellow there is none of this ex- claim a festival to God Aaron’s view, permissible. Moses who brought us plicitly in the Torah itself. the next day were like- After all, their initial com- up out of Egypt, we (Continued on page 4) 19 February 2011 P a ge 3 In Memoriam Community News

It is customary to light a memorial candle in the evening and to donate MEMOIRS : W RITING tzedakah. Family members are WELCOME encouraged to attend prayer ser- The community of DOWN YOUR LIFE vices in honor of loved ones. Kahal Joseph Congregation A C REATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP Shabbat / 15 Adar I warmly welcomes FOR ALL LEVELS Nuriel ben Yochanan Meir ben Yaacov Rabbi Simcha Ashlag 8 Tuesday Afternoons Hanna bat Avraham Hayyim and students February 15 to April 5, 2011 Vera bat Hannah Hatoun who have come from Israel KJ Library, 12 to 2 pm Monday / 17 Adar I $60 members / $160 non-members Ester bat Amnah* Thank you for For information contact Dafna at Tuesday / 18 Adar I sharing a Shulchan Shabbat [email protected] or Naim ben Yehoshua Moshi Dvar Torah, and more. Joe Samuels at [email protected]

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(Continued from page 2) truth, Aaron of peace. with the people-skills to Moses sought justice, conciliate and make peace. The only prooftext cited by Aaron sought conflict the sages is the passage resolution. There is a real That is how Aaron eventu- in Malachi, the last of the difference between these ally emerged in the long prophets, who says about two approaches. Truth, hindsight of tradition, as the Cohen in general: justice, law: these are the peace-maker. Peace My covenant was with him zero-sum equations. If X is not the only virtue, and of life and peace . . . He is true, Y is false. If X is in peacemaking not the only walked with me in peace the right, Y is in the task of leadership. We and uprightness, and wrong. Mediation, conflict must never forget that turned many from sin. resolution, compromise, when Aaron was left to (Malachi 2: 5-6) the Aaron-type virtues, lead, the people made a are all attempts at a non- golden calf. But never But Malachi is talking zero outcome in which think, either, that a passion about priesthood in gen- both sides feel that they for truth and justice is suf- eral rather than the histori- have been heard and their ficient. Moses needed an cal figure of Aaron. Per- claim has, at least in part, Aaron to hold the people haps the most instructive been honored. The Talmud together. In short, leader- First Aliyah: G ‑d com- passage is the Talmudic puts it brilliantly by way of ship is the capacity to hold mands Moses to take a discussion (Sanhedrin 6b) a comment on the phrase: together different tem- census of the Jewish as to whether arbitration, Judge truth and the justice peraments, conflicting adult male population by as opposed to litigation, is of peace in your gates voices and clashing values. collecting an atonement a good thing or a bad (Zechariah 8: 16) offering of half a silver thing. The Talmud pre- Every leadership team shekel from each individ- sents this as a conflict be- On this the Talmud asks needs both a Moses and ual. The collected silver tween two role models, what the phrase “the jus- an Aaron, a voice of truth was melted down, and Moses and Aaron: tice of peace” can possi- and a force for peace. was made into sockets Moses's motto was: Let bly mean. “If there is jus- for the beams of the Tab- the law pierce the moun- tice, there is no peace. If Shabbat Shalom ernacle. G ‑d instructs tain. Aaron, however, there is peace, there is no Moses to make a copper loved peace and pursued justice. What is the ‘justice washstand for the Taber- peace and made peace of peace’? This means nacle. The priests would between man and man. arbitration.”Now let’s go Ki Tissa use this laver to wash Moses was a man of law, back to Moses, Aaron and Parsha Summary their hands and feet be- Aaron of mediation (not the golden calf. Although fore their service. G ‑d the same thing as arbitra- it is clear that God and General Overview: The tells Moses the recipe for tion but considered simi- Moses regarded the calf portion discusses the making holy "anointing lar). Moses was a man of as a major sin, Aaron’s census of the Israelites, oil." This oil, which was willingness to pacify the the washbasin of the Tab- prepared with various people – trying to delay ernacle, the anointing oils aromatic herbs and fine them, sensing that if he for the priests and kings, spices, was used to simply said No they would the incense offering, and anoint and sanctify the kill him and make it any- the Sabbath. The Torah , its vessels, way – was not wholly then relates the story of and Aaron and his sons. wrong. To be sure, at that the Golden Calf, G ‑d's The remainder of the oil moment the people needed anger at the Jewish na- was put aside, and was a Moses, not an Aaron. tion, Moses successfully used to anoint kings and But under other circum- arguing for Divine forgive- high priests of future gen- stances and in the long ness for the sin, the sub- erations. G ‑d also gives run they needed both: sequent breaking of the Moses the formula for the Moses as the voice of tablets, and the giving of incense which was of- truth and justice, Aaron the second tablets. fered twice-daily in the (Continued on page 5) 19 February 2011 P a ge 5

