Timeless Torah

On this very first Shabbat after the Pesach holiday, with the taste of Matzoh and Maror still lingering, preparations for the next festival are already underway. Soon the two days of Shavuot commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai will be upon us. We will eat blintzes, listen to the reading of the Ten Commandments and recite the Yizkor prayer.

However, to do all the above in the proper spirit requires groundwork.  It has therefore become a time-honored tradition to study on each of the six Sabbaths that separate Pesach and Shavuot, one chapter of the famous work, Ethics of our Fathers.  This collection of our Sages' timeless morals and wisdom was deemed one of the best cultivators of spirituality - a perfect tool to ready oneself for the acceptance of G-d's Law.

  The very first words in the Tractate read, <em> “Moses received the Torah from Mt. Sinai.” <em> It is apparent that there must be a moral lesson derived from this carefully chosen phrase, since in fact the Torah was not received <em>from a mountain, but rather from the Almighty at Sinai. </em>

The Midrash relates that the various mountains quarreled amongst themselves. Each one claimed the honor of the Torah being given on its peak, their demand based upon how high, famous or majestic they were. Their dispute was abruptly ended by G-d Himself saying that such lofty and proud mountains were not fit. Instead, the smallest of the mountains - Mt. Sinai - was to be chosen, emphasizing the virtue of humility.

An obvious question presents itself. If humility is the trait to be stressed, then the Decalogue should have been declared in a low valley or a plain and not on a mountain at all. If on the other hand, the virtue of pride is to be emphasized, then the appropriate place should have been a peak higher than Sinai. The explanation is that in order to receive and incorporate the Torah into one’s life - one must learn from Sinai two qualities - to be the lowest, yet a mountain. Modesty is required if one is to internalize and truly accept G-d’s mandate. An ‘I know it all’ attitude with preconceived notions of what is right and wrong are anathemas to the study of Torah. One must be open-minded and willing to learn. Conversely, total meekness and lack of pride in who we are, has led too many Jews to suppress any outward expression of their religion. At the first sign of a colleague’s spoken jibe or even a scoffing glance they become embarrassed. The Torah was given on a mountain, teaching us to realize our self-worth. Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law, detailing the myriad rules governing a Jew’s life, opens with the injunction, “Not to be ashamed in the face of cynics.” Yet this pride in no way contradicts the required feeling of humility because it does not stem from arrogance. It is the dignity a soldier feels when he fulfills the King’s command. It is the pride a Jew feels when he knows he has accomplished the will of the King of Kings.