Photo: Flickr user Digdag88

Parshas Yisro
Royalty!

The revelation at Sinai is the quintessential Chinuch experience. On Har Choreiv, Torah was taught to Klal Yisrael for the very first time. The instructor was none other than Hashem Yisborach Himself. There is much we can learn from Matan Torah in terms of the recipe needed for effective instruction. Examining the “Chinuch paradigm” inherent in the experience of Matan Torah we see that it is filled with structured, relevant, individualized content, powerful audio-visual aids, and unique special effects all of which motivated and inspired the active participation of all the talmidim. What a powerful model for teaching and transmitting our mesorah. However, we must look even more closely at the Sinaitic experience for an important ingredient that is sometimes overlooked in our understanding of Matan Torah. It is so relevant today.

Before presenting the Aseres Hadibros, Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells Moshe Rabbeinu to stress to Klal Yisrael V’atem ti’hiyu li mamleches kohanim v’goy kadosh, “You, Klal Yisrael, are to be My chosen people and holy nation.” Interestingly, this is Klal Yisrael’s introduction to Matan Torah. As Hashem is about to give us His most precious treasure, the very gift which defines us as a people, it is not the sanctity of Torah, Yesodos of Emunah, nor Mitzvos or even Middos that He emphasizes but rather it is attitude.
We are being shown that in order for the Torah to take root, we have to be aware of our potential. We can be a noble, chosen people. Indeed, we need to know who we are and what we can be! Seeing that it sets the tone for Kabbalas HaTorah, transmitting this awareness must become the highest priority in every educational setting. It is important in every classroom, be it the lessons taught at school or those modeled at home.

We all play a vital role in the development of this positive Torah attitude in our children, be it our own offspring or the tinokos shenishbu we encounter and hope to be mikareiv to our Father in heaven. The tone is set by our attitude toward the Chinuch activities that fill our lives daily (just about everything we do!) From “Parsha Time” at the Shabbos table to the alacrity and enthusiasm placed in Talmud Torah and mitzvah observance in our homes or in the public eye, we are the instructors and what we do matters.

Hakadosh Baruch Hu, kiviyachol, showed us a model at Sinai. When we help our children see themselves as a part of dynasty of kohanim we can hope to have the Siyata D’Shamya to rear them into a goy kadosh – a holy nation.

Related posts:

1. Learn With Your Children! | A Guest Post
2. The Triple Threat | A Guest Post
3. Lofty Aspirations | A Guest Post
4. Money: The True Measure of Emunah | A Guest Post
5. Publicizing G-D | A Guest Post

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:

1. Learn With Your Children! | A Guest Post
2. Effective Teaching Tools From Sinai | A Guest Post
3. Borrowing For Success | A Guest Post
4. Finding Happiness in Difficult Times | A Guest Post
5. Money: The True Measure of Emunah | A Guest Post