For Parshat Ki Tisa
i
In one war, the people fend off the nation Amalek for as long as Moses’ hands are raised. Aaron and Hur support Moses’ tired arms.
Before ascending the Mountain, Moses says: Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a matter should come to them.
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Aaron’s children become priests in God’s Tent. Hur’s grandson will build the Tent where Aaron’s sons are priests.
Aaron’s legacy is of leadership. But Hur—comfort to Moses’ tired arms, substitute for Moses in Moses’ ascent, whose family builds the sanctuary where another family serves—is not the leader.
Hur is the one who enables.
Hur supports.
ii
After the Golden calf, we hear no more of Hur’s life.
iii
The Golden Calf comes when Moses delays coming down the Mountain. The people do not know what has happened to him. They tell Aaron: make us a god in replacement. They choose idolatry over the vacuum.
They do not see that even they who are not Moses, who do not lead, still hold the responsibility to keep the world. They reject the notion of supporters.
They reject the notion of Hur.
*
They end Hur’s story.
That is their downfall.
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I may have heard parts of this idea elsewhere.
Discussion of Midrashic origins on Facebook
Shabbat Shalom, Abe
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Please pray for the premature infant Baer Yakov ben Emunah. Please pray for Fievel ben Chaya, Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah and for Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther.
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