Ki Tisa: The Glory of G-d

After Moshe rabbainu receives the tablets on which are engraved the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel sin with the golden calf. Moshe appeals to Hashem for forgiveness and Hashem forgives them partially because Moshe has found favor in His eyes. Moshe sees that this is a propitious moment and asks that he be shown the glory of G-d. G-d replies that a man can not see the face of G-d and survive, however He will pass all of His good before him. Moshe will so to speak see the back of G-d but His face he will not see. The commentaries say that Moshe saw the knot on the back of G-d tefillin shell rosh (head), which is made like a ד On tefillin there are three knots. The other two are on the tefillin shel yad (arm), one is a ש, often on the hand, and the other is a י, which fastens the box to the strap. Together they spell out the name of G-d שקי.

The commentaries focus on a number of issues. What is in fact the glory of G-d and what does it mean to see it? The Ramban explains that the request is that Moshe should have a clear perception of the divine and that he should comprehend and reflect on all of G-d’s goodness. The Or Hachaim renders the verse as speaking mouth to mouth with G-d, a consuming fire, and a vision of the light above. The Seforno focuses on the meaning of the shem Havaya and states that the glory of G-d is how everything that exist draws existance from his existance. Also, that there is a relationship between everything that is to be found in the world. The Clee Yakar says that Moshe requested to see reward given to the righteous in the world to come. He continues that this is impossible for flesh and blood to comprehend. The best we can see is the small amount of compensation that flows to them in this world, so to speak the knot on the back of G-d’s tefillin.

In the following verse Hashem replies to Moshe, “I will pass all my goodness before your face and call the name of Hashem before you, and I will be benevolent to whom I will be benevolent and be merciful to whom I will be merciful.” Hashem has a number of names and appellations. It would seem that the revealed good flows from the name Havaya. This is the name of the Creator who gives existance to all. The name Elokim is a G-d of judgement. The name Shaki is the bestower of what we need. When G-d behaves as Hashem this is where we clearly see benevolence and compassion. This is the essence of the goodness of G-d and the highest expression of His glory.