A Message From Rabbi Weberman

The seventeenth of Tammuz is a date that stands out on account  of it being the first tragic event in our history as a people. Moshe Rabeinu was devastated upon seeing the betrayal of his people as they worshipped the Golden Calf. His reaction was to  throw down the Tablets with the Ten Commandments and shatter them at the foot of the mountain. Hashem agreed with Moshe’s action and thanked him for what he did (Shabbos 87A - Menachos 99B).

We cannot say that  Moshe Rabeinu acted in a fit of anger showing rejection of his people. Would Hashem express appreciation for an act that is considered evil? (see Shabbos 105b - Pesachim 66b). Did Moshe Rabeinu reject his people? To the contrary, when told of a possible destruction of his people, he fervently pleaded for them and received the response: Hashem relented regarding the evil that He declared He would do to His People (Exodus 32:14). The breaking of the Tablets was done with proper deliberation on the part of Moshe Rabeinu - with the intention of making reparation for the serious sin of his people.

Following the shattering of the Tablets, Moshe Rabeinu was  given a formula for forgiveness and atonement - the Thirteen Tenets of Mercy - which he submitted to his people. He was  called to prepare a second set of Tablets and to ascend again on  Mount Sinai for forty days. Upon his descent on the Tenth of Tishrei he would present them to his people. This day was then set as a Day of Atonement for evermore.

The world was created in ten stages. It could have been created all at once. This was done for the sake of the righteous and for the sake of the wicked.(Ethics 5:1)  The first stage of creation was  “Unformed and empty” (Genesis 1:3). Nine subsequent stages resulted in the final complex universe. The Divine Wisdom formed the world in this manner “for the sake of the wicked”. A deviated structure could be recycled into unformed matter and thereafter properly reconstructed. Not always do the righteous reach a high enough level. “For the sake of the righteous” - they also need to aspire to a higher level and to restructure themselves.

Moshe Rabeinu saw his people in a situation of backsliding. He reacted with Divine wisdom. The first Tablets were replaced with a new set. This set a pattern for all future generations.  Sin results in tragic consequences of pain equaling the pleasure of the sin. The Thirteen Tenets of Mercy are invoked. Confession and pleas for mercy disintegrate the thoughts, words and deeds that are sinful. Their energy is recycled as we are motivated to a paths of holiness and righteousness. The Book of Lamentations concludes with:

Bring us back to You, Hashem and we will return, renew our days as of old.