The simple reading of the story (recorded twice in the Torah, in Exodus and then again in Deuteronomy, in this week's portion) goes like this: After the Jews created a golden calf, Moses smashed the stone tablets created by G-d, engraved with the Ten Commandments. Moses and G-d then "debated" the appropriate response to this transgression, and it was decided that if the people would truly repent, G-d would give them a second chance. Moses hewed a second set of stone tablets, G-d engraved them also with the Ten Commandments, and Moses gave them to the Jewish people.
IN THE FRAGMENTS
Moses did not break the tablets because he was angry and lost control. Rather, the breaking of the tablets was the beginning of the healing process. Before the Golden Calf was created, the Jews could find G-d within the wholesomeness of the tablets, within the spiritual wholesomeness of life. Now, after the people had created the Golden Calf, hope was not lost. Now they would find G-d in the shattered pieces of a once beautiful dream.
Moses was teaching the Jewish people the greatest message of Judaism: Truth can be crafted not only from the spiritually perfected life, but also from the broken pieces of the human corrupt and demoralized psyche. The broken tablets, too, possess the light of G-d.
This is why the Sages tell us that not only the whole tablets, but also the broken ones, were situated in the Holy of Holies. This conveyed the message articulated at the very genesis of Judaism: You can create a holy of holies from the broken pieces of life.
G-d, the Sages tell us, affirmed Moses’ decision to break the tablets. G-d told him, “Thank you for breaking them.” Because the broken tablets, representing the shattered pieces of human existence, have their own story to tell; they contain a light all their own. Truth is found not only in wholesomeness, but also—sometimes primarily—in the broken fragments of the human spirit. There are moments when G-d desires that we connect to Him as wholesome people, with clarity and a sense of fullness. There are yet deeper moments when He desires that we find Him in the shattered experiences of our lives.
We often believe that G-d can be found in our moments of spiritual wholesomeness. But how about in the conflicts that torment our psyches? How about when we are struggling with depression, addiction, or confusion? How about when we feel despair and pain? How about in every conflict between a godless existence and a G-d-centered existence? We associate “religion” with “religious” moments. But how about our “non-religious” moments?
What Moses accomplished with breaking the tablets was the demonstration of the truth that the stuff we call holiness can be carved out from the very alienation of a person from G-d. From the very turmoil of his or her psychological and spiritual brokenness, a new holiness can be discovered.
It is on this note that the Torah chooses to culminate its tribute to Moses’ life. The greatest achievement of Moses was his ability to show humanity how we can take our brokenness and turn it into a holy of holies. There is light and joy to be found in the fragments of sacredness.
RABBI YY JACOBSON
