19 May SHAVUOT: THE CHALLENGE – AND REWARDS – OF TORAH COMMITMENT

Tradition teaches
that the souls of all
Jews who would
ever live until the
end of time were
present at Mount
Sinai when the Torah was given. This
concept actually finds halachic expression,
in the concept of “Mushba Ve’omed
Me’Har Sinai,” which means that we are all
considered to have vowed at Mount Sinai
to observe the Torah. The Rabbis teach that
a vow to observe the Torah does not add
anything, since we in any event are bound by
the oath we took at Sinai to fulfill all of G-d’s
commands.
On the other hand, the Gemara in Masechet
Nidda tells of an additional vow that we
all took, committing ourselves to observe
the Torah. The Gemara teaches that before
a child is born, the infant is forced to take
an oath pledging to be righteous and avoid
sin throughout his or her life. A number of
Rabbis raised the question of why this oath
is necessary, given that the child’s soul had
already taken this vow at Mount Sinai. If,
indeed, we are all under the category of
“Mushba Ve’omed Me’Har Sinai,” then why
is a second oath necessary before birth?
One answer that has been given is based
on a Halacha relevant to employment. An
employer is not permitted to change the
terms of the agreement with the employee,
making his work responsibilities more
difficult, without the employee’s consent.
For example, if the arrangement described
in the contract involves work to be done in
a comfortable, air-conditioned building, the
employer is not entitled to change his mind
and force the employee to work outside in
the scorching heat.
When we vowed at Sinai to fulfill the Misvot,
we made this vow when we were just souls,
without a body. But when an infant is born,
the soul is placed into a body. Needless to
say, observing the Torah is infinitely more
difficult with a physical body. It is because
of our bodies that we have needs that distract
us from our obligations to G-d, and that
we are so easily tempted and lured toward
sinful conduct. The oath we made as souls
at the time of Matan Torah does not require
us to observe the Torah under the far more
difficult circumstances of life with a human
body. Therefore, just before birth, when the
soul enters the infant’s body, a new oath is
needed, wherein the child promises to meet
the great challenge of fulfilling the Misvot
with a physical body.
As we prepare for Shabuot, when we reaffirm
our acceptance of the Torah, we should
remind ourselves that Torah observance is
worth every bit of hard work and sacrifice

that it entails. As any conscientious Torah-
committed Jew knows, living a spiritual life

in our physical world is very challenging,
and is fraught with struggles. But we firmly
believe that the benefits and rewards of
our religious commitment are worth far

more than anything that we are required to
sacrifice for Torah observance. We accept the
Torah fully aware of the difficulty involved –
but also fully aware of the great benefits we
receive by striving and working to serve our

Creator to the best of our ability.