Yitro

THE BIG IDEA

Of all the aspects of Revelation at Sinai that can inspire awe, the idea brought by Rashi of the  nation being encamped as ‘one man with one heart’* might be the most awe inspiring of all. 

For the infinite to transmit a tool to access the infinite ONE, a consciousness of absolute unity had to be in place at that moment. The entire nation became as unified as if part of a single physical body with Moses as the head. 

This profound togetherness isn’t just some sweet idea - it was the spiritual condition necessary to facilitate Torah coming down into the world - - making this Shabbat an excellent time to imagine that kind of unity, and pray it back into the world.

First within yourself, to be unified in your heart, soul, mind, then in your own family, then in your own community, then in the nation and world. Dream it, feel it, imagine it, pray it.

Our momentary unity created access to Torah, but to really unlock its power we must be able to sustain it.

*the word encamped is written in singular and not plural.