PARSHA - Eikev

In this week's Torah portion, Eikev, Moses recounts the story of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the first set of Tablets. After praying for another 40 days and nights, G-d commands Moses, "Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first..."

G-d then commands the Jewish people to build Him a sanctuary, 'so the nations will know that the sin of the Golden Calf has been forgiven'.

One might think that, after they sinned with gold, G-d would forbid them the use of gold for all time. Yet we find that the exact opposite occurred: the very first material mentioned in the building of the sanctuary -- the purpose of which was to atone for the Golden Calf -- is gold!

Our Sages explain that gold was created solely for the purpose of the sanctuary and the Holy Temple and after being brought into existence for this reason, permission was then granted for mankind to utilize gold for other purposes as well.

This is but one example of the principle that everything in the world is created to serve a G-dly purpose.

G-d grants man the free will. Gold, created solely for use in the sanctuary and Temple, was utilized by the Children of Israel for their idol-worship. The grand misuse of the gold, however, did not alter its original purpose.

The true objective behind all of creation is to enhance the service of the Creator of all things.

The fact that some people choose to utilize these means for corrupt purposes does not detract from their original intent. On the contrary, when a Jew utilizes modern technology for the purpose of spreading Torah and mitzvot, he elevates these tools to their true perfection, for which they were discovered in the first place.

Candle lighting time for L.A. is 7:31

Shabbat Shalom!