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Why does the Baal HaTurim connect Moshe's shining face to Parshas Vayakhel? The shiur explains that a person's face genuinely looks different on Shabbos (שבת)—not through metaphysical intervention, but because inner emotional state physically transforms appearance. The proof comes from understanding how Esther could be both beautiful and "green"—her year of anguish before meeting Achashveirosh literally changed how she looked.
Rabbi Zweig explores a fascinating Baal HaTurim that juxtaposes "Ki Karan Or Panav" (Moshe's shining face) from the end of Parshas Ki Sisa with the beginning of Parshas Vayakhel. The Baal HaTurim states that a person's face shines differently on Shabbos (שבת) than during the rest of the week. Rather than understanding this as some metaphysical phenomenon where Hashem (ה׳) directly changes people's appearance, Rabbi Zweig proposes a profound psychological and physical explanation. The key to understanding this concept comes from resolving an apparent contradiction in Megillas Esther. The Gemara (גמרא) in Megillah states that Esther was ugly—she was "yerek rokel" (green). Yet the pesukim explicitly describe her as "yefas toar u'tovas mareh" (beautiful of form and good of appearance), using the same language used to describe Rochel Imeinu and Rivka Imeinu. How can Chazal seemingly ignore the clear words of the pasuk?
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Parshas Vayakhel; Ki Sisa (Shemos 34:29-35)
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