| The Importance of Unity |
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****************************************************** In Parshat Yitro, God told Moshe to convey to B.nai Yisrael His love and promised them that if they accepted the Torah, they would be privileged. However, this privilege carries responsibility as well. In Shmot 19:8 we see that B.nai Yisrael accepted God.s offer: "All of the people responded in unison (yachdav) and said, .All that God spoke, we will do. (na.aseh)". According to HaGaon Rabbi Simcha Meir MiDvinsk, it is impossible for a person to observe every mitzvah in the Torah. Some mitzvoth are only for the Kohanim, others are only for the Levi.im. Other mitzvoth only apply to a king, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), a person who owns a house or a person who owns a field etc. B.nai Yisrael answered "na.aseh", "we will do" in unison since the 613 mitzvot can not be observed by one individual. Rather, they must be collectively observed by the entire nation. Pardes Yosef adds that this teaches us the concept of "Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh LaZeh" all Jews are responsible for one another. When there is unity among the Jewish people it is as if all of the Jews observed all of the mitzvoth. In Parshat Mishpatim, Shmot 24:7 we read: "Moshe took the Sefer HaBrit, Book of the Covenant and read it in the ears of the people. They said, "All that God has spoken, we will do (na.aseh) and we will listen (venishma)." Here the word "yachdav" (in unison) is left out while the word "venishma" (and we will listen) is added. According to Pardes Yosef, all of the 613 mitzvot can be observed through Torah study. The word "venishma" is referring to Torah study. Each person as an individual can reach the level of observing all 613 mitzvot by studying Torah. Therefore here the word "yachdav" is omitted. Let.s work on integrating into our daily lives the concept of taking responsibility for all Jews as well as the importance of Torah study. |