Nasso/Shavuot

  by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

  Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

 

How is it possible to force the acceptance of Torah?

The Gemara (Shabbat 98a) says that Hashem forced the acceptance of Torah on the Jewish nation, but the strange thing is that the simple explanation is actually the opposite. The Jewish nation first said, “Naaseh V’Nishma”, so if that’s the case, why was the force necessary?

The Maharal gives two answers (he actually has additional suggestions):

1.       The Torah wants to illustrate that fulfilling the Torah is not voluntary, it is an obligation.

2.       The Torah is the necessary completion to the world. If it wasn’t for the Torah, the world would not be sustainable.  Therefore, something that is necessary for the world must appear in the world as necessary, and not out of a voluntary acceptance.

One can understand from the Maharal why force was necessary even though the Jewish nation accepted the Torah willingly.  Another explanation between the Torah and the words of the sages regarding force, is the Meshech Hochma who writes beautifully:

It teaches that G-d held the mountain above them. The explanation is that this showed them the glory of G-d in a wonderful revelation to the point where their natural freedom of choice was nullified and their souls left by reaching the glory of G-d, and they were forced like angels without any distinction, and saw that all of creation is dependant only on accepting the Torah.

According to the Meshech Chochma, it was not actually forced. It was such a huge revelation that there was no room to NOT accept the Torah. When the revelation is so clear, when the glory of G-d is so apparent and revealed before man’s eyes, accepting Torah turns into a necessary thing that is simply unavoidable. Therefore, what we read before is correct: the Jewish nation wanted to accept the Torah. However, the will stemmed from the simple reality of discovering the glory of G-d; this is a reality that is in itself is forced to accept voluntarily!

We too should stop every now and then, and look at the amazing things that G-d does with us, look at the incredible miracles that we’ve merited in our generation; the establishment of the State of Israel, the liberation of Jerusalem, and look at all of the good that G-d has bestowed upon us at each and every minute. We should sense the glory of G-d in the world, certainly throughout the rest of the year, but especially, when we listen to the Torah reading of Matan Torah – giving of the Torah – on Shavuot.

Reflecting upon the sense of elevation and closeness to G-d, will certainly bring us to a powerful passion to do the will of G-d in the world.