Triennial Cycle III: Exodus 33:12-34:35
Humash Etz Hayim, page 538
Maftir: Numbers 19:1-22, page 880
Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38, page 1286
1. (33:12-23) Moses pleads to be able to see God, but that request is denied, for a human may not see Me and live. God does promise that Moses will be able to see His “back,” i.e., have an indirect manifestation of His presence.
2. (34:1-9) Moses returns to Mt. Sinai for the third time and receives the revelation concerning God’s Thirteen Attributes.
3. (34:10-26) The renewal of the covenant between God and Israel, with further instructions concerning the keeping of the mitzvot.
4. (34:27-28) After 40 days, Moses receives the second set of Tablets.
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Drash- Michael Lietner
This drasha was originally written to be included in Let There Be Light, the compilation of drashot published as a tribute to Rabbi Pressman on his 25th anniversary with Congregation Beth David. As it turned out, this was not the parsha that was needed, and this drasha was not included in the book.
Over many years, I have had the opportunity to work with Rabbi Pressman and discuss aspects of leadership and governance with him. Through the years, he has taught me some key lessons in organizational leadership.
Do not ascribe to malevolence that which can be explained by incompetence.
- It is management’s role to make sensible exceptions to policy.
- Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences.
In Parshat Ki Tissa, we will see these leadership lessons played out in different ways.