The Day that Nothing Happened
Sometimes Doing Nothing can be the Most Strenuous Activity of All -- Exploring the Essence of Torah
Rabbi YY Jacobson
2036 צפיות- May 10, 2010
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- 26 Iyyar 5770
Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein in the loving memory of Alta Shula Swerdlov Rabbi Gavriel Noach and Rivki Holtzberg and all of the Mumbai Kedoshim
סיכום השיעור:
"The 19th chapter of Exodus describes the final week of preparation for the reception of the Torah at Sinai. By analyzing the Torah's account, the Talmud pieces together the following chronicle of events for these six days, the 1st through the 6th of Sivan:"
"Sivan 1: The day we arrived at Sinai: “Moses did not say anything at all to the Jewish people, since they were weary from the journey.” "
"Sivan 2:At dawn, Moses ascends Mount Sinai. He brings back the following message from G-d: “You have
seen what I have done to Egypt, and how I bore you upon the wings of eagles and brought you to Myself.
Now, if you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My chosen treasure from among all the
nations, for all the earth is Mine. You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” With these
words, G-d expressed His desire that we become His “chosen people.” The day is accordingly marked in our calendar as Yom HaMeyuchas, “The Day of Designation.”"
"Sivan 3: G-d commands Moses to fence in the mountain, marking the boundaries where everyone is to stand
when G-d reveals Himself upon the mountain and gives them the Torah. Moses may approach closer than Aaron, who may approach closer than the kohanim (priests), who may approach closer than the rest of the nation. "
"Sivan 4: The Jewish people are told to purify and sanctify themselves by suspending marital relations and
immersing in a mikveh, a ritual bath.
Sivan 5: Moses builds an altar at the foot of the mountain and seals the covenant between G-d and Israel. The entire people proclaim, “All that G-d commands, we shall do and we shall hear (comprehend).” "
"Sivan 6: The Giving of the Torah: “When morning came, there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud
upon the mountain... The voice of the shofar sounded, growing stronger and stronger... G-d descended upon Mount Sinai ... and spoke the following words, saying: ‘I Am G-d your G-d, who has taken you out of the land of Egypt…’” "
"But there is something strange: From the moment that Moses brought them word of the promised
redemption, the Jewish people awaited the revelation at Sinai. From the day they left Egypt, the Jews literally
counted the days to the morning on which they would behold the reality of G-d and be granted the liberating truth of truths. In light of this, the events—or rather, the non-event—of the 1st of Sivan is most difficult to understand"
"This was the day on which “Moses did not say anything at all to the Jewish people, since they
were weary from the journey.” But human nature is such that the closer one comes to an anticipated point in
time, the stronger one’s yearning and desire becomes. Why, after six weeks of anticipation and preparation
for the great day, would everything screech to a halt merely because the Jewish people were “weary from the journey”? Why would they not do “anything at all” in preparation for their receiving of the Torah, on the very day on which they arrived at Mount Sinai?"
"This class will take us on a journey onto the essence and meaning of Torah. What exactly occurred at Sinai?
Why is the study of Torah considered the highest ideal? Then we can discover how the silence on the first day of Sivan actually constituted the deepest preparation for Sinai. It was the silencing of the Jewish mind to absorb the gift of infinity."
אנא השאירו את תגובתכם למטה!
Chaya daughter of Renee -11 שנים לִפנֵי
Jewish Mission Statement
Never buy retail.
השיבו לתגובה זו.סמן את התגובה הזו.
carmela -11 שנים לִפנֵי
terrible and cruel article?
B''H
the dark picture drawn in the top comment above, just proves that we need to sacrifice a lamb not only in the morning,when everything shines brightly.demonstrates that we have to come close to G-D also at the darkest times, in the evening (in Hebrew Sacrifice is KORBAN .the word derives from KAROV which means close).the sacrifices we make in life for ideals or for other people, bring us closer to them !!!
in Psalms King David says: LEHAGID BABOKER CHASDECHA EMUNATECHA BALEILOT :
to praise Your goodness, your virtues in the morning, when our life is good .recognizing all is from Him.But also be a believer in the nights, when it is dark,cold, lonely, dangerous!!! do not lose your faith. your relationship with G-D is unconditional, not subjected to any situation,'' good or bad''. He is always there even when it is you who don't feel His presence!!!
the daily sacrifice reminds us constantly our humility and gratefulness to G-D. our deeds convey our unbreakable spiritual connection with Him. when we have it good (morning sacrifice) we are to remember it is from Him that we have it so good. when we have it bad (evening sacrifice) we are to remember we are not alone in the dark !!! the two sacrifices also remind us that what happens between the time from one sacrifice to the other, that too is from Him.
stay when it shines, stay when it rains.stay regardless what the circumstances are !really be there !!!
in the daily wearout,for better for worse.totallt committed. not interested according to your mood. but committed. fully committed.
