Parshat Ki Tisa
Overview
Moshe conducts a census by counting each silver half-shekel donated by all men age twenty and over. Moshe is commanded to make a copper laver for the Mishkan. The women donate the necessary metal. The formula of the anointing oil is specified, and
Insights
Nischt auf Shabbes Geredt
“And on the seventh day you shall desist; you shall desist from plowing and harvesting.” (34:21)
“Nischt auf Shabbes geredt (Yiddish: “Not to speak of it on Shabbat”) — you know, they’ve got an amazing sale next week downtown!”
“Really! Nischt auf Shabbes geredt, when does it start?”
“Well, nischt auf Shabbes geredt, if I remember correctly, it’s on Friday, but it could be, nischt auf Shabbes geredt, on Shabbat, nischt auf Shabbes geredt.”
Shabbat is a delicate creature. She’s very easily scared away. To experience what Shabbat really can be we must push the working week away with two hands, and use those hands to embrace the Shabbat.
“If you …refrain from discussing the forbidden (on Shabbat), then you will delight in
Our Sages teach that this verse teaches us that our speech on Shabbat should not be like that of the weekday. The Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law (in Aruch Chaim 307) says that on Shabbat it is forbidden to discuss worldly matters, and that one should speak briefly even about that which is permissible.
“And on the seventh day you shall desist; you shall desist from plowing and harvesting.”
This verse hints to these two ideas: “Plowing” — charisha — hints to the forbidden speech about the mundane and the worldly. “Harvesting” — katzira — literally “cutting”, suggests that one should cut down to the minimum even conversation that is permissible on Shabbat.
And the reward: “Then you will delight in
- Sources: based on the Noam Megadim in Mayana shel Torah