Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us that the reason why the Jews did not merit the healing north wind during the wilderness was that they were “censured”. What sin caused that state? Rashi says it was due to the sin of the Golden Calf.  However Tosafos argues and says that they Jews were forgiven for that sin, as it states “I forgive them”, and the Mishkan was constructed and Hashem had the Shekhina dwell there.

Tosafos has a two-pronged objection to Rashi: (1) Hashem forgave them; (2) We have proof for this from the fact that the Shekhina was in the Mishkan.  

However, we can understand Rashi’s point of view as follows.  Forgiveness does not always imply full forgiveness, and apparently the stain of the Golden Calf remained.  But furthermore, we might even say that the Mishkan is proof that they were NOT forgiven.  How so?  Perhaps before the sin of the Golden Calf there was no need for a Mishkan and the Shekhina dwelled throughout the camp.  In any case, we can see that forgiveness and repentence is a process and it is not always realized by a simple, “I forgive you.”

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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