This week's parashah, Yitro, brings the Israelites to the climactic moment at Mount Sinai. One striking feature of this Revelation is its communal nature. In previous moments of God connecting with humans, we witnessed intimate encounters: God spoke with Moshe through the burning bush, God approached Avraham to go forth from his land. Throughout the encounter at Mount Sinai, we read language of inclusivity. God declares to Moshe, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, so the people will hear when I speak with you” (Shemot 19:9). This is the first time that the Israelites will hear God speak. Throughout the narrative, the Torah repeatedly uses the word “ha’am” - the nation. It’s used to refer to the entire nation - every single person. The people now know that Torah is accessible to all of them.
Our rabbis expand this message and wonder why the Torah was given in the wilderness. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for Revelation to occur in the holy land of Israel? They take this opportunity to craft a profound message about the accessibility of Torah:
“Why was the Torah not given in the land of Israel? Because if so, one might have said, ‘in my territory the Torah was given!.” Then another might have said, “in my territory the Torah was given!” Therefore, the Torah was given in the desert, publicly and openly, in a place belonging to no one.” (Mechilta baChodesh 5)
Torah is open to all of us for the taking. No one has a greater claim on Torah than anyone else. This week’s parashah and it’s message of inclusivity remind us that we have not just the opportunity but the responsibility to claim Torah. It belongs to each one of us. But more than that, this Midrash teaches that Torah can be found even in the most unexpected places. Torah isn’t just located in places already known to be holy; we can seek out Torah in places even like the desert, elevating them to the level of holiness.
My this Shabbat bring each of us closer to Torah, our own individualized, personal relationship with Torah, waiting for us to grab hold of it.
