Ki Sisa

There is actually a Yiddish expression: mit die Ki Sisa which means something like an action that has bad consequences undertaken with vigor and passion. This misguided passion is a deeper Jewish quality than is commonly appreciated.

The creation of the Eigel was an act of misguided passion and,a s such a warning against future actions of that sort. Just as the consumption of the fruit of knowledge is a warning against ...stealing knowledge? or having an opinion?.

According to the Rambam, the Eigel is the motivation for the sacrificial rite.

The Eigel experience is the central, redemptive theme of the Torah.

Is the message that one should not question authority?

No, the story deals with the reaction to the absence of authority. The, eigel, the monolith is the wrong the wrong way. Tolerance fro diversity and preservation of the core qualities of mercy, modesty and kindness (The Jewish nation is distinguished by three characteristics; they are merciful, they are modest, and they perform acts of loving-kindness.” Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 79a)

We live in the Moshe-free, eigel world. We deal with the choice between a default existence of constant uncertainty and setting up a false gd, an eigel to go before us, to which we knowingly misattribute our salvation.