In this week’s parsha, Parshat Ki Tisa, we have the famous incident of the Golden Calf. Only a short while after the revelation of Hashem at Mount Sinai where we received the Torah, the Jewish people created an idol and bowed and worshiped it. Moshe, upon witnessing this scene, throws down the two tablets of stone and shatters them. 

After weeks of intense prayer for forgiveness, Hashem forgives the people and has Moshe carve a new set of tablets which the people then receive -  and these teach their destination whole.

Rabbi Sacks asks a very powerful question: why is it that the first tablets which were created by Hashem Himself were destroyed but the second tablets which were carved by Moshe survived? Shouldn't the more holy ones be the ones to survive? 

Rabbi Sacks explains that this phenomena is a unique and vital piece of Jewish wisdom. There are two kinds of efforts, effort from ‘above’  and effort from ‘below’. The first one is when the effort is initiated from above - from Hashem - and the second is when we initiate from ‘below’ as humans. The first one is more dramatic and powerful, the second one seems more mundane but leaves a deeper impression. The reason is that in the first, we have not put in any effort. So despite the intensity of the experience, it does not last. When we put in effort, we ourselves change and that change lasts.

This is the secret of the two tablets. The first tablets were created by Hashem without human effort. So despite their immense holiness they did not last. The second tablets were created by Moshe’s great efforts and this is why they lasted. 

We see the same idea in the battles that the Israelites faced. At the sea they were confronted by the Egyptians and Moshe told them “The L-rd will fight for you... stay silent”. The battle was entirely through Hashem’s efforts. Indeed three days later the Jews were complaining again. In contrast, when the Jews faced Amalek, Moshe said, “Choose men for us, and go out and do battle”. The effort was from the Jews themselves. And they never again complained about battle. Their efforts had transformed them. 

This is important for our lives. When we put in effort it changes us and that change transforms us and it lasts. When things are ‘done’ for us and we don’t put in the effort ourselves the results may be better in the moment but in the long run no transformation has occurred and we remain the same. 

This week Grade 12 held their Core exhibition. On display were examples of work that was done through the long and hard DP journey - totally through the efforts of the students. And indeed these are things that will last with students forever. 

As we continue our academic year it is important to take these lessons to heart. Sometimes we are tempted to use AI as a shortcut.. Perhaps in the moment the results will be impressive but in the long run they don’t create any lasting change in us. When we put in the effort and use AI as a tool to help our effort the results will be great but more importantly there will be a long lasting change in ourselves.

Thank you and Shabbat Shalom. 

Written by Mr. Pinny Kreizel, Jewish Studies Teacher