After the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe Rabbenu succeeded in convincing G-d to give the Jewish People a second chance by giving us a second set of Luchot (Tablets). What happened to the first set of Luchot that Moshe smashed to pieces? The Talmud Bavli tells us that Moshe collected all of the broken pieces of the first Luchot and placed them underneath the new Luchot in the Holy Ark. However, the Talmud Yersuhalmi teaches that the broken Luchot were kept in a separate Holy Ark and were taken to the battlefront whenever the IDF engaged in a war against our enemies.

Why was it necessary to keep the broken Luchot? Wasn't it embarrassing to perpetuate the symbol of the awful episode of the Golden Calf? However, this is exactly the point. By keeping the broken Luchot prominently on hand we were reminded not to repeat the sins that brought about the tragedy of Moshe's breaking the Luchot. This is what King David meant, "My sin stands in front of me constantly" (Tehillim 51:5).

This idea is also expressed by the Zohar that explains why the Tefillin shel Rosh has calf's hair sticking out of it, to remind us of the sin of the Golden Calf.

Breaking the Luchot was the most courageous act of Moshe's life. He took the most holy and miraculous object on earth, crafted by G-d's own Hands as it were, and smashed it to pieces. He realized that this was necessary to protect and save the Jewish People from destruction. His act shocked the sinners and inspired them to remorse and shame which is the first step of Teshuva. In fact, according to the Zohar, the word Shuva, repentance, (Shin-Vav-Beis-Heh), rearranged spells the word Busha (Beis-Vav-Shin-Heh), shame.

By breaking the Sapphire Stone Luchot Moshe repaired the fractured souls of the Jewish People. G-d thanked  Moshe for this courageous act and praised him, calling this deed Moshe's "mighty hand…in full view of all of Israel" (Devarim 34:12).

The broken Luchot accompanied the IDF soldiers to the front line whenever they went to battle. These broken Luchot represented our recognition that we are frail and fragile and totally dependent on G-d's mercy and compassion.

Through these broken Luchot the IDF and the entire Jewish People demonstrated that the Torah is our first line of defense against every enemy and threat. They are our banner call, "Never again will the Luchot be broken."