השיבו לתגובה זו.סמן את התגובה הזו.
Eliyahu -11 שנים לִפנֵי
A deeper look perhaps reverse matters a bit
Might I suggest that on careful analysis, the three prior opinions of the essence of the Jewish mission do not correspond to the properties of the vehicle, but rather its crucial cargo that must be safely carried to the end of history -- which may well be now. As such, Judaism becomes, as it were, a physical vehicle instituted for transportation. And as such, it must be consistent and reliable, until its destination when the Jewish nation, as Israel, must indeed, truly carry out its mission. [During the week, the Beadle is indeed more important than the Rav. But on Shabbos, the Rav finally comes to his proper place in the foreground.]
1 - Man was made in G-d's image -- We are obligated in Imatateo Deo.
2 - Know that G-d is One/Unity -- The supreme goal -- Unity. [The Talmud relates that "a Roman matron" asked, what does G-d do since creation (is -- "I AM" -- existence -- source of the creation of the Universe, and Israel...). Replied the sage, he does match-making (Unity).]
3 - "Love your fellow as yourself" -- Bingo! (to paraphrase Rabbi Akiva on this (THE essence of positive mitzvah, bestowal) -- but of course Hillel, "What is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow" (THE essence of prohibitive mitzvah, selfishness)). In sum, the right draws in more powerfully, but the left pushes away -- Unity that bonds toward the purpose of Creation, but not that negates (destroying Creation).
And so our true mission -- Unity -- mutual guarantee and responsibility. This not out of fear of a common threat (a love for a reason leaves when the reason does), but rather independent of any other cause. That Unity at Mount Sinai gain us the Light of Torah, and will make us once again the Ohr HaGoyim (Light unto the Nations) -- changing the darkness of antisemitism into the pinnacle of love between Israel and the nations, as teacher and students, as husband and wife, Light and Vessel.
Thus will Adam be again in G-d's image...
So it is that the framework of Judaism in its simple sense of corporeal perception -- maintenance of the tradition -- is the most crucial until the end of history. It is the Halacha. Similarly, "These and these are the words of the Living G-d, but the law is according to Hillel." That is, until the Messianic Age when the Halacha will be according to Shamai. Today is gestation in an unbroken chain of 9 months, tomorrow is birth...or is it today?
The Rebbe taught that the time of Moshiach has arrived. Is it not our duty, in unity, to open up the car door -- spreading our fingers as a nation of Cohanim should -- and bring forth the Light of Moshiach though that Unity and unto the nations?
The nations struggle desparately with globalization. It requires mutual guarantee too, as globalization's interdependence and mutual responsibility is upon all Humanity. But individual humans are trapped in their own ego, the connections thus grinding in chaos rather than being smoothly made. Unlike the Babylon of Avraham Avinu's days, there is not longer any place to run for people who cannot talk to each other -- who do not sense each other's heart.
Judaism has brought us with Avraham's message and method intact to this time. Now, upon that base, at a higher level, we must truly begin carrying it out -- for this is why the Jewish nation was created ...
השיבו לתגובה זו.סמן את התגובה הזו.
michael -13 שנים לִפנֵי
picture
can you please leave the pictures up without the "arrow" icon in the middle- they are beautiful pictures that i like to file along with the shiur- but the arrow takes away from the picture
השיבו לתגובה זו.סמן את התגובה הזו.
Dovid -14 שנים לִפנֵי
Maharal's birth year
If I am not mistaken, the birth of the Maharal was in 1512. He lived approximately 97 years. Thank you. Keep up and increase the good work.
השיבו לתגובה זו.סמן את התגובה הזו.