B"H

Friday, Shevat 19, 5779 / January 25, 2019

In this week’s Parsha, Yitro, we read about the giving of the Torah. 

The giving of the Torah was the greatest event in our history.  The miracles in Egypt, the Exodus, the splitting of the sea and the Manna from heaven were all for the purpose of giving the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

Although the Giving of the Torah took place 3331 years ago and was a one-time event, yet, G-d commanded us to remember it each day. For is a spiritual sense, the Giving of the Torah is every day of our lives; as our sages tell us, "Each day the Torah shall be in your eyes as new!"

In the blessing we recite when called to the Torah in which we bless G-d for giving us the Torah we say, “Noten Hatorah” - not in the past, but for giving us the Torah in the present.

The Parsha describes how the Jewish people prepared to receive the Torah as follows: "In the third month of the departure of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on that day, they came to the desert of Sinai… And He [Israel] camped there opposite the mountain."

Q.Why does the Torah first refer to the Jewish nation encamping at Mount Sinai, in the singular, "And he [Israel] camped there opposite the mountain?"

A.   According to our sages, when the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah there was great unity among them, as never before; "they were as one person with one heart."  This is why  the Torah uses the singular ("he") to describe the entire congregation.

Q.  How did camping at Mount Sinai cause them to be united as one?

A.  The answer can be found when we understand why G-d chose to give the Torah on Mount Sinai, which was a small mountain, rather than on a taller and distinguished mountain? Our sages reply that G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people that Torah is acquired and internalized only through humility.

This is also why the Torah is compared to water.  Just as water will always flow to the lower level, so too, Torah connects with those who are humble.

Strife and intolerance among people is caused by selfishness and haughtiness. When the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai and realized why this mountain was chosen for the giving of the Torah, they too practiced humility!  Humility is the key to unity!

The Rabbi of Koshnitz would say, "If all of Israel would join hands together in unity they would blend into one big hand which would reach all the way to the Heavenly Throne!"

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 4:32 / Shabbat ends: 5:30