Parsha Ki Tisa

(30,11) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying,

(30,12) “When you take the count of the B’nei Yisrael to determine their numbers, each man shall give an atonement pledge for his soul to Adonoy, when you count them. Thus there will be no plague among them when you count them.

(30,13) Everyone passing by to be counted must give this—half a shekel based on the shekel of the Holy [Sanctuary,] where a shekel is twenty geirah. Half of such a shekel must be given as a terumah-offering to Adonoy.

(30,14) Everyone passing by to be counted, from [age] twenty years and older, must give a terumah-offering to Adonoy.

(30,15) The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when giving this terumah-offering to Adonoy to atone for your souls.

(30,16) Take this atonement money from the B’nei Yisrael and donate it for the work of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a remembrance for the B’nei Yisrael before Adonoy to atone for your souls.”

(30,17) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:

(30,18) “Make a copper wash basin and its copper base for washing; and place it between the Tent of Meeting and the Altar, and put water in it.

(30,19) Aharon and his sons will wash from it their hands and their feet.

(30,20) Before entering the Tent of Meeting they must wash with water and they will not die, or whenever they approach the Altar for Divine service, or to burn a fire-offering to Adonoy.

(30,21) They must wash their hands and their feet and they will not die. This is a perpetual statute for them, for him [Aharon] and his descendants for all their generations.”

(30,22) Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying.

(30,23) “You shall take the finest spices, five hundred [shekels] of pure myrrh, half portions of fragrant cinnamon, [consisting of] two hundred and fifty [shekels] each, and two hundred and fifty [shekels] of calamus spices.

(30,24) [Also take] five hundred [shekels] of cassia based on the shekel value of the Holy [Sanctuary], and a hin of olive oil.

(30,25) Make it into sacred anointing oil, a blend made by a [perfume] blender. It shall be a sacred anointing oil.

(30,26) Anoint with it the Tent of Meeting, and the Ark of the Testimony,

(30,27) And the Table and all its vessels, and the Menorah and its vessels, and the Incense Altar,

(30,28) And the Burnt-offering Altar and all its vessels, and the wash basin and its base.

(30,29) Sanctify them and they will become holy of holies. Anything that touches them will become holy.

(30,30) You shall also anoint Aharon and his sons, and sanctify them to serve Me as kohanim.”

(30,31) Speak to the B’nei Yisrael, saying: “This shall be sacred anointing oil to Me for all your generations.

(30,32) It must not be poured on the flesh of any man, and its formula must not be duplicated. It is sacred. It must be sacred to you.

(30,33) If a person compounds a similar formula, or if he places from it upon an unauthorized person, he shall be cut off [spiritually] from his people.

(30,34) Adonoy said to Moshe, Take for yourself spices, stacte, onycha and galbanum, spices and pure frankincense. They shall be of equal weight.

(30,35) Make it into incense, a blend blended by a blender, thoroughly blended, pure and holy.

(30,36) Pulverize some of it very finely and place it before the [Ark of] Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be holy of holies to you.

(30,37) The incense you are making, its formula must not be duplicated for you[r use]. It shall be sacred to you for Adonoy.

(30,38) A person who duplicates this formula to enjoy its fragrance, shall be cut off [spiritually] from his people.”

(31,1) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying,

(31,2) “I have called by name [designated] Betzalel, son of Uri son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.

(31,3) I have filled him with Divine spirit, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with [the skill to perform] all types of crafting,

(31,4) to devise plans to work in gold, in silver, and in copper,

(31,5) to cut stones for setting, to carve wood, and to work in all types of crafting.

(31,6) And behold, I have appointed [to serve] with him, Oholiav, son of Achisamach of the tribe of Don. In the heart of every wise-hearted person I have placed wisdom, so they can make all that I have commanded:

(31,7) the Tent of Meeting, the Ark for the Testimony, the [Ark] Cover that is to be placed on it, and all the vessels [furniture] of the Tent:

(31,8) the Table and its vessels, The pure [gold] Menorah, and all its vessels, and the Incense Altar,

(31,9) the Burnt—offering Altar, and all its vessels, the Wash Basin and its base.

(31,10) [They shall also make] garments [coverings] of crochet-work, as well as the sacred garments for Aharon, the kohein, and the garments for his sons to serve [as kohanim,]

(31,11) [Also] the anointing oil, and the incense of spices for the Holy [Sanctuary,] according to all that I have commanded you,” they shall make.

