Ki Sisa 2018: Getting Motivated

Parshas Ki Sisa 2018

Getting Motivated

Ever feel like you’re just not into it? You just CAN’T get inspired or motivated?

Let me tell you why this is.

Moshe after spending forty days and forty nights on Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) and speaking directly to G-d, descended only to find his people dancing and singing around an idol. 

At that very moment, the luchos (tablets) fell from his hands and broke.

Interestingly, there is an opinion that our biblical leaders were not only spiritual giants, but they were also something that we call a “gibur chayil” physical specimen. They had a very large presence, usually tall and muscle-bound individuals. 

If so, how is it possible that Moshe could drop the luchos? Granted they were made of solid stone and he had been fasting for forty days but still we’re talking about THE greatest leader of our people, a very strong person!?

Medrish Tanchuma tells us exactly what happened.

Moshe received the transmission from heaven and then brought the tablets down to the people to impart on the B’nai Yisroel everything he had just experienced. The people had miscalculated Moshe’s ETA and presumed him to be dead. Desperately looking for another conduit between them and Hashem, they built a golden calf and worshipped it. 

It is said when Moshe came down, the tablets were so holy, that they were remarkably light and it was as if they were carrying him. When he saw everything that transpired with the people, the words inscribed on the stones “flew off”. Unable to bear the sight, the spiritual inscriptions vanished.

Moshe didn’t drop the tablets because he wasn’t strong enough to carry them as they were but when the tablets came face to face with the eigel (calf idol) the letters vanished, and the stones became physical.

Imagine you were standing in a “zero-gravity chamber” and were told to pick up a car, almost effortlessly you would lift it. Then without your knowledge they power the chamber off and the car reverts to a four-thousand-pound piece of machinery - your gonna drop the car!

Moshe simply could not longer hold the luchos and they fell smashing into pieces.

Every yid (Jew) is similar to the luchos.

The luchos had two components; the physical stone aspect and the spiritual inscription. As (Jewish) people, we too have a physical body and a spiritual neshama (soul). When the body is accompanied by the neshama it’s easy to go through life. The neshama can carry us through our trials and tribulations. However, as soon as we stop nourishing our spiritual self it becomes dormant and heavy for us to carry and we become less affected by spiritual stimulation.

In today’s world of abundance, instant pleasures, and media it’s too easy to forget to nourish our neshamos. We need to make sure that we keep the balance between our body and soul healthy. Just as we need food and water to live, our neshamos need Torah and Mitzvos to live. 

It’s time to get motivated! Decide to study Torah, take on some kind of mitzvah, meet with an orthodox Rabbi. Do something to nourish your neshamah so life doesn’t feel so heavy. Take that spiritual strength and let it carry you through life as did the letters carry the luchos!

Have a wonderful Shabbos and weekend!

Maverick V. Peters

אביגדור לייב פיטערס