#21 Parashah Ki Tisa with Torah and Haftarah video studies

Teaching For Shabbat of March 2nd, 2024
(Donate and support this Ministry by clicking here)

Torah: Exodus 30:11-34:35
HaftarahI Kings 18:20-39

Ki Tisa (כִּי תִשָּׂא‎) – Hebrew for “when you raise up,” as in the heads  of Israel to take a census for who is able to serve. It is the 21st weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual cycle of Torah reading. The parashah tells of building the Tabernacle, the incident of the Golden calf, the request of Moses for God to reveal His glorious character, and how Moses became radiant.  It covers Exodus 30:11–34:35.

Parsha Ki Tisa Summary

Exodus 30:11-34:35

The people of Israel are told to each contribute exactly half a shekel of silver to the Sanctuary. Instructions are also given regarding the making of the Sanctuary’s water basinanointing oil and incense. “Wise-hearted” artisans Betzalel and Aholiav are placed in charge of the Sanctuary’s construction, and the people are once again commanded to keep the Shabbat.

When Moses does not return when expected from Mount Sinai, the people make a golden calf and worship it.

God tests Moses with the proposal to destroy the errant nation, but Moses intercedes on their behalf. Moses descends from the mountain carrying the saphire tablets of the testimony engraved with the Ten Commandments; seeing the people dancing about their idol, he breaks the tablets, destroys the golden calf, grinds it up and makes them drink it, and then has the primary culprits put to death. He then returns to God to say: “If You do not forgive them, blot me out from the book that You have written.”  Another anomaly is found in this phrase in Hebrew where Moses asks to be blotted out “from Your book” where the last letter is a Kaf Soffit which has a gematria of 20, and rather than blot Moses his name from The Book of Life, our merciful God simply blot’s Moses name from the 20th Torah Parsha… which was last week’s and the only parshat in Torah in which we do not see Moses his name mentioned!

God forgives, but says that the effect of their sin will be felt for many generations. At first God proposes to send His angel along with them, but Moses insists that God Himself accompany His people to the promised land.

Moses prepares a new set of tablets and once more ascends the mountain, where God reinscribes the covenant on these second tablets. On the mountain, Moses is also granted a vision of the divine thirteen attributes of God’s character.  It is here in Chapter 34 that we see another amazing anomaly in Torah… three enlarged Hebrew letters revealing God’s desired relationship with us in Covenant language! (See video teaching above for more insight on this) So radiant is Moses’ face after beholding God’s character, that he must cover it with a veil, which he removes only to speak with God and to teach His laws to the people… and this is a great Truth for us as well, for if we can truly behold the matchless beauty of the Divine in realizing the depth of His selflessly loving nature, we too can be changed into his likeness and shine the Light of his Love!

New Studies for Deeper Understanding…

For further Torah study on parashah “Ki Tisa”, please enjoy the latest illustrated Dvar Torah video teaching below… Listen and learn from Rabbi Isaac as he takes your understanding to an even deeper level!  Enjoy and be blessed!

Torah for your Children…

For simple cartoon summaries of the Torah parashah for your children we recommend the following videos below:

Haftarah (Prophets) Summary

I Kings 18:20-39

In this week’s haftorah, Elijah the Prophet demonstrates the worthlessness of the Baal, just as Moses chastised the Israelites for serving the Golden Calf, as discussed in this week’s Torah reading.  See how Rabbi Isaac reveals the amazing model for understanding the Spirit of Elijah and Elijah’s message in the above video which unlocks prophetic understanding for recognizing the End Time Two Witnesses!

The background of this week’s haftorah: King Ahab and Queen Jezebel ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and encouraged the worship of the Baal deity as well as other forms of idolatry. To prove that God alone is in control and provides sustenance, Elijah decreed a drought on the kingdom—no rain fell for three years. When Ahab then accused Elijah of causing hardship for the Israelites, Elijah challenged him to a showdown. He, Elijah, would represent the cause of monotheism, and 850 idolatrous “prophets” would represent their cause. Ahab accepted.

The haftorah begins with Elijah, the Baal prophets, and many spectators gathering atop Mount Carmel. Elijah rebuked the people of Israel, uttering the famous words: “How long will you hop between two ideas? If the L-rd is God, go after Him, and if the Baal, go after him.”

Elijah then stated his challenge: “Give us two bulls and let them [the Baal prophets] choose one bull for themselves and cut it up and place it on the wood, but fire they shall not put; and I will prepare one bull, and I will put it on the wood, and fire will I not place. And you will call in the name of your deity, and I will call in the name of the L-rd, and it will be the God that will answer with fire, he is God.”

The people agreed to the challenge, and the prophets of the Baal were first. The prophets’ entreaties to their god went unanswered. Elijah taunted them: “Call with a loud voice, for you presume that he is a god. [Perhaps] he is talking or he is pursuing [enemies], or maybe he is on a journey; perhaps he is sleeping and will awaken…”

As evening approached, Elijah took center-stage. He built an altar, laid his offering upon it and surrounded it with water. “Lord, the God of AbrahamIsaac and Israel,” he declared. “Today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and at Your word have I done all these things. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, and this people shall know that You are the Lord God…”

A fire immediately descended from heaven and consumed the offering, as well as the altar and the surrounding water. “And all the people saw and fell on their faces, and they said, “The Lord is G‑d, the L-rd is God.”


We hope these weekly Torah teaching bless you in your spiritual understanding and growth! As we are solely supported by your Tzedakah charity, please consider supporting this ministry for the continued spread of Truth by giving a love offering here.

Also if you have a need for prayer, please write us and let us know how to pray for you and we feel privileged to be intercessors in prayer for all our worldwide family! 

Don’t forget to…
– GO to our YouTube channel and…
– LIKE the videos
– SUBSCRIBE to our channel
– SHARE our YouTube channel
– SUPPORT our Worldwide outreach
– FOLLOW us on Instagram
– FIND us on Facebook, as well as…
– SHINE THE LIGHT by spreading our website: https://www.calledoutbelievers.org with your family and friends on Facebook as well as your other Social Media platforms!

Torah Parashah teaching with video and audio and illustrations by Rabbi Isaac. © Assembly of Called-Out Believers. Use by Permission.

Website: www.CalledOutBelievers.org

3 Comments

    • Had to comment first of all thank you very much for your teaching very eye opening. You made a comment how in those days of the prophets how the rules of that time were not the true rulers Aaron and ahab. Here in America as you probably have hear many people believe that the president election was stolen from Donald Trump. Which would make Joe Biden not the rightful president here in america.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.