Parshat Ki Tesa

Parshat Ki Tesa

February 6,2010/ 20 Adar 5770

By Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

This week’s parsha contains the betrayal of the Jewish people towards G-d with the sin of the golden calf, which almost causes their annihilation. Moshe, the leader of the Jewish people pleads with G-d to spare the people of Israel. G-d then responds in Shemot 33:20-23: “You can’t see My face, because man shall not see Me and live…however you will see My back; but My face will not be seen.”

What does it actually mean that Moshe will be able to see the back of G-d?

Rashi brings an answer in Gemara Brachot 7a. When G-d says that Moshe will be able to see His back, He is actually telling Moshe that he will be able to see inside G-d’s Teffilin.

When G-d says that He will show Moshe His teffilin, how does this answer Moshe’s prayers? In order to understand the answer properly we must know what is inside G-d’s Teffilin. G-d’s Teffilin contain the Pasuk from Divrei HaYamim A 17:21 “Who is like your people? There is no one like them in all of the land.”

This Pasuk represents the unique bond between G-d and His people.

The sin of the golden calf tainted the relationship between G-d and the nation of Israel, but after it had happened we learned an extremely important lesson.

G-d always has a reminder wrapped around his head and arm letting Him know that we will always be His nation. The connection between G-d and the nation will never be severed, even when we hit our lowest points He will remember that we are his children and He is our father.