(31,12) Adonoy said to Moshe, saying,

(31,13) And you speak to the B’nei Yisrael, saying, You must still preserve My Shabbos, for it is a sign between Me and yourselves for your generations to know that I Adonoy am making you holy.

(31,14) You shall [therefore] preserve the Shabbos for it is sacred to you. Anyone who profanes it shall be put to death, for whoever does work on it [Shabbos] shall be cut off [spiritually] from the midst of his people.

(31,15) You may do work on [the] six days [of the week] but the seventh day is a Shabbos of complete rest, it is sacred to Adonoy. Whoever does work on the day of Shabbos shall be put to death.

(31,16) The B’nei Yisrael shall preserve the Shabbos, to maintain the Shabbos for their generations, as an everlasting covenant.

(31,17) Between Me and between the B’nei Yisrael it is an everlasting sign; for in six days Adonoy made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day, He abstained from work and He rested.”

(31,18) And He [Adonoy] gave to Moshe—when He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai—two Tablets of the Testimony. They were stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

(32,1) [When] the people saw that Moshe was late in coming down from the mountain, they gathered against Aharon, and said to him, “Arise, make us gods that will lead us, for this Moshe, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what happened to him.”

(32,2) Aharon said to them, “Remove the golden rings which are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.”

(32,3) All the people removed the golden rings which were on their ears, and brought them to Aharon.

(32,4) He took them from their hands, and formed it with [a goldsmith’s] engraving tool, and made it into a molten calf. They [then] said, “These, Yisrael, are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

(32,5) [When] Aharon saw [this], he built an altar before it. Aharon then called out and said: “Tomorrow will be a festival to Adonoy.”

(32,6) They arose early the next morning, and offered burnt-offerings and brought peace-offerings. The people then sat down to eat and drink, and got up to amuse themselves.

(32,7) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, “Go down, for your people have become corrupt—those whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt.

(32,8) They have departed quickly from the way that I commanded them, they have made for themselves a molten calf. They have prostrated themselves to it and offered sacrifices to it, and have said, ‘These, Yisrael, are your gods who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”

(32,9) Adonoy said to Moshe, “I have seen [observed] this people, and behold they are a stiff-necked people.

(32,10) Now leave Me alone and My wrath will blaze against them and destroy them. I will then make you into a great nation.”

(32,11) Moshe implored before the Presence of Adonoy, his God, and he said, “Adonoy! Why should Your wrath blaze against Your people whom You brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

(32,12) Why should Egypt be able to say, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains, and to annihilate them from the face of the earth?’ Turn from [withdraw] Your blazing wrath, and reconsider the [intent of doing] evil to Your people.

(32,13) Remember Avraham, Yitzchok and Yisrael, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your Self, and said to them, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of the heaven; and all this land of which I have spoken, I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.’”

(32,14) Adonoy reconsidered the [intent of doing] evil that He had said He would do to His people.

(32,15) Moshe turned and went down from the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand. They were tablets written on both sides, the writing was [visible] from either side.

(32,16) The Tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the Tablets.

(32,17) Yehoshua heard the voice of the people rejoicing, and he said to Moshe, “There is a sound of battle in the camp.”

(32,18) But he [Moshe] said, “It is not the sound of strength [song of victory], nor is it the sound of weakness [song of defeat]. It is a sound of song that I hear.”

(32,19) As he [Moshe] approached the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Moshe’s anger blazed, and he threw down the Tablets that were in his hands and smashed them beneath the mountain.

(32,20) He took the calf that they had made, and burned it in fire, and ground it into fine powder. He then scattered it on the water, and made the B’nei Yisrael drink it.

(32,21) Moshe then said to Aharon, “What did this people do to you that you brought upon them such a great sin?”

(32,22) Aharon said, “Let not the wrath of my master blaze. You know that the people are set on evil.

(32,23) They said to me, ‘Make gods for us that will lead us for this Moshe, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what happened to him.’

(32,24) I said to them, ‘Who has gold?’ They removed [their gold] and gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and this calf emerged.”

(32,25) Moshe saw [the bad traits of] the people for they were [now] exposed; for Aharon had allowed them to be exposed, and now they would be disgraced among their adversaries.

(32,26) Moshe stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for Adonoy, [come] to me.” All the sons of Leivi gathered to him.

