Parashat Ki Tissa 2015/5775 (Triennial II) — Can the Chasm Between God and Humanity Be Bridged?

In this week’s Torah portion we read the famous story of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32) in which the Israelites rebel against God. But more than just a simple rebellion, perhaps this “sin” indicates that the chasm between the holy (God) and the mundane (humanity) is too great to bridge. This issue is also addressed in the verse that opens the Torah portion prior to the story of the Golden Calf in which Moses receives the Torah from God (Exodus 31:18). Does the Torah reflect God’s direct word? Or, since the Torah is used in a world separate from God, it must be a creation of humankind?

Join us as we  use some texts from rabbinic midrash and greek philosophy (Plato) to address the question “can the chasm between God and humanity be bridged?”

Classes from other years:

Parashat Ki Tissa 2013/5773 (Triennial III) — Where is God’s Face?

Parashat Ki Tissa 2014/5774 (Triennial I) — From Cannabis to Shabbos: Does Judaism Embrace or Control Our Desires?

Photo taken from — http://cinema.theiapolis.com/movie-20AU/the-ten-commandments/quotes/moses.html

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : Allegory Authorship Bridge Cave Chasm Exodus 31:18 Exodus 32 Exodus Rabbah 41 God Golden Calf humanity ki tissa Midrash online learning online parashah class parsha Plato Tablets torah Write כי תשא