Ki Tissa

Their sin did not constitute a total repudiation of the service of He who brought them out of Egypt, but was rather a partial repudiation of some of His commands. The Almighty had warned them against making images and they had made one instead of waiting. They themselves had no right to determine the mode of worship and make an altar and sacrifices in accordance with it. Their conduct can be compared to the parable of the fool who entered the doctor’s dispensary and himself prescribed the drugs, thereby killing the patients who would have been saved by being given the proper doses by the doctor himself.

Judah Halevi (12^th Century)

It is not in the nature of man reared in slavery, in bricks and straw and the like to wash his hands, as it were, of their dirt and suddenly rise up and fight with the progeny of Anak (Canaan). God in His wisdom contrived that they wander in the wilderness till they had become schooled in courage, since it is well known that physical hardships toughen and the converse produces faintheartedness. A new generation was born which had not been accustomed to slavery and degradation.

Maimonides (12^th Century)

Accordingly the children of Israel were not guilty of actual idolatry but merely with wishing to facilitate their worship of God through material symbols…The all embracing character of the Torah’s observances regulating the individual’s relations with himself, family and society constitute the surest guarantee against moral relapses.

Nechama Leibowitz (20^th Century)

They (the Israelites) did not ask for a god-calf representing the supreme powers of life and death but merely a substitute for Moses’ leadership. He argued: they only asked me to make them a god who would lead them in your stead since they didn’t know what had befallen you, whether you would come back or not. For the meantime whilst you were still away they required a leader. But once you came back they would forsake it and follow you as before. So it was. As soon as the people caught sight of Moses they left the calf, rejected it and let him burn it and sprinkle its dust over the water. No one took issue with him. Moses did not have to reprimand them or say anything to them. But when he reached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing they immediately packed up and fled. He took the calf, burnt it, gave them to drink of it, which they did without a murmur. Had they acknowledged it as a god – no one would allow his king and god to be burnt. Would he burn their god and they not stone him?

Nachmanides (13^th Century)

The essence of Divine worship is to perform it with joy and a glad heart. By the same token, for those who transgress His will, hope remains for the one who sins and grieves over it, to repent ad make amends. But he who revels in his iniquity, is, God forbid, a hopeless case. The Almighty did not tell Moses that they were in addition enjoying themselves. He was therefore not all that angry. But when he saw the calf and dancing – that they were actually enjoying it too – then his anger burned.

Alshikh (16^th Century)