Two-Sided Sinai

This week’s Torah reading describes the Jews’ acceptance of the Torah. Last week’s reading told of the giving of the Torah. Why repeat the theme? Because Sinai had two sides: G-d’s and ours. In Parshas Yisro, G-d gives the Torah, allowing finite humans to connect with His infinite truth. In Parshas Mishpatim, we see the human response: our willingness to commit.

Some people obey only what they understand. While not wrong, this approach means they follow their own judgment rather than G-d’s. Such subjectivity can lead to confusion, for self-interest easily distorts values. Even if one behaves well, something essential is missing: a mitzvah is meant to connect a person to G-d, and that connection is weakened when observance depends only on human logic.

At Sinai, the Jews declared “We will do, and we will listen,” committing to G-d’s will even before understanding it. This created an objective moral standard and opened the way for a boundless relationship with G-d, connecting us even to the divine levels beyond human comprehension.

Maimonides states that in the era of Redemption, the Torah will remain exactly as it is; there will be no new covenant. This teaches that the Torah is a perfect, eternal truth that cannot be improved. In the time of Mashiach, all humanity will embrace this truth, bringing about peace, prosperity, and deep knowledge.

Since the essence of Redemption is the eternal Torah, making Torah central in our lives now enables us to anticipate—and even help usher in—the mindset of the future era, spreading it until it becomes universal.

Shabbat Shalom!

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