REBBETZIN SHIRA SMILES Faculty, OU Israel Center
Timely Teshuvah
of their lives, it was not sufficient to prepare themselves upon arriving at Har Sinai, the groundwork needed to be laid before that.
A
Rav Weissblum in He’arat Derech, notes that before doing any mitzvah, one should ask two important questions; first, “what am I about to do?” Second, “For whom am I about to do this?” These questions enable us to achieve the proper mindset and allows the mitzvah to be truly experienced, not simply be a series of meaningless motions. To the extent one prepares, one connects more deeply and fully.
m Yisrael continue their journey from Egypt through the Sinai desert. The Torah tells us that they left Refidim and came to Har Sinai (Shemot 19;2). Yet we already know the Jews were coming from Refidim. As we are aware, nothing is repetitive in Torah, what information is being added here? Rashi explains that just as Bnei Yisrael approached the area of Har Sinai in a state of teshuvah, likewise, when leaving Refidim the people were engaged in teshuvah. Rashi’s explanation leaves us a bit perplexed. If they already did teshuvah when leaving Refidim, why did they need to do teshuvah once again when coming to Har Sinai? Further, why is teshuvah at this juncture so crucial? The Netziv in his commentary Haemek Davar, explains that preparation is fundamental when advancing in holiness. As the Jewish people were about to experience the most quintessential event
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TORAH TIDBITS / YITRO 5781
Our frame of mind creates all the difference. The gemara recounts the story of Rabi Chiya’s extensive efforts to ensure that Torah would not be forgotten from among the people. Rabi Chiya sowed flax seeds. He used the flax to make nets to trap deer, from the deer hides he made
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