[Jewish] [Mindful Torah] The Truth of Gold: Poetic Midrash on Parshat Ki Tissa

[Rabbi Steven Nathan]

This week's parashah Ki Tissa (Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35) includes the
all-too-familar narrative of the Golden Calf. One image in the that has
intrigued me, yet is less familiar and oft forgetten, is that of Moses
grinding the calf into powder, mixing it with water and forcing the
people to drink it as expiation for their sin. This ingestion of the
remnants of their sin holds powerful meaning within it. This is one
interpretation of that moment and what it might mean.

Shabbat Shalom,
Steven


the truth of gold

gold
before menow
gleaming brightlyholy tabernacle
god's glory
glowing
everpresent
neverseen
alwaysfelt
gold
then
molten hot burning
the calf
idol
searing image
into my mind


peoplecryingwailingthis
is your god
israel
who
brought you out of gypt

how
could we believehow could wenot
he was gonewefeltfearneeded certaintywherethere wasnone

weall gave gold
melted meldedmergingwe
created the calffrom our gold
not reallya god
itwasus

blind
to divinitytruth
presence
only seeing
false reality
deaf
to God’s voicewithin
we only heard
cries screams
fear feelinguncertainty

goldobsession
i felt it
feel it
within
bitter taste of sin
infidelitycoursing
within

i drank the waters
from his hands
looking into
his eyes
burning rage accusation contempt
flooded tears of
sadnesslove
disappointment
compassion
feelingall
i drank
our sin
my sinnowwithin

gold
given
to create a monster
restored
to forgive sinner
humansbeinghuman

gold
within
eternally
reminding all
pastis past
not present
still
present
it’s presenceremind medo not stop
living feeling knowing embracing
the spirit within
the moment

god
i was seekingyou
when i gave my gold
what i found
when it was returned to me
forced into me
reminding mewas
eternal divinity
inside meinside each sinnersaint
each human being

remaining
within
long after
sin forgiven
present is past
past is forgotten

that is the realitythe turthof goldof godwithin
within
us all




--
Posted By Rabbi Steven Nathan to Mindful Torah at 3/05/2010 04:42:00 PM
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