Hayom Yom 17 Tammuz - Difference between First Tablets and Second Tablets

תַּעֲנִית, סְלִיחוֹת, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּA fast day. The Selichos prayers and Avinu Malkeinu are recited [in the Morning Service].חִלּוּק לוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת וְלוּחוֹת הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹתThe difference between the First Tablets and the Second Tablets can be outlined as follows:בַּלּוּחוֹת עַצְמָןWith regard to the Tablets themselves:הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹקִיםThe First Tablets were fashioned by G‑d;הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת פְּסָל לְךָthe Second Tablets were hewn by Moshe.הַמִּכְתָּבWith regard to the writing on the Tablets:חָרוּת עַל הַלּוּחוֹת שֶׁכִּדְרָשַׁת רַזַ"ל, עֵרוּבִין (נד. א), הוּא רַק בַּלּוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹתThe writing was engraved (charus) on the Tablets. Our Sages comment: [“Do not read the word as charus (‘engraved’), but rather as cheirus (‘freedom’) — freedom from alien subjugation was inscribed on the Tablets”]. This quality applied only to the First Tablets.בְּמַעֲלַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵלWith regard to the spiritual level of the Jewish people:בַּלּוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת צַדִּיקִים, כְּשֶׁעָמְדוּ עַל הַר סִינַי פָּסְקָה זוּהֲמָתָןWhen they were given the First Tablets, they were tzaddikim, for when they stood at Mount Sinai, “their impurity ceased.” בַּשְּׁנִיוֹת בַּעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה[At the giving of] the Second Tablets, they were baalei teshuvah.בְּמַעֲלַת מֹשֶׁהWith regard to the spiritual level of Moshe:בְּמַתַּן תּוֹרָה נִתַּן לְמֹשֶׁה אֶלֶף אוֹרוֹת בְּמַתָּנָהAt the Giving of the Torah, Moshe received a gift of a thousand spiritual lights. וּבְחֵטְא הָעֵגֶל נִטְּלוּ מִמֶּנּוּThey were taken from him at the Sin of the Golden Calf,וְלֹא חָזְרוּ בְּלוּחוֹת שְׁנִיּוֹתand were not returned to him when the Second Tablets were given.(רַק בְּשַׁבָּת נוֹתְנִים לוֹ כִּדְאִיתָא בִּפְרִי עֵץ חַיִּים)(He receives them only on Shabbos, as stated in Pri Etz Chayim.)מַעֲלַת לוּחוֹת הַשְּׁנִיּוֹתThe Second Tablets were superiorשֶׁנִּתַּן גַם כֵּן הֲלָכוֹת מִדְרָשׁ אֲגָדוֹת כו', כִּפְלַיִם לְתוּשִׁיָּה כִּדְאִיתָא בִּנְדָרִים (כב. ב)in that (a) they were given together with laws, Midrash, and Aggados — “a double measure [of the secrets of Divine wisdom],”1[as stated in Shmos Rabbah 46:1],וְקִרוּן עוֹר פְּנֵי מֹשֶׁהand (b) Moshe’s face became radiant.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]