Or HaChaim on Ki Sisa 32:35

Parashas Ki Sisa · EXTRA (side-ring) · Passuk 32:35

Torah Temimah has no citation on this passuk. Side-ring material from Or HaChaim.

Sefaria — Or HaChaim on Ki Sisa 32:35

Core Text — Or HaChaim on Ki Sisa 32:35
אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אַהֲרֹן. צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת לְאֵיזֶה עִנְיָן אָמַר זֶה, וְאוּלַי שֶׁהִקְפִּיד ה׳ עַל שֶׁגָּרְמוּ לְאַהֲרֹן קְדוֹשׁ ה׳ לַחֲטֹא, כִּי חֵטְא אָדָם גָּדוֹל לוּ יִהְיֶה כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה יַקְפִּיד ה׳ עָלָיו לִמְאֹד. אוֹ יִרְצֶה לְהוֹצִיא הַלַּעַז מֵעַל אַהֲרֹן, כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם שֶׁעָשׂוּ הָעֵגֶל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אַהֲרֹן, כִּי מַעֲשֵׂה אַהֲרֹן עֲלֵיהֶם יֵחָשֵׁב, אוֹ לְצַד שֶׁאֲנָסוּהוּ אוֹ לְצַד שֶׁהֵם עָשׂוּ עִקַּר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהוּא הַכִּשּׁוּף שֶׁבּוֹ יָצָא מְדַבֵּר.

English: אשר עשה אהרן which Aharon had made. What was the Torah's purpose in making this statement at this point? Perhaps G'd wanted us to know that the Israelites were punished for causing Aharon to become the innocent maker of the golden calf. G'd deals severely with anyone who causes a great and holy man such as Aharon to become involved in the performance of a sin. Alternatively, the Torah wanted to ward off any accusation anyone had levelled against Aharon who was only technically the maker of the golden calf, and to place the blame where it belonged. The fact that G'd smote the people for a calf which Aharon had made, is evidence that G'd considered the people as having made the calf.

Type of Learning

Commentary (Rishon) on a TT-silent passuk — EXTRA side-ring only.

What Is Learned

See the Or HaChaim on this passuk for the full derash and implications.