The Truth of Gold: Poetic Midrash on Parshat Ki Tissa

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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 me
now
gleaming brightly
holy tabernacle
god's glory
glowing
everpresent
neverseen
alwaysfelt

gold
then
molten
hot
burning
the calf
idol
searing
image
into
my
mind


people
crying
wailing
this
is your
god
israel
who
brought you
out
of
gypt

how
could
we
believe
how could
we
not

he
was gone
we
felt
fear
needed
certainty
where
there was
none

we
all gave
gold
melted
melded
merging
we
created
the calf
from
our gold
not
really
a god

it
was
us

blind
to
divinity
truth
presence
only seeing
false reality
deaf
to God’s voice
within
we only heard
cries
screams
fear
feeling
uncertainty


gold
obsession
i felt it
feel it
within
bitter taste of sin
infidelity
coursing
within


i drank
the waters
from his hands
looking
into
his eyes
burning
rage
accusation
contempt
flooded
tears of
sadness
love
disappointment
compassion
feeling
all
i drank
our sin
my sin
now
within

gold
given
to create
a monster
restored
to forgive
sinner
humans
being
human

gold
within
eternally
reminding
all
past
is past
not present
still
present
it’s presence
remind me
do not
 stop
living
feeling
knowing
embracing
the spirit
within
the moment

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

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

that is the reality
the turth
of gold
of god
within
within
us all


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