We don’t just learn from the content of the Torah. We also learn so much from the way in which it is presented. One fine example of this is palindromes, which I love to research and speak about. Looking at this week’s Parsha of Ki Tisa, we find within it what many presume to be the longest palindrome in the Torah. It’s the word “ונתנו - and they shall give,” and it conveys a beautiful message.
In the same way, as the palindrome is the same forwards and backwards, so too when you give, you receive in turn.
One of the finest ways to gain fulfilment and satisfaction in life is through giving selflessly to others. However, there is actually a longer palindrome in the Torah although it’s not in one word – it’s in two words. It’s in Parshat Toldot immediately after Yaakov had deceived his father, Eisav arrived with food to give to his father, and the Torah describes this as “ויבא לאביו - he brought it for his father.” Here we have nine letters the same forwards and backwards and again it’s all about giving of ourselves to others.
Fascinatingly in modern Hebrew, there is a nine letter palindrome in one single word – it’s the word “ולכשתשכלו” (velichsheteshakeilu) meaning ‘and when they shall become bereaved’. Of course, this is a very sad phenomenon and the message here as well is exceptionally powerful. When people endure grief, the regular notion is that the world should come to them to offer them support, but so often people say to me, “באנו לחזק ויצאנו מחוזקים - We came to comfort and we emerged comforted.”
Those who were enduring pain were the ones who gave selflessly of their support and encouragement and comfort to all others.
One of the greatest sources of comfort and encouragement for us is ספר תהילים, the Book of Psalms, and isn’t it extraordinary that the author of so many of the Psalms was דוד בן ישי (David Ben Yishai), palindrome son of palindrome? Indeed King David lived for 70 short years during which he suffered so much in so many ways and yet to this day he remains one of the greatest sources of encouragement and inspiration for us.
Our prayer during these exceptionally challenging times is, may Hashem bless our brave IDF soldiers, police officers, medical professionals, firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as all the Jewish people, that we will indeed achieve a state of joy, and may that take us again and again to many more experiences of joy. Let’s also pray for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 9
MITZVOT ASEH: 4
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 5
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 139
NUMBER OF WORDS: 2002
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 7424
This year, (5786 / 2026) Parshat Ki Tisa is a special Shabbat.
The Shabbat immediately following Purim (or the week after in some years such as this year) is called Shabbat Parshat Parah. We take out two Sifrei Torah, in the first, we have seven Aliyot in the weekly Parsha, followed by Half-Kaddish.
In the second Sefer Torah, the Maftir reads from Bamidbar, Parshat Chukat, (19:1-22), which describes the preparation of the Parah Adumah, whose ashes were used in the spiritual purification process during the time of the Beit Hamikdash. This purification was carried out at this time of the year to ensure that everyone would be able to partake in the Korban Pesach to be offered on the 14th day of Nissan.
HAFTORA:
Ashkenazim: Yechezkel 36:16-38
Chabad & Sephardim: Yechezkel 36:16-36
