KabbalaOnline.org "Why G-d Came Down" [Yitro 5783]

ASCENT OF SAFED, P. O. BOX 296, SAFED 13102, email: director@ascentofsafed.com

The week of YITRO 5783

The learning from this Torah teaching is dedicated in loving memory and to the merit of

MIRIAM bat MARJORIE ע"ה

RACHAMIM ben ELVIRA ז"ל

May their souls have a great elevation above and continue to be faithful advocates for

DAVID CICUREL & family שי'

There are a few archetypal events in the Torah that have an undeniable correspondence to every aspect of our lives. The Creation of the World is one, the Exodus from Egypt to become G-d’s servants is another. Perhaps the most important of all is the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which we learn about in this week’s Torah portion, Yitro. This was a revelation of the Divine that was experienced by everyone. It was then that the Jewish people received their eternal marching orders that are contained in the Torah and its commandments.

The above notwithstanding, when we look at the discussions of the ancient sages in the Jewish oral tradition (Talmud. Kidushin 82a, Yoma 28b), we find that in fact the Torah and its commandments did not originate at Mount Sinai. Earlier generations, beginning with our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya’akov, studied Torah and fulfilled the commandments. If so, what is the big deal about the Mount Sinai experience?

The Midrash (another part of the Jewish oral tradition) explains with an analogy (Shemot Rabah 12:3). The king of the Roman Empire made a decree. The people of Rome are forbidden to descend to Syria. The people of Syria are forbidden to go up to Rome. After a time, the decree was nullified and the king himself announced, “I’m first!”

So it was before the Giving of the Torah. “The heavens are for G-d and the land was given to the children of Adam” (Tehillim/Psalms 115:16). There was a separation between heaven and earth. Only at the giving of the Torah was this “decree” nullified and heaven and earth became connected by G-d Himself. As the verse says “…and G-d descended on Mount Sinai” (Shemot 19:20).

In general, Heaven signifies spirituality and divinity. Land refers to physicality and materiality. Before the Torah was given, it was not possible to connect physical and spiritual. It was an abyss impossible to bridge. This is what was so special about the experience at Mount Sinai. The disconnect was abolished. From then on it was possible to connect gross materiality with G-d and the light and power He emanates.

When we take animal skin, something most certainly physical, make a piece of parchment, and write a mezuzah on it or a Torah scroll, this part of the animal becomes something divine. A connection is forged between the Torah writings and the physical parchment until the parchment itself is transformed into something holy.

The same happens when a Jewish man puts tefillוn (phylacteries) on his arm and head. He imbues his body with Divine light. When we eat meat and fish in honor of Shabbat, we elevate the animal flesh from something physical to something sanctified. This is the power that was given to us at Mount Sinai - to infuse Divinity and holiness into the physical world.

Our forefathers, even though they observed the commandments, did not have this ability. For them the commandments were solely something spiritual, a soul action. They were able to connect to G-d only with their intellect, their emotions, and their other soul powers. When they would do a commandment their body would be surrounded by Divine energy. But when they stopped the action, that energy would immediately dissipate. They were not able to transform themselves or the physical world into something shining with holiness. This power was only given at the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Let us be clear. Before the Giving of the Torah, or to a person without Torah, physicality was a total contradiction to spirituality. A person who wanted to access spirituality had to divorce themselves from the material. They had to distance themselves from eating, drinking, and other physical activities, wherever and whenever possible. Then they might get a glimpse of the spiritual.

However, the Sinai experience changed that. G-d graced us with the ability to attach ourselves to Him while living a full physical life. We can serve G-d by eating and drinking, through our work, even with the most mundane common physical speech, as long as what we are doing is for G-d’s sake, to make our lives and the world around us a more spiritual place. Physicality is no longer an impediment to holiness since we can transform the physical into true holiness.

This is our challenge and mission every minute we are in this world, to light up the world with the light of Torah and to make the world into a dwelling place for G-d. An army with a mission is incomparably more powerful than an army without.

[Adapted from Shulchan Shabbat, parshat Yitro]

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The Gerer Rebbe, author of Lev Simcha [A Joyful Heart], would remind his followers at every opportunity of the need to devote themselves completely to learning Torah. Once Torah scholar came to speak with him. The Rebbe asked if he had set times for Torah study.

"Of course," the student replied, "I participate in all the classes that take place in our shtibel [community synagogue]."

"I don't mean the lessons at the shtibel," the Rebbe replied. "I mean regular times for Torah at home as well. That the children should see their father sitting and studying Torah"

[Sichat HaShavua #1466]

Shabbat Shalom , Shaul.

A special date! The Ascent family remembers with gratitude the date this week (Thursday 18 Shevat/Shabbat parshat Yitro] that the co-founders (Rabbi Shaul Leiter, Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles and Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky) received a supportive letter of blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe for the future of Ascent’s programs.

As a member of the Ascent community, the Rebbe’s words are also relevant to YOU! (See this translation):

AVRAHAM AND SARA ACCORDING TO KABBALAH

Rabbi Shaul Leiter’s class on

the teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov

from Keter Shem Tov

Monday, February 13, 2023

Israel 8PM/ UK 6PM/ NY 1PM/ LA 10AM

Please use the following link:

https://ascent-co-il.zoom.us/j/81906073996?pwd=ZUk4SlR6N1kvUldIUUh0WTB1VVNUQT09

Meeting ID: 819 0607 3996

Passcode: 068582

Find your local number: https://ascent-co-il.zoom.us/u/kd1BQirK3D

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