view from central park: tehilla r. goldberg

We almost missed gift of Shavuot

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After  we’ve celebrated Shavuot and commemorated our receiving of Torah, it’s worth remembering that it almost didn’t transpire. In tractate Shabbat 88b, many of the famous narratives surrounding the giving of the Torah are found. One of them recounts that when Moses went up on high to receive the Torah, he encountered opposition from the angels who felt that it was below the dignity of the Torah for it be possessed by mere human flesh.

“What is someone born of a woman doing among us?” they asked G-d, the story goes. The Torah is “chamuda gnuza,” veiled, coveted and cherished, they claimed. Such a holy and lofty treasure of G-d does not belong in the world below, as a tangible item in the hands of mere mortals.

A triangulated dialogue and negotiation ensues between the protective angels, Moses and G-d Himself (although the reader does not actually hear the angelic responses, only the conversation between G-d and Moses).

The angels feel the Torah is eternal and should remain in a purely spiritual realm. Moses comes to understand that the purpose of the Torah is not static, but rather to be lived, not merely guarded like a precious jewel in a vault.

There is tension. The implied assertion of the angels is that it would be dangerous for the Torah to leave its safe spot in Heaven. Introducing the Torah to the physical world brings the risk of its being desecrated.

G-d directs this concern of the angels to Moses himself, placing a burden on Moses to articulate to the angels why it is important to reveal the Torah to the lower world. Moses is forced to come up with a thoughtful response and to verbalize it to the angels.

By the end of the conversation, not only do the angels come around to Moses’ point of view, but a complete transformation takes place. The angels now want to assist in the process. In fact, in accepting Moses’ position, each of the angels grants Moses a gift. They understand that while they have been guarding this treasure faithfully, they have not been able to partner with it in its destiny.

They come to understand that the purpose of the Torah is to be chosen by human beings who, in choosing, it, become Am Yisrael, the Jewish people.

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