SINAI EXPERIENCE

  In psychology, when we study neurosis, we begin to realize that many people who suffer from anxiety and unreasonable fears, may resort to a defense mechanism referred to as 'reaction formation.' Very often this occurs in children, when he or she builds conscious attitudes which are opposite to the child's real feelings. 

   This is not intended to give you a lesson in Behavioral Psychology, but rather to use this idea to understand the feelings and the attitude of the Jewish People as they stood at Har Sinai experiencing the  greatest  historic moment ever to take place in Jewish History, the Revelation of G-D as He gave the Ten Commandments , the Jewish Decalogue to Am Yisrael. What a thrilling and emotional moment for a people who only a short time ago were slaves in the land of Egypt.  

   How did they react, is my initial and probing question?  

   Chazal relates, at that moment, ויהי קולות וברקים, there was a frightening  sound of thunder and lightning, and ויחרד כל העם אשר במחנה, they were overwhelmed by the experience and out of fear stepped back away from the mountain. One could assume that the reason for this reaction was simply a fear of not being able to take and fulfill the responsibilities that comes with being the bearers of these Ten Commandments. I can imagine the people saying one to the other, "It's too much for us.  We can't handle it. The responsibility is too great." Therefore, they stepped back away from the acceptance. 

   Moshe seeing their reaction, needed to show them that it can be done, that they need not fear to undertake this great code of living laws. To do so the Torah states,ומשה נגש אל הערפל, "Moshe rushed into the flames that engulfed the mountain, and caught a glimpse oh G-D." The lesson that Moshe was teaching the Am, was simple and emphatic. To achieve the optimum bonum of Judaisn, we need to penetrate into the core of Judaism, not to move back and away from its teaching. As we delve deeper into the objectives of Torah,we begin to see its beauty and its magnificence, and we no longer fear its contents but rather, like Moshe, we begin to get a glimpse of Hashem. 

  What a powerful lesson for us to learn from.  A lesson that teaches us that we need not resort to any kind of reaction formation, for Torah is our true essence and we need to search and find the amazing feeling of happiness that comes with its observance. 

   There is one more point that must be emphasized. To reach that spiritual height of נגש אל הערפל, it needs constancy and reinforcement, great effort, and a strong desire to succeed. 

  This reminds me of the time that I was a guest at someone's home and I noticed a magnificent bouquet of flowers on the table.  As I was admiring  them the hostess told that they were artificial, plastic. I asked why not have live flowers? She replied, "Live  flowers must be watered everyday." This is a true observation for life - one needs to water it everyday.  You need to put all your כוחות and energy into whatever you do and then and only then will you reap the benefits and get a glimpse of the Holy One. 

   There is a sacred 'must' in the achievement of the highest aspect of life and they are loyalty and conscience and boldness in action in our obedience to Hashem. 

   Our philosophy of life, "I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have, than to have things I cannot appreciate."

Let us step into the Sinai experience. 

Let us pierce the walls of Torah.

Let us appreciate the beauty of Judaism.

Let us be enthusiastic about its way of life and always be impressed by the words of our Torah. 

   As I have said many times, 'Life is in our hands.' Are we ready to take hold of it? That question is yours to answer.