Ki Tisa Tallit

Moses receives the tablets

Detail of the tallit band

Fire descending from heaven

Detail of the tallit band

Ki Tisa Tallit

Ki Tisa is, in part, a continuation of the laws of the Sanctuary as given to Moses on reception of the tablets on Mount Sinai. But the people are anxious on his delayed return and make themselves a golden calf. Moses breaks the tablets, 3000 are slain over the incident, Moses goes back to Mount Sinai, speaks on behalf of the people, fasts for forty more days, and receives a second set of tablets.

Band I
Moses receives the tablets on Mount Sinai.

Translation of Hebrew (Exodus 31, 18):
"And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."

Band II
Haftorah Ki Tissa: Elijah and the false prophets are having a contest over which deity to worship, Baal or God. God sends fire to consume the elevation offering which burns, in spite of the water that Elijah has poured on it to drench the wood. We see fire descending from heaven and water splashing everywhere. It is based on the painting "Balaam Blesses Israel" by 19th century painter Hippolyte Flandrin.