The Torah selection of Ki Tisa begins with the teaching of the half shekel. Every male Israelite above the age of twenty was required to contribute a half-shekel for the maintenance of the Tabernacle. The offering was atonement for lives taken in battle. The half shekel continued as a gift to support the Temple in later times.
The narrative continues to describe the sacred objects of the Tabernacle. The laver for the ritual washing of the kohen was constructed of brass. The spices used for the anointing are shared. The anointing oil consecrated the ritual objects of the Tabernacle as well as the kohanim themselves. The composition of the holy incense concludes chapter 30 of the Book of Exodus.
The famous artists of the Tabernacle, Bezalel and Oholiab, are called to their task. The artists are considered to reflect the divine wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in their work. They are given responsibility for construction of the furniture and building of the Tabernacle.
The "Veshamru" passage has its source in Exodus 31:15-17. It has been incorporated into the Shabbat liturgy.
Exodus chapter 32 presents the infamous narrative of the Egel Hazahav, the Golden Calf. Aaron participates in the construction of the Calf. He calls upon the Israelites to contribute their rings to make the calf. The people proclaim, "This is your god, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." Aaron proclaims the following day as a festival to the L-rd. The text seems to indicate that Israel was still loyal to their G-d; however, they required a physical representation of Him.
G-d informs Moses what has transpired. The divine anger against Israel calls for the nation's destruction. Moses assuages G-d from destroying the people.
Moses and Joshua return to the Israelite camp with the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Overwhelmed with rage, Moses breaks the tablets. The people drink the molten calf. Moses calls for the defense of the G-d of Israel. The Levites demonstrate their support for Moses' position. Divine retribution expresses itself for the sin of the Golden Calf.
Israel expresses contrition for the sin of the Calf. Moses returns to the Tent of Meeting for his encounter with the divine. The pillar of cloud represents the divine presence. Moses requests to see the divine glory. G-d responds, "You cannot see My face, for man shall not see Me and live." G-d agrees to show Moses His back.
Moses ascends the mountain for the second set of the Ten Commandments. The thirteen divine attributes are shared. "The L-rd, the L-rd G-d merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that by no means clear the guilty; visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, until the third and fourth generation." The thirteen attributes have become enshrined in the festival service. The Torah shares the three pilgrimage festivals. They are the festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. These were the three times when Israel would appear bearing gifts in the city of Jerusalem. The famous passage prohibiting cooking a kid in the milk of its mother concludes this section. This passage is the origin of the separation of meat and dairy in the laws of kashrut.
Moses receives the second set of the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
His face emits rays of light through his encounter with the divine
holiness. He must now don a veil, as the shining presence of
his face is overwhelming.