Monday, Shevat 19, 5784 / January 29, 2024
The Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is in this week’s Parsha, Yitro.
Yitro was Moshe’s father-in-law who lived in Midyan. Upon hearing of the miracles which G-d performed for the Jewish people, he left the comfort of his home and went to join the Jewish people in the desert. He converted to Judaism, then returned home to convert the other members of his family.
In the Parsha, before Giving the Torah, G-d gave Moshe special instruction for the Jewish people. He told Moshe: "This is what you shall say to the House of Jacob ("Beit Yaakov") and tell the sons of Israel ("Bnei Yisrael"); 'You saw what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on wings of eagles and brought you to Me. And now if you listen diligently to My voice and preserve My covenant; you shall be My special treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests (Kohanim) and a holy nation."
Q. Why does G-d use two expressions: House of Jacob and sons of Israel? Are they not the same?
A. “House of Jacob” refers to the women and "Sons of Israel" refers to the men. G-d told Moshe to prepare everyone for the Giving of the Torah. However, He told Moshe to speak to the women first.
Q. Why did G-d want the women to hear the message first?
A. The Midrash explains it as follows: "G-d said, 'When I created Adam and Eve (Chava) and commanded not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, I gave the commandment to Adam, and Eve heard it from him. In the end, this commandment was transgressed. Now I will tell Moshe to speak to the women first. This way, the Torah and mitzvot will be preserved!"
Q. Why are the women called, “House of Jacob?”
A. The women are the foundation of the home. The survival of the Jewish nation and the transmission of Jewish values throughout the generations depended more on Jewish women and mothers, than on the men. The mother’s influence in the home and on her children is more effective and guarantees Jewish continuity.
Q. On which day of the week did G-d give the Torah?
A. On Shabbat. At the end of the story of the creation of the universe, the Torah states, "And G-d finished on the seventh daythe work which He did." (Genesis 2:1-2). The Rabbis ask, "How can the Torah say that G-d finished on the seventh day? We know that He restedon the seventh day!"
They answer that it also refers to the seventh day, the Shabbat, in which G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people. On that seventh day- the day when G-d gave the Torah - the universe was given its purpose and considered finished and complete!
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY