Moshe fasted six days,
Reached an angelic state,
Passed before the fiery beings
Within Shamayim’s gate.
For 40 days and 40 nights,
Stood before Hashem’s throne,
Received the Torah,
Carved by G-d’s finger
Into tablets of stone.
HaKadosh Baruch Hu
Sent Moshe down,
The bad news was abrupt:
Worshipping a molten calf,
His flock became corrupt.
The right side’s
Laws between G-d and Man
Were being disobeyed;
HaKadosh Baruch Hu, their Savior,
Abandoned and betrayed.
Moshe brought down the Luchos,
Still seeking to know
What of the laws
Of the left tablet –
Laws between man and his fellow?
Descending, Moshe realized
The laws of the left side
Had also been broken;
The whole Torah, denied,
The mob had done murder,
Chur’s homicide –
The consequence for trying
To stop their mad joyride.
Aharon and the 70 Elders
Tried to stay Moshe’s hand,
Tried to save the Torah,
But, had Moshe let it stand,
It would condemn his people.
Hard copy
Of the contract deployed,
All Moshe toiled for
With all his soul –
It had to be destroyed.
Smashing them as Moshe did
Was not an act of wrath,
But an attempt to save his flock,
To plead on their behalf.
Hashem, they were idolaters in Egypt,
Yet You called them
“My child, My firstborn”;
Your love for their forefathers
And Your nation, forever sworn.
The Torah’s teaching surpasses all,
Though perfect by design;
It is made for imperfect people
So that their souls may shine.
Wrong choices, failure, defiance,
Things human beings do;
But, at Your Hand, forgiveness,
Let us return to You.
When Moshe Rabbeinu had
Fulfilled his days,
This was HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s
Highest praise:
You broke the tablets, Moshe,
Shattering them,
Well done,
Faithful servant of Hashem!
By Sharon Marcus