09 Feb PARASHAT MISHPATIM: TORAH OBSERVANCE DURING “DAYS OF DARKNESS”

We read in Parashat Mishpatim (24:7) of one of the most glorious moments in the history of our nation – the moment when we stood at Mount Sinai and declared in unison, “Na’aseh Venishma,” proclaiming our unconditional commitment to the Torah.

In light of this event, a very famous comment of the Gemara becomes difficult to understand. The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (88a) tells that at the time the Torah was given, G-d suspended Mount Sinai over Beneh Yisrael and threatened to drop it on them if they refused to accept the Torah. In other words, the Gemara is teaching us that G-d had to force Beneh Yisrael to accept the Torah – obviously implying that otherwise they would have refused. How do we reconcile this account with Beneh Yisrael’s emphatic proclamation of “Na’aseh Ve’nishma”?

Tosafot, commenting on the Gemara, answer that G-d had to threaten Beneh Yisrael because even after proclaiming “Na’aseh Ve’nishma,” they may have reconsidered after seeing the “great fire” that raged when G-d descended upon the mountain. This frightening spectacle may have intimidated the people and caused them to change their minds, and thus coercive measures were needed to ensure their acceptance.

This answer, at first glance, seems very difficult. Why would Beneh Yisrael have changed their minds upon seeing the fire? This fire was not a dangerous fire; it was a sign of G-d’s revelation. Why would this sight have led them to rescind their acceptance of the Torah?

Rabbenu Tam (Rav Yaakob Ben Meir, France, 1100-1171), in his work Sefer Ha’yashar, observes that all people go through two different kinds of stages throughout their lives: “Yemeh Ha’or,” or “days of light,” and “Yemeh Ha’hoshech,” or “days of darkness.” At any point, we are in one condition or the other. Sometimes we experience “Yemeh Ha’or,” when life progresses smoothly, when we enjoy generally good health, financial stability, and a fulfilling family life. During such periods, it is fairly easy to motivate ourselves to fulfill our religious obligations. We feel generally happy and content with our lot in life, and we eagerly look forward to learning Torah, praying, and performing Misvot. This is not the case during the “Yemeh Ha’hoshech,” when we experience “darkness.” These periods can be brought on by a crisis such as a medical issue, Heaven forbid, the loss of a job or downturn in business, or family problems. Personal hardships could very easily lead to depression, which many Rabbis have pointed to as the worst possible sin. When a person feels depressed, he will do anything to find gratification, and he is thus especially susceptible to the evil inclination. Moreover, when we feel down, we also feel distant from G-d. We begin to imagine that G-d is no longer interested in us and no longer cares about us, and so we allow ourselves to drift away. Rabbenu Tam warns us that during the “days of darkness,” we need to remember that this is but a temporary stage, that darkness is always followed by morning, and that G-d loves us, cares about us, and wants us close to Him under any and all circumstances.

The proclamation of “Na’aseh Ve’nishma” marked the most extreme example of “Yemeh Ha’or,” of a period of light and enthusiasm. This was a once-in-history event, when the people were told they would behold the Divine Revelation and receive the Torah. They were jubilant and overcome by excitement. However, the “great fire,” the fire of joy and spiritual passion which consumed them, was also cause for concern. It is easy to proclaim “Na’aseh Ve’nishma” and commit to Torah observance during occasions such as these. But what would happen when the “fire” subsides, during the inevitable “dark” periods, when the people felt down and depressed? It was for this purpose that G-d suspended the mountain over their heads – to drive home the point that they must remain committed to Torah even when they don’t feel passion for Torah. We will not always feel naturally drawn to and energized by Torah and Misvot. We will all have times when the “great fire” inside us is extinguished. And when this happens, we must remember the mountain suspended over our heads, that we must nevertheless fulfill our obligations, remaining confident that the “dark” period will pass and the “fire” will be reignited.