In this week’s parsha, Parshat Ki Tisa, the infamous sin of the Chet HaEgel - the golden calf - takes place, and one question comes to our mind: How could a nation at the height of spirituality and closeness to God (they had just received the Torah!) fall so far so fast?

Hashem created a 40-day waiting period at Har Sinai for Bnei Yisrael to prepare for a Torah life. After their struggles in Egypt, the nation needed time to embrace their freed state and process the great nation they were about to become. Hashem gave them time to adjust and allowed them to accept the mitzvot and the Torah slowly.

Rashi says that when Moshe went up to Har Sinai, he told Bnei Yisrael that he would return by mid-day on the 40^th day. Bnei Yisrael started counting 40 days from that day, yet Moshe meant for them to start counting 40 days from the next day.

What’s the rush? Most of the time when one is in a situation where they are in a panic they look for an immediate answer, and most often solving a problem instantly does not lead to a proper solution.

Why did Hashem allow for this confusion and this panic to take place? The answer seems to be that Hashem wanted Bnei Yisrael to get used to the idea that He won’t always be obviously present in their lives and that they need to keep their emunah strong. Up until this point Hashem has been present through the makot and yitziyat mitzrayim, but now Hashem is starting to be more hidden in his relationship with Bnei Yisrael.

This week we will be celebrating the holiday of Purim. As we read the Purim story in Megillat Esther, many of you may realize that Hashem is not mentioned at all in the Megillah. This does not mean He was not a part of the miracles that took place, of course he was! Every miracle in this world is because of Hashem, but just as we learn from this week’s parsha, Hashem is not always an obvious presence in our lives. It is our responsibility to let Hashem in and open our eyes to the countless miracles that happen in our daily lives.

Hashem gives us opportunities to soar or to fall. Hashem wants us to succeed but the success must come from us. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail, but our goal should be to build on our successes rather than our failures.

May we all have the bracha to soar, with the help of Hashem, in everything we do.

Shabbat Shalom