Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Miller's Musings for Shavuos: Just Accept It!


בס''ד

                                                                      



We are all well aware that the Jewish people’s proclamation “we will do and we will listen” is not in fact the whole picture and in truth a mountain was held threateningly above our heads as a means to ensure our acceptance of the Torah.  Without even trying to understand how an intimidation of this kind could lead to any legal obligation on our part, the first question must be why it was necessary?  From the very start of creation, Odom was given no choice about agreeing to a commandment not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.  The other nations of the world had no say in their requirement to abide by the seven Noachide Laws.   So why was Hashem so adamant that the Jewish people should accept upon themselves the Torah, even to the point of seemingly forcing them to do so? Why not just command that it be so?



The human mind is incredibly sensitive to even the most subtle of nuances in the manner in which we do things and the decisions that we take.  Seemingly with this in mind, the Birchas Avrohom points out, that there is a tremendous difference to something being done simply as a directive of a king, to something done after an acceptance of that command, even when the person was left with little choice but to agree to it.  Once a person has taken it upon themselves to do something, there is an added layer of obligation and compulsion to fulfil one’s commitment, despite being forced to consent initially.  This degree of devotion to the Torah was what Hashem desired from His people.



Whatever level of religiosity we are currently practicing there will be some requirements of the Torah that we find challenging.  This is the nature of our existence in this world and it is the way that it is meant to be.  Were there not a struggle for us to overcome, there would in fact be no point in our creation.  Shavuos is the time when each year the potential for acceptance of the Torah for each of us individually is there waiting to be actualised.  We can just sit passively by and let it wash over us and the Torah will once again be granted to the Jewish people.  But instead if we can take time to consider the power, beauty and infinite value of what Hashem chose to confer upon us, then perhaps we can wholeheartedly accept anew the responsibility it contains, giving us greater reserves of energy to fulfil all it requires of us, no matter what the test, to the best of our ability, with everything that we are.   



*May our acceptance on Shavuos fortify, invigorate and inspire us*

                                                                                                                            

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם



לרפואה שלימה:  שרה יעל בת ברכה אסתר


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