Don't Worry Be Calf-ey

בס"ד

In Parshas Ki Sisa we read of one of the greatest tragedies to ever occur to the Jewish people, the sin of the golden calf. Miscalculating the fortieth day when Moshe was supposed to return from his sojourn in the heavens, the people grow restless when they believe that Moshe is not coming. Seizing upon this opportunity, Satan creates a scene of heavenly confusion and tells the people mockingly, "your leader has died." In response to this, some of the Egyptian hangers-on that trailed the Jewish camp (known as the erev rav or rabble) demand from Aharon a new leadership figure. After Aharon attempts, unsuccessfully, to stall for Moshe's return, the rabble succeeds in having two of the Egyptian sorcerers (formerly of Pharaoh's court – see Tanchuma ch. 19 – quoted in Ohr Hachaim Shemos 32:20) craft a golden idol and parade it before the people. The main body of calf worshippers were also of the rabble, they were killed by the Levi'im (see Shemos 32:26-28).

In light of the above information, what part did the mainstream Jewish community play in the sin of the calf ? Why is it considered so heinous a transgression ? What did they do ?

The Torah goes to great emphasis to point out that Moshe was a regular human being, born of a mortal father and mother and in no way supernatural. It should have been obvious to the Jews that Moshe wasn't going to live forever, and so when he died, Hashem would have his replacement all lined up. The people misunderstood the function of a Jewish leader. They should have gone to Aharon or Yehoshua or any one of the prominent people in the camp. Instead, they sought to replicate the divine aura that emanated from Moshe. True, only the rabble truly worshipped the calf and danced in idolatrous ecstasy at the feast in its honor. But the rest of the Jewish camp enabled this to occur because they allowed themselves to be lulled into despair at Moshe's passing.

Since Moshe's passing was inevitable, the people should have realized that the same G-d who brought them to Har Sinai would also continue to take care of them. People do silly and crazy things out of despair, the lesson of the golden calf is that this kind of despair has no place in the heart of a believing Jew. And if it does worm its way in there – the results can be catastrophic.

Don't despair, Hashem's got your back. Always.

Haztlacha !