G-d directs Moshe to go and descend — for 'your' people that you brought up from Egypt has become corrupt. סרו מהר — They have strayed quickly מן הדרך — from the path I have commanded them, to make a molten calf to worship it.

There seems to be a primary emphasis on their 'quickness' to sin and having strayed from the 'path', with the sinning in worshipping the calf secondary.

When G-d refers to 'your' people becoming corrupt, we are taught it relates to Moshe being rebuked for having advocated to accept the ערב רב — The Mixture of Multitudes, of other nations who sought to enter the ranks of the Jewish nation.

The Holy Zohar teaches that when G-d later states that, "Whoever has sinned against me, אמחנו — I will erase from My book", it refers to the Amalekite infiltrators specifically, about whom the Torah commands תמחה — You shall erase. (ח"א ד'כח:)    

It seems clear from the Zohar that it was Amalek's poisonous influence that catalyzed the sin of the Golden Calf.

Amalek is often depicted throughout the Torah as attacking us while we are on the דרך — path.

Remember what Amalek did to you, בדרך — on the path, when you were leaving Egypt. אשר קרך — That he happened upon you, בדרך — on the path. (דברים כה יז-יח)  

But the word דרך doesn't translate literally as path. It more accurately refers to treading or to trample, stepping forward with intent, as one who is דורך ענבים — trampling grapes in a vat, to intently ooze their liquid out.

In our journey as Jews, every moment of our lives is predestined with a purposed challenge for us to overcome and become greater.

The time and place, and the people we find ourselves amongst, is not happenstance.

Each step must be measured by its purpose and mission. We must leave an imprint on the paths we take upon all who observe us.

Those who walk through life solely to get to a destination ignore the opportunities that await us on each thoughtful step we take.

It can never be rushed. Only when we deliberate and contemplate how to define each step we take through the lens of Torah, are we assured we will not go 'off the derech'!

The last word uttered by Moshe before departing this world תדרך — you will trample [the haughty ones].

We can conquer our physical and spiritual enemies if we tread with purpose.

There is a 'Book of the History of Man' that we are each inscribed in. Within it are all those steps we took and conquered in treading with elevated purpose.

It is our being recorded in this book that will protect us from the Moments of Crisis our people will face before Moshiach.

Our personal challenges and successes in dealing with them are all part of what will contribute to the collective merit of the entire nation.

This is our moment.

באהבה,

צבי יהודה טייכמאן