War was unnecessary

Hi,

"Were it not for the sin of the Golden Calf, the inhabitants of the Land of Israel would have been reconciled with the People of Israel, for the name of Gd called upon them would have aroused awe. No war would have been necessary, and the [Divine] influence would have proceeded peacefully as in the Days of Messiah."

(Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Orot mei'Ofel: HaMilchamah 4, Naor translation)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Why did Moshe break the tablets?

Hi,

"On what basis did Moshe conclude that he should break the Tablets [when he saw the Jews worshipping with the Golden Calf]?

"He said: The Pesach offering is only one of 613 mitzvot, and yet the Torah says, 'No idolater may eat from it,' here I am holding the entire Torah and the Jews are rebelling against Gd, how much more so!"

(Talmud, Yevamot 62a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Gd preventing, or permitting, sin

Hi,

A passage with enormous ramifications regarding Free Will, as well as Repentance:

"The generation of Jews in the desert were so elevated that Gd would have protected them from having the opportunity to sin with the Golden Calf, but Gd allowed it to happen in order to teach future generations about the power of repentance."

(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 4b as explained by "Maharsha")

Have a great day,
Mordechai