How can a limited mortal relate to an unlimited G‑d? Mankind has pondered this question for centuries. If He is G‑d, He is, by definition, infinite and unbounded, and thus above our comprehension. How then can we establish a connection to Him?
The Torah contains teachings that brings G‑d within reach of our understanding, for He has invested Himself in the Torah and its laws. When a person studies a law from the Talmud, what he is in effect doing is understanding G‑d’s essence. That infinite dimension which no mortal can grasp has been concentrated within the Torah’s teachings.
To hint at the ongoing dimension of G‑d’s revelation at Sinai, our Sages stated: “G‑d’s voice did not have an echo.” Instead of rebounding, G‑d’s voice permeated the material substance of the world. From that moment onward, “The Torah is not in the heavens,” but part and parcel of the environment in which we live.
This revelation is complemented by the mitzvos which gives us guidelines with which we can conduct our lives in a G‑dly manner and relate our actions to Him. This in fact is the source of the word mitzvah which relates to the Aramaic word tzavsa meaning “connection.” The Torah gives us an opportunity to relate to G‑d through our minds. Through the mitzvos, not only our feelings and our thoughts, but also our deeds can be brought into connection with Him.
In this manner, the revelation at Sinai becomes not only a story of history, but an event which has immediate relevance to our lives today. For this reason, in the blessings we recite each day before Torah study, we refer to G‑d as “the Giver of the Torah,” using a present tense form. And the present leads to the future, when we will witness the culmination of the process begun at Sinai with the coming of Mashiach.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Mendel & Elke Zaltzman
Directors
Shabbos Times
Friday, February 10 Candle Lighting: 5:07pm
Evening service: 5:10pm
Saturday, February 11 Morning service: 10:00am
Kiddush Brunch: 12:00pm Evening service: 5:10pm
Shabbos ends: 6:08pm
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Avrohom and Esther Shevchuk
in honor of Avrohom's Birthday
Mazal Tov!
Daily Minyan Times
February 12- February 17
Sunday Morning: 8:00am
Monday- Friday Morning: 7:00am
Sunday- Thursday Evening: 5:20pm
A BISSELE HUMOR
The story is told of a famous child psychologist who spent many hours constructing a new driveway at his home. Just after he smoothed the surface of the freshly poured concrete, his small children chased a ball across the driveway, leaving deep footprints. The man yelled after them with a torrent of angry words. His shocked wife said, "You're a psychologist who's supposed to love children."
The fuming man shouted, "I love children in the abstract, not in the concrete!"
WEEKLY eTORAH
Seven weeks after the Exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel stood at Mount Sinai. They were told there would be a great Revelation; the Almighty would descend and give them His holy Torah and the Jewish way of life.
But before they could receive the Torah, they required shloshet yemei hagbalah, “three days of separation,”—a period of physical and spiritual purification. After all, it’s not every day that the Almighty Himself comes calling!
Every spiritual occasion requires preparation. Before we pray, we wash our hands. Before reciting the Shema, we cover our eyes to focus our minds and hearts on this moment of meditation. Before the silent devotion of the Amidah, we take three steps backwards. Before we perform most mitzvahs, we recite a blessing.
In fact, one of the only mitzvahs I can think of that does not require a blessing is giving tzedakah, charity, lest one get carried away with spiritual preparations that delay helping the person in need.
Likewise, in life. A wedding only takes a few hours but involves months of preparation. The excitement is mostly in the time preceding the actual simcha. Planning, making all the arrangements, deciding on everything from a venue to a menu … it’s all part of the fun.
Delivering a baby takes a few hours, but the process of childbirth began nine months earlier.
Essentially, every important life occasion involves preparation which becomes part of the experience itself. Without it, we would miss out on most of the anticipation, excitement, the adrenalin, and all the fun. The preparation is not only a prelude to the event but part and parcel of the actual experience. Without it, we would miss out on so much of the excitement.
So when it came to receiving the Torah from G‑d at Mount Sinai, the 49 days of preparation, and particularly those three days of intense purification, were absolutely necessary.
And so it is in our own lives.
Whether it is Shabbat, a blessing, a mitzvah, or a joyous celebration, let’s make an effort and be prepared!
-adapted from www.chabad.org