Tabernacle. The duplica- lets. Moses enlists the the new tablets up to Mt. tion of the anointing oil or Tribe of Levi to punish the Sinai, where G ‑d re- KJ Purim incense for personal use primary offenders. Three veals His glory to Moses is prohibited. G ‑d imbues thousand idol worshippers while proclaiming His Carnival with wisdom, and are executed on that day. Thirteen Attributes of Our Purim Carnival is appoints him to be the Moses ascends Mount Mercy. coming! We can’t wait chief craftsman of the Sinai again, in an attempt to see you all there. Tabernacle and its con- to gain complete atone- Sixth Aliyah: G ‑d seals We want this year’s tents. G ‑d appoints Oho- ment for the sin. G ‑d tells a covenant with Moses, carnival to be even liab as his assistant. This Moses to lead the Jews assuring him again that greater than last years. lengthy aliyah concludes towards the Promised His presence will only Here is how you can with G ‑d telling the Jew- Land, but insists that He dwell with the Jews. G ‑- help make it possible. ish people to observe the won't be leading them d informs the Jewish Shabbat, the eternal sign personally; instead an an- people that He will drive We need volunteers to between Him and the gel will be dispatched to the Canaanites from be- join the following committees: Children of Israel. lead them. Seeing G ‑d's fore them. He instructs displeasure with the Jews, them to destroy all ves- • Sponsor Donations ‑ Second Aliyah: After G d Moses takes his own tent tiges of idolatry from the • revealed Himself to the and pitches it outside the land, and to refrain from Volunteer Organizing entire nation at Mount Israelite encampment. making any covenants • Food & Carts Sinai and told them the This tent becomes the with its current inhabi- • Ten Commandments, center of study and spiri- tants. The Jews are Game/Prize Booth Moses ascended the tuality until the Tabernacle then commanded not to • Set Up & Decorating mountain where he re- is inaugurated. make molten gods, to • mained for forty days. observe the three festi- Sign Printing There he was to study the Third Aliyah: Moses asks vals, not to eat chametz • Advertising/Marketing ‑ Torah and receive the G d to reconsider the on Passover, to sanctify Tablets. The Jews mis- matter of the angel lead- male firstborn humans This event will be suc- calculate when Moses is ing them. G ‑d reconsid- and cattle, and not to cessful only if we get supposed to return, and ers, and agrees to lead cook meat together with the support of the com- munity. As in years when he doesn't appear them Himself again. milk. past we have asked for on the day when they an- Moses then requests that booth sponsors. ticipate him, they grow G‑d's presence never Seventh Aliyah: Moses impatient and demand of manifest itself on any descends Mount Sinai $500 Sponsor receives 4 wristbands Aaron to make for them a other nation other than the with the second tablets, new god. Aaron cooper- Jews. and unbeknownst to him $250 Sponsor receives 2 wristbands ates, all along intending beams of light were pro- to postpone and buy time Fourth Aliyah: G ‑d's jecting off his face. $100 Sponsor until Moses' return, but agrees to Moses' request Aaron and the people receives 5 tickets despite his efforts, a that His presence only are originally afraid of Even if you think you Golden Calf emerges dwell amongst the Jews. him. Moses teaches the don’t have a lot of time from the flames. The fes- Moses requests to be people the Torah he to volunteer there are ‑ ‑ tivities and sacrifices start shown G d's glory. G d studied on the moun- small jobs you can do early next morning. agrees, but informs tain. Moses wears a veil to make this Purim Moses pleads with an in- Moses that he will only be on his face from that event successful . For censed G ‑d to forgive the shown G ‑d's "back," not time on, but removes it information contact Jews' sin. G ‑d acqui- G‑d's "face." when speaking to G ‑d Molly Jalali at esces and relents from and when repeating G ‑- [email protected] His plan to annihilate the Fifth Aliyah: G ‑d tells d's words to the people. Jews. Moses comes Moses to carve new tab- down with the Tablets, lets upon which G ‑d will Parasha Summary Parashat Ki Tissa sees the idolatrous rev- engrave the Ten Com- courtesy of chabad.org Torah pp. 352 to 368 elry, and breaks the Tab- mandments. Moses takes Haftara pp. 369 to 372 VISITING S CHOLAR S ERIES

KAHAL JOSEPH CONGREGATION

Rabbi Moshe Tessone KJ Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat, February 25 & 26, 2011

We invite you to join us for an intellectually stimulating, musically in- spiring Shabbat as Kahal Joseph hosts Rabbi Moshe Tessone as part of our Scholar-in-Residence program.

Rabbi Moshe Tessone is Director of The Sephardic Community Pro- gram at Yeshiva University and is a distinguished faculty member at Yeshiva University’s Isaac Breuer College (IBC) where he teaches Jewish Studies. He is also a faculty member at the Belz School of Jewish Music.

Rabbi Tessone has toured extensively throughout North America, South America, Europe and Israel as a rabbinic speaker on Torah, Sephardic history, and Jewish education. He has also featured as a cantorial concert soloist performing Judeo Arabic and Judeo Span- ish religious music and liturgy.

Rabbi Tessone released his debut Sephardic Album/CD, entitled Saturday Odeh La’ El in January 2005. His newer album of original Jewish Feb, 25, 2011 Sephardic music entitled Hakshiva was released in March of 2006. Shabbat Day Rabbi Tessone received rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva Univer- Sermon during sity’s Rabbi Isaac Elchannan Theological Seminary and is a gradu- Morning Services ate of New York University’s Stern School of Business. In addition, (about 11:00 am) he holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Education and Administration.

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