A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Yisro
Achdus, Emunah and Simcha
The raison-d’être of maaseh braisheis and the essential tachlis of Klal Yisrael is defined in parshas Yisro with the experience of Matan Torah. No other event in world history more profoundly impacted the world for eternity. For Klal Yisrael our role as banim laHashem, of being privileged to be designated as an ohr la’amim is nestled in the achdus we shared as we proclaimed na’aseh v’nishmah, K’ish echad b’lev echad. With this expression, the unity of Am Yisrael is linked forever to our acceptance of the responsibilities Hashem Yisborach was placing upon us.
The Midrash Tanchuma elaborates on this idea. He quotes Rebbi Hakadosh, who includes an additional ingredient in the paradigm of Matan Torah. It creates a chut Hamishulash and a message which is so vital it must be explored. “Rebbi omer, bsha’ah she’amdu Yisrael al Har Sinai hishvu kulan lev echad l’kabeil aleihem malchuchus shamayim . . . b’simcha.”
The Achdus of Klal Yisrael at Sinai was not limited to our unity of acceptance of mitzvos. Rather, it was expanded to include the attitude of Simcha. It is simcha which must permeate every aspect of our achdus and avodas Hashem. It is the prerequisite of Matan Torah . These three: simcha, achdus and kabbalas malchus Shamayim are the “chut hamishulash” of our avodas Hashem. The message is that without simcha true unity is impossible; without simcha, emunah is lacking. The declaration of na’asseh v’nishma is dependent on all three— achdus, emunah and simcha. Strengthening each of these aspects of our daily avodah can help reignite the inspiration of Sinai for us each and every day.
Related posts:
