Parashat Ki Tisa & Parah: A Season of Purification, Unity, and Inner Growth

A Personal Note of Gratitude

Baruch Hashem, this past Purim we merited the incredible simcha (celebration) of welcoming a new great-grandson into the world. Being in Yerushalayim during this time of celebration fills our hearts with gratitude. May we continue to share in joyous occasions together, always in good health and with truly freilichen (joyful) hearts.

The Days Between Purim and Pesach: A Journey of Inner Purification

As Purim fades into memory, our thoughts naturally turn to Pesach. The hustle of preparation begins, but beneath the cleaning and organizing lies a deeper spiritual message: the journey toward inner tahara—purity.

• Purifying for Pesach means more than removing chametz (leavened products) from our homes.

• It calls on us to sweep away the negativity within—resentments, fears, and spiritual clutter. This is the avodah (spiritual work) of these weeks.

• And the Torah guides us in this process, starting with this week's parsha.

Refuah Kodem LeMakkah

Parashat Ki Tisa opens with the mitzvah (commandment) of machatzit hashekel—the half-shekel offering. Chazal (our Sages) teach us that this mitzvah was given as a refuah, a healing, before the tragedy of the Chet HaEgel (Sin of the Golden Calf). This teaches a powerful principle: Hashem always provides the cure before the illness.

• Why a half shekel? Because each Jew is only half. Only when we connect with one another do we become whole.

• The sin of the Golden Calf stemmed from disunity. The solution, then and now, is achdut—unity.

• In today’s fractured world, where machloket (division) is so prevalent, the only antidote is to build unity within our own circles—our families, communities, and even among neighbors. Healing begins with togetherness.

The Mishkan: Built by All, For All

Who did Hashem choose to build the holy Mishkan (Tabernacle)? Two young boys: Betzalel, from the royal tribe of Yehuda, and Oholiav, from the lowly tribe of Dan. Why?

• Because Hashem wanted to show us: the Mishkan is only complete when all of Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people) builds it together. No one is too great or too small.

• Unity doesn’t mean sameness—it means contribution from every soul.

• True holiness is built when we stop comparing, judging, or competing—and instead, connect.

The Golden Calf: A Sin of Impatience

The tragedy of the Golden Calf began with a miscalculation. The people thought Moshe Rabbeinu was late. They panicked. Just a few more hours of patience, and everything would have been different.

• How often do we fall into this trap? In moments of fear or uncertainty, we act rashly—and later regret it.

• Chazal tell us that this sin continues to impact every generation. Why? Because the root cause—lack of patience and disunity—still exists.

• From Adam HaRishon to the Chet HaEgel, we see how rushing, without reflection, leads to downfall. Patience, trust, and waiting for clarity—these are the traits that anchor us in emunah (faith).

Breaking the Luchot: A Message of Inner Holiness

Moshe Rabbeinu descends from the mountain with the Luchot, the divine tablets. But when he sees the people sinning, he makes a startling decision: he shatters them. Why?

• Because Moshe understood: holiness must come from within us.

• If the people would simply accept the Luchot without true teshuvah (repentance), they wouldn’t change. Holiness isn’t imposed—it’s chosen. It’s internalized.

• We don’t become holy because of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). The Beit HaMikdash becomes holy because of us.

Parashat Parah: The Mother Cleans the Mess

This week, we also read Parashat Parah, the laws of the red heifer, whose ashes purify those who are impure.

• Chazal explain: since Am Yisrael sinned with a calf, its mother—the Parah Adumah—comes to “clean up” the mess. As Rashi says, the mother atones for the child.

• But this mitzvah defies logic. The pure becomes impure, and the impure becomes pure. Why?

• Because the path to teshuvah and transformation isn't always logical. It's about submission. Surrender. Letting go of our need to understand everything.

• Hashem says: “You wanted to worship Me your way, through tangible form. Now I’ll give you a mitzvah you won’t understand—to teach you to serve Me on My terms.”

Final Reflection: A Season of Return

As we clean our homes and prepare for Pesach, let’s remember: the deepest cleaning is internal.

• Let’s sweep away impatience, resentment, and fear.

• Let’s build unity with those around us.

• Let’s strive for a connection to Hashem that comes from within—not through forms, not through fear, but through love, humility, and clarity.

This is the avodah of Parashat Ki Tisa and Parah. May we all merit a Pesach kasher v’sameach—physically clean, emotionally uplifted, and spiritually renewed.

Dedicated in honor of the birth of my great-grandson, born in Yerushalayim on Purim. May he grow to Torah, chuppah, and maasim tovim (good deeds), and may we all share many simchas together.