World In Equilibrium

“Moshe received the Torah from Sinai.” (Ethics of Our Fathers – Ch.1 – Tract.1)

Commentators ask why it says, “from Sinai” and not “from G-d”?


Well, the well-known story, which Jewish preschools tend to make into the cutest plays, revolves around the following: When G-d was about to give the Torah to the Jews, many mountains came forward and begged G-d to present the Torah from upon their height, due to their seemingly high qualities. Instead, G-d called them “haughty mountains,” because of their boastfulness. In their place, He chose Sinai, the lowest mountain. In a children’s play, a shy kid would be quietly crouching, looking like a tiny mountain, beautiful and serene, and noticed for her holy ambiance. A low mountain, in contrast to a tall mountain, symbolizes nullification and humility.


Both nullification and humility are vital to receiving the Torah and learning it (each year, as well as every day). Therefore, it (The Ethics of Our Fathers) say, “from Sinai,” with the intention that we remember that receiving the Torah should be “from Sinai” – with nullification and humility.


But if we are meant to have this humility, why was the Torah not given in a valley? Or at least a plain, the lowest of the low?


One might think that it would warrant only humility and low-spirit, while in addition to that behavior, it does not negate the pride and strength that must come along with it. For it says in Shulchan Aruch/Code of Jewish Law, “Do not be embarrassed before scorners.” Therefore, sometimes we need might and strength to stand up against those who try to prevent us from serving G-d properly.


In one vein, our Rabbis say that the intent of Matan Torah/the giving of the Torah, was so that the upper worlds would come down to the lower worlds and the lower worlds would rise to the upper worlds. That way, the two worlds were able to fuse together, to make the physical world G-dly. (This is where we learn the purpose of the world – to create a dwelling place for G-d in this world.)


This is what “the MOUNTAIN of SINAI” symbolized: the ‘mountain’ symbolized the upper worlds, while ‘Sinai’ symbolized the lower worlds = physicality. Matan Torah was when the two were fused together, unified.


From a different aspect, a Jew could think: Where do I have the strength and ability to go in this way of “avodat Hashem,” service of G-d – where the unity of physicality and spirituality is a juxtaposition?


Therefore, the Mishna gives us the answer: “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai” – This strength was already received from Sinai. The mountains had it. Now, we too, ave it. If a mountain, something of the inanimate type, the lowest level of creations, has this awesome power to unite both worlds, how much more so must man, the highest level of creation (as speaker), have the strength and capability to make a “dwelling place for G-d, in our lowly world!”


Mashiach NOW!