This week we read in the diaspora about the sanctification of the Leviim. The common understanding is that the Leviim attained their hierarchy because they did not sin with the golden calf. The Sfas Emes asked though that in truth there were only 3,000 people who sinned with the golden calf. The population of the Jewish People was 600,000 (men) so the vast majority of the people did not sin with the golden calf. If this is so, then why did the Leviim in fact merit their elevated level?

The Sfas Emes explains that after the sin of the golden calf, Moshe Rabbenu asked the Jewish People "who is for Hashem" and it was the tribe of Levi which stepped forward.

The rest of the Jewish People thought that there was no way to recover and attain their previous spiritual level after the grave sin of the golden calf. It was the Tribe of Levi though that didn't give up. They realized that even though the nation stumbled in sin, they needed to pick themselves up and carry on.

It was this due to their reaction to the sin of the golden calf for which they were awarded and attained their greatness.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath