Questions for Preparation and Self Study
Questions for Preparation- Word format
Shiur #1: Chet Ha'Egel and the 13 Midot of Rachamim
Shiur #2: Haftarat Parshat Ki-Tisa - Melachim I 18:1-39
Shiur #3: The Mishkan: Before or After Chet Ha'Egel?

Chet Ha'Egel and the 13 Midot of Rachamim

Does it make sense that Bnei Yisrael truly believed that it was a 'golden calf' (and not God) who took them out of Egypt? Obviously not, but when they see the calf, this seems to be precisely what they say: "...this is your god O' Israel, who took you out of the Land of Egypt!" In Part I of this week's shiur, we present an interpretation that attempts to explain this and many other difficulties of the story of Chet Ha'Egel, by taking into consideration many of the events that had transpired earlier in Sefer Shmot. In Part II, by examining God's 13 attributes of mercy, we explain how and why God forgives them for what they've done.

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Haftarat Parshat Ki-Tisa - Melachim I 18:1-39

This week's Haftara describes the famous 'showdown' between Eliyahu and the prophets of Ba'al on Har Carmel. This week's shiur discusses both the prophetic and 'political' background of this event.

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The Mishkan: Before or After Chet Ha'Egel?

Had it not been for Chet Ha'Egel, would Bnei Yisrael have needed a Mishkan? Many claim that the answer to this 'philosophical' question lies in the famous 'exegetical' controversy between Rashi and Ramban concerning when God commanded Bnei Yisrael to build the Mishkan, before or after the sin of the golden calf. In this week's shiur, as we study this controversy and its ramifications, we will show how the answer to this question is not so simple. While doing so, we will also try to make some sense out of the thorny issue of "ein mukdam u'meuchar ba'Torah" (chronological order in Chumash).

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