B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 16, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 7, 2023

This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the Parsha of the Giving of the Torah.

Jews acquired their physicalfreedom, after 210 years in Egypt, when they crossed the sea and saw the Egyptians drown in the sea. However, their true freedom – their spiritual freedom they acquired only when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Torah gives us purpose and direction in life and without it one is not considered truly free.

Our sages say, “True freedom is only when one studies and abides by the laws of the Torah.”

The Giving of the Torah took place over 3000 years ago. However, the Torah commands us that we must not view the Torah and mitzvot as something ancient, of which one becomes tired after a while. Torah should be viewed as if G-d gives it to us each day anew. It should be cherished and studied as if it was given to us on this very day.

The Torah was given at Mount Sinai, which is a small mountainin the Sinai desert. The day of the week in which the Torah was given was on Shabbat.

Q.Why didn’t G-d wait and give the Torah in the Land of Israel? Why in a desert?

A.The Land of Israel was divided among twelve Tribes. Had G-d given the Torah in Israel it would have to be on the land of one of the tribes. In that case, all others wouldn’t feel that they too have an equal share in the Torah, as the tribe on whose land it was given. G-d wanted every Jew to feel that the Torah belongs to him/her equally. Giving the Torah in the desert shows that the Torah belongs to everyone.  

Q.Why did G-d give the Torah on a small mountain? It would be more befitting to give the Torah from a high and impressive mountain.

A.Our sages say that G-d chose a small mountain to teach us that the Torah is within everyone’s grasp. It also teaches us that in order to properly receive the Torah one has to be humble.

The Torah was given on Shabbat to teach us that, although we have to rest on Shabbat, we must never rest from studying Torah. One must study Torah every day of the week, especially on Shabbat.

Q.Why do we read from the Torah on Monday and Thursday, in addition to reading it on Shabbat?

A.  Our sages instituted this so that three days should not pass without Torah. The reason these two days were chosen is because Monday and Thursday used to be market days, when people from the villages and farms would come to the market in the city to sell their produce. Many of the villages didn’t have a minyan or one who can read from the Torah. Being that on these two days they would come to the big city, these days were the most practical ones in which Jews, living in small communities, could attend synagogue while in the city and hear the Torah reading.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY