| Today is: Friday, Tammuz 16, 5772 · July 6, 2012
• Golden Calf Made; Hur Killed (1313 BCE)
In the year 2448 from Creation (1313 BCE), Tammuz 16 was the 40th day following the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the people of Israel wrongly expected Moses' return from the mountain (he would actually return on the following day). When their leader failed to return, they demanded from Aaron: "Make us a god that shall go before us". Hur (Moses' nephew, the son of Miriam and Caleb) tried to stop them and was killed by the mob. Aaron fashioned a calf of molten gold. Links:
The Making of the Golden Calf (text of Exodus 32 with Rashi's commentary)
An anthology of Midrashim and Commentaries on the making of the Calf
The Day Before (on the deeper significance of Tammuz 16, from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)
More on the Golden calf
See also "Today in Jewish History" for tomorrow, Tammuz 17.
It is better to be on the outside looking in, than on the inside looking out
- Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, quoting his teacher, the chassid Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel Sheftel
Chitas and Rambam for today: | 
Audio: 
