RENDEZVOUS WITH G-D

   This Shabbat we will read about the most awesome experience in the lives of עם ישראל, the Revelation of G-D at Har Sinai as He gave them the Aseres  Hadibros. The heavens opened and a symphony of sound bursts forth, not just any sound but it was a miraculous palpable sound perceived by everyone. This journey to Sinai on the way to their promised land was to create a glorious rendezvous with G-D. 

    As we stand when the Ten Commandments are being read in our Synagogues, we need to feel, once again, as if Hashem is giving us the Torah today as He did on Mt. Sinai. We stand, to reenact that moment of Revelation and place ourselves on that heightened spiritual level of Kedusha, when we once again rendezvous with G-D. Through this shared experience we produce a unity of purpose and a glorified destiny. 

      This can only be accomplished when we feel a deep sense of respect for each other. 

      I am reminded of the story, which is told about a modern,successful man who, apparently, had "everything" but he was constantly gnawed by some strange, vague feelings of endless emptiness causing him to feel upset, and frustrated.  He decided to see a psychiatrist.  The latter spent a two hour introductory session with the patient.  During this time, the patient did all the talking,and shared his feelings with the doctor. He told the doctor, "I worked hard all my life.  I always looked out for myself.  I pioneered a great industry.  I never asked anyone for anything.  I am a self made man", etc.  At the end of the session, the patient asked, "Well doctor, what do you see is wrong with me? I have everything.  I've done a lot in my life, but I am not happy."

    The doctor replied "Something is seriously wrong with your eye-sight."  "My eye-sight?" cried the patient, "My vision is O.K.  Besides  you are not an eye doctor.  I came to see a psychiatrist."  "You misunderstood me," said the doctor, " What I meant to say was, 'There is something wrong with your

 I-SIGHT.' You always say I,I,I did this and I did that.  You see yourself too much to the exclusion of all others and this causes your disturbance."

   With this thought in mind we begin to reflect upon one very interesting directive that Hashem gave to Am Yisrael at Har Sinai,as the Jews were eager to receive the Luchos.  They gradually started to walk closer to the mountain , when suddenly Hashem calls out to them "השמרו לכם עלות בהר" the people may not go up the mountain. One wonders why was G-D so emphatic with the prohibition of climbing the mountain?

     Herein is an everlasting lesson for the Jewish People. The authentic progress of man does not consist of only moving forward but rather moving "inward". The crucial message that accompanies the revelation at Sinai was that the goal of man is self transcendence, rather than transcending to the mountain peak. Progress is determined by what occurs to our personal selves. 

  Hashem asks man to engender a transcendental occurrence to his personality, to the "I" of man rather than a mere physical progress.  

    This sublime goal can only be realized through Torah living, which places us on an elevated plateau of קדושה, bringing about a greater אחדות ואהבה בין אדם לחברו. 

   Stand if you wish when the Aseres Hadibros are being read in Shul, but begin more to stand side by side in respect and tolerance for one another, that will help to bring about the ביאת גואל צדק , in our time. 

  "If you can take care of the internal, you can easily take care of the external. Then you can latch on to the eternal". 

                                  שבת שלום ומבורך