(32,27) He said to them, “This is what Adonoy, God of Yisrael has said, ‘Let each man put his sword on his hip and pass through from gate to gate in the camp. Let each man kill [even] his brother, each man his friend, each man his relative.

(32,28) The sons of Leivi did as Moshe said. On that day those that fell from among the people, numbered approximately three thousand men.

(32,29) Moshe said, “Consecrate yourselves today to Adonoy—for each man killed [even] his son and brothers—that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”

(32,30) The next day Moshe said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to Adonoy, perhaps I will gain atonement for your sin.”

(32,31) Moshe returned to Adonoy and said, “I beseech You! This people have committed a great sin and have made a god of gold.

(32,32) Now if You would bear [forgive] their sin, and if not, blot me out from Your book that You have written.”

(32,33) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Those who have sinned against Me, I will blot out from My book.

(32,34) And now, go, lead the people to [the place] of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My angel will go before you. However on the day when I take account of them, I will take their sin into account.

(32,35) Adonoy then struck the people with a plague because they had made [worshiped] the calf that Aharon made.

(33,1) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, “Leave, go up from this [place]—you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt—to the land of which I swore to Avraham, to Yitzchok and to Yaakov, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’

(33,2) I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Emorites, the Chitites, the Perizites, the Chivites, and the Yevusites.

(33,3) [You will then] enter a land flowing with milk and honey. [I am sending an angel] for I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people and I may destroy you along the way.”

(33,4) When the people heard this bad news they mourned and no man wore his ornaments [crowns].

(33,5) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to the B’nei Yisrael, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. Were I to go up among you for one moment, I would destroy you. Now remove your ornaments and I know what to do with you.’”

(33,6) The B’nei Yisrael took off their ornaments that they had [worn] at Mount Chorev.

(33,7) Moshe would take the tent and set it up outside the camp, a distance from the camp, and he called it [the] Tent of Meeting. Everyone who sought Adonoy, would go out to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp.

(33,8) Whenever Moshe went out to the tent, all the people would rise, and each person would stand at the entrance of his tent; and they would gaze after Moshe, until he had gone into the tent.

(33,9) When Moshe had gone into the tent, the Pillar of Cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and [Adonoy] would speak to Moshe.

(33,10) When all the people saw the Pillar of Cloud, standing at the entrance of the tent; all the people rose and prostrated themselves, each man at the entrance of his tent.

(33,11) Adonoy spoke to Moshe face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. and [Moshe then] would return to the camp, but his youthful attendant, Yehoshua, son of Nun, did not leave the tent.

(33,12) Moshe said to Adonoy, “Behold, You say to me, ‘Lead this people up [to the land of Canaan],’ but You did not let me know whom You would send with me. You [also] said, ‘I know you by name and you have also found favor in My eyes.’

(33,13) Now, please, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please let me know Your way, so that I will know You, that I may find favor in Your eyes; and [also] consider that this nation is [indeed] Your people.”

(33,14) He [God] said, “My Presence will go [with you] and I will accede to you[r request].”

(33,15) And he [Moshe] said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go [with us] do not make us leave from this [place].

(33,16) And how will it be known. that I have found favor in Your eyes—I and Your people—only if You go with us, so that we will be distinguished—I and Your people— from every [other] people on the face of the earth.”

(33,17) Adonoy said to Moshe, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken, for you have found favor in My eyes, and I know you by name.”

(33,18) He [Moshe] then said, “Please grant me a vision of Your Glory.”

(33,19) He [God] said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass before your presence, and will proclaim the Name, Adonoy, in your presence. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will be compassionate to whom I will be compassionate.

(33,20) And He said, “You cannot see My Presence, for no man can see My Presence and live.”

(33,21) And Adonoy said, “Behold there is a place with Me, and you shall set yourself on the rock.

(33,22) When My Glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with My Hand until I pass by.

(33,23) Then I will remove My Hand, and you will see My Back, but My Face shall not be seen.

(34,1) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Carve out two stone tablets for yourself just like the first ones. And I will write upon these tablets the words which were on the first Tablets that you broke.

(34,2) Be ready for the morning, and in the morning go up to Mount Sinai and stand there before Me on the top of the mountain.

(34,3) No man shall go up with you, nor shall any man be seen on the entire mountain; even the sheep and cattle shall not graze before that mountain.”

