Parsha_Push for Ki Tisa

When turning to the crisis we encounter in this week’s parsha, we can apprehend it as we would a marital crisis. In this parsha, we encounter one of the biggest breaches between God and the nation He took out of Egypt. If we criticize Amalek for being the first nation to go against God’s people after the exodus, we can view the sin of the Golden Calf as the first case of Israel’s infidelity, hinting at the weakness of the relationship.
What can be done in the aftermath of such a crisis?
Together with punishing the main sinners, by the hands of Moshe and the Levites and by a Divine plague, alongside with Moshe’s arguments for the People of Israel, we learn of the thirteen attributes of mercy. What is their role in this storyline?
Rashi presents us with one way of understanding. After Moshe mustered up all his grace in the eyes of God to advocate for Israel, atone for them and promise the continuance of the Divine presence amongst them, he realizes this is a time with great potential, and he uses it as a means of getting to know God better. We can see this as a way to utilize the crisis to strengthen the relationship between man and God.
The “fight” between God and Israel, with Moshe standing beside Israel, engenders a great deal of anger, but also enables a new level to this relationship, and a better understanding of both sides. Together with Moshe, we too will learn of God’s attributes, especially when they reappear together with the next crisis and acts of disloyalty. One can see these attributes, as a so-called exposure of vulnerability. Just as Moshe revealed his vulnerability fighting for the People of Israel, God exposes his “so-called” weak points, and this brings Moshe and God, but also the People of Israel and God, closer together.
Another way of understanding the role of these attributes is not as part of the reconciliation in the relationship, but as the foundation of a new covenant between the two sides. The People of Israel proved that keeping the covenant is hard for them, causing Moshe to break the tablets, the evidence and content of this covenant. When God is convinced to re-establish the covenant He adds a new clause, an amendment, this time not only dictating His expectations from the People, but also expressing His renewed expectations from Himself. This time the covenant will be based upon God’s mercy, an important basis, one that has a chance to last longer.
Whether the relationship between God, Moshe and Israel escalates to a new level, based on mutual understanding and (so-called) vulnerability, and whether it is reestablished on a covenantal level, including mercy alongside judgement, the Torah teaches that this unique and powerful relationship will not succumb to the crisis. It will be challenged, but will overcome and might even emerge stronger.