SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Parashat Yitro
Torah Reading: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 (some chumashim use different verse numberings)
Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6, 9:5-6 (Ashkenazim); Isaiah 6:1-13 (Sephardim)
Shevat 20, 5782 / January 21-22, 2022

This d'var torah is offered in gratitude for the safe deliverance of Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and the community of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my aunt, Shirley Schack, whose yahrzeit falls on Thursday, January 27. Y'hi zekherah liv'rakhah - Her memory is a blessing.
 
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.

Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On January 25, we'll be at page 1 (my pagination) of Chapter 3 of Berakhot - "Tanya lo y'halekh adam b'veit hakivrot..." - "We are taught that, a man should not walk in a cemetery...” The reading may be found at: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpQwHh2XyWT9XYQ5OAjwxDbuVpXbzIDY/view?usp=sharing

 
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 

Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", available this week at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PmJlERizet0JC3xAoj0r_8t-OypHm4hq/view 
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source
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SAME AS IT EVER WAS

"In the third month, when the Children of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day they came to the wilderness of Sinai." Exodus 19:1

Rashi: "What is the meaning of 'the same day'? That the words of the Torah should be as fresh to you as if they had been given today."

We learn in the Zohar that when reciting Shirat Hayam (the Song at the Sea), which is read from the Torah on Parashat Beshalach (we read it last week) and on the seventh day of Passover, and in the siddur every morning, that we should rise and sing it with great joy, as if we ourselves were standing at the shore, witnessing the great miracle. Similarly, when Aseret Hadibrot (The Ten Statements [aka Commandments]) are read from the Torah, as we will this Shabbat, we rise and listen with great intensity, as if standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai, hearing them for the very first time.

Israelites at Mount Sinai, Gerard Hoet, 1728

This is explained in Miginzeinu Ha'atik (“From Our Ancient Genizahs”, quoted in Itturei Torah). "You should not say that the Torah was given in the wilderness nearly 3,000 years ago, and it was only appropriate for that time and the conditions which existed then - 'The same day' - as if they had been given today - the laws of the Torah and our traditions are eternal, and they are relevant in every place and at every time." 

This idea that they might be irrelevant is often applied to any number of Torah laws, such as kashruth, Shabbat, and tefillin. And yet, one never hears anyone say that "honor your father and mother" or "you shall not murder" have gone out of fashion. (Although, to be honest, in some quarters, even those commandments seem to be regarded as optional.) Why is that?  The discussion often turns on notions of personal freedom, the needs of society, and the desire not to stand out. 

I would suggest that the whole of Jewish law and tradition is a complete, unitary system, subject to debate and changes in circumstances (like the destruction of the Temple), but never irrelevancy. God gives the Torah to the Jews for a very specific reason - "You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6) We Jews are here, and we receive the Torah, specifically to minister to the world by acting in accordance with its teachings, and to sanctify ourselves and others through that ministry. 

Stand up at Sinai! The Torah, which is your blueprint and your job description, is being given, and it hasn't changed!

Shabbat Shalom!
 
Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
TBH/CBM
Sherman Oaks, CA
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
 
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