(34,4) He [Moshe] carved out two stone tablets just like the first ones. Moshe rose early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, as Adonoy had commanded him; and he took the two stone tablets in his hand.

(34,5) Adonoy descended in a cloud and it stood with him there; and he [Moshe] called out [invoked] the Name, Adonoy.

(34,6) Adonoy passed before him, and proclaimed: “Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in kindness and truth.

(34,7) He preserves kindness for thousands [of generations], bearing [forgiving] iniquity, transgression and sin. He clears [acquits the penitent] and he does not clear [acquit the impenitent], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and children’s children, [even] upon the third and fourth [generation].”

(34,8) Moshe hastened, bowed to the ground, and prostrated himself,

(34,9) and said, “If I have found favor in Your eyes my Master, let my Master go among us; although it is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sins, and take us as Your own possession.”

(34,10) And He said, “I hereby make a covenant; before all your people I will perform wonders such as have not been created in all the earth or for any nation; and all the people in whose midst you are, will see how awesome is the deed of Adonoy which I will perform for you.

(34,11) Preserve for your own sake that which I command you today. I am driving out [from] before you the Emorites, the Canaanites, the Chitites, the Perizites, the Chivities, and the Yevusites.

(34,12) For your own sake, be careful not to make a covenant with the people who live in the land to which you are coming, lest it be a trap in your midst.

(34,13) Rather you must shatter their altars, break down their monuments, and cut down their asherah-trees.

(34,14) For you must not prostrate yourselves to another god, because Adonoy—Jealous is His Name—He is a Jealous Almighty [God].

(34,15) [Take care] not to make a covenant with the people who live in the land, and go astray after their gods [religions], and sacrifice to their gods, [for he] will then call you and you will eat of his sacrifice.

(34,16) You will [then] accept his daughters [as wives] for your sons. His daughters will stray after their gods, and they will lead your sons to stray after their gods.

(34,17) You must not make molten gods for yourselves.

(34,18) Preserve the Festival of Matzos. Eat matzos for seven days as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of ripening [grain]; for in the month of ripening [grain] you went out of Egypt.

(34,19) All that opens the womb [the first-born] is Mine, and of all your livestock that is male, that open [the womb] both cattle and sheep.

(34,20) The donkey that opens the womb shall be redeemed with a sheep, and if it is not redeemed, you must break its neck. [You must] redeem all first-born of your sons, and you must not appear before Me empty-handed.

(34,21) Six days you shall work but on the Seventh day you must cease; you must cease plowing and harvesting.

(34,22) Make the Festival of Shavuos, [with bringing] the first crops of the wheat harvest; [also] the Festival of the Harvest at the turn of the year.

(34,23) Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Presence of the Master, Adonoy, God of Yisrael.

(34,24) For I will drive out the nations before you, and I will expand your boundaries; and no man will covet your land when you go up to appear before Adonoy, your God, three times a year.

(34,25) Do not slaughter [the Pesach-offering to offer] the blood of My sacrifice while there is chometz; and do not allow to remain overnight until morning any of the offering of the Pesach Festival.

(34,26) The first fruits of your land, you shall bring to the House of Adonoy, your God. You must not cook a kid in its mother’s milk.

(34,27) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Write these words down for yourself, for with these words I have made a covenant with you and with [the B’nei] Yisrael.”

(34,28) He [Moshe] remained there with Adonoy for forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread nor drink water, and He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words [commandments.]

(34,29) And when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai, and the two Tablets of the Testimony were in Moshe’s hand when he came down from the Mountain. Moshe did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant when He [God] spoke to him.

(34,30) When Aharon and all the B’nei Yisrael saw Moshe, and beheld that the skin of his face had become radiant, they were afraid to come close to him.

(34,31) Moshe called to them and they returned to him—Aharon and all the leaders of the congregation—and Moshe spoke to them.

(34,32) After that, all the B’nei Yisrael came close [to him] and he commanded them [regarding] all that Adonoy had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

(34,33) When Moshe finished speaking with them, he placed a cover over his face.

(34,34) [But] when Moshe came before Adonoy, to speak to Him; he removed the cover until he was ready to leave. and he would then go out and speak to the B’nei Yisrael, [telling them] what he had been commanded.

(34,35) The B’nei Yisrael saw Moshe’s face, that the skin of Moshe’s face had become radiant, and Moshe replaced the cover over his face until he would come in to speak to Him [Adonoy].