Rabbi's Derasha

Even in the Shabbat Zmirot which commemorate the giving of the Torah, one phrase comes to represent the whole experience: “Na’ase V’nishma” (we will do and we will hear).  A rabbi in Israel once called Na’ase V’Nishma the most famous phrase that wasn’t said.  Not that it doesn’t appear in the Torah but that it’s not where anyone would look for it.  If you asked a group, they’ll probably tell you that it was said before the tablets were given, so it must appear in last week’s Parasha, Yitro.  

But it’s not to be found there.  In fact, the closest thing to that phrase in last week’s Parasha was the Jewish people accepting simply by saying, Na’ase, we will do.  The famous phrase is actually in this week’s Parasha.  One has to be alert to follow, but the end of this week’s Parasha skips back to the days before the Torah was given.  We end the Parasha afterward, when Moshe goes up for 40 days and nights.  But just before that, we revert back to the days before the Torah was given.  There the people again say, Na’ase (we will do).  Then, finally, comes the famous phrase. 

What is happening is that two separate events are taking place before the Torah is given at Har Sinai.  One is what we conventionally call the acceptance of the Torah.  That was last week, and we responded last week that we would do it.  We’re a little squeamish about listening to Hashem directly, but we’re on board.

But something else is happening in the preamble to the giving of the Torah.  When the Jews say Na’ase V’Nishma, they are saying more than that I will do a commandment in its proper time.  The Torah says that this famous phrase comes after Moshe reads to the people from what is called the Sefer HaBrit.  This goes beyond the simple performance of Mitzvot.  A Brit is transformational.  It is a relationship, and entering into such a relationship changes me.  It reshapes who I am.    

To this, we responded Na’ase V’Nishma.  Much is said about how to understand this fascinating phrase.  “Shmi’a” is translated several ways -- to hear, to understand, and to accept.  The Aramaic translation of the Torah renders this as “we will accept.”   This means that we will make it part of ourselves.  It becomes the working assumption; it means that it guides and shapes us. 

EB has had many award winners.  But only one member has won a Nobel Prize.  That was Yisrael (Johnny) Aumann (he should be strong and healthy).  He won for what is called game theory, which includes the way one makes decisions especially in situations where there are many unknowns.  In the realm of relationships, game theory is sometimes invoked to explain how one makes decisions.  In business situations, one is often just looking out for oneself.  But in a cooperative relationship, the bond is not just unbreakable.  The bond means both sides always try to make decisions truly for mutual benefit.   

The Ramban says that Brit is from the word Bri’a.  A new creation comes to be in the making of a Brit.  The phrase in Tanach (Malachi, 2:14) “Eishet Britecha,” the wife of my covenant, means that people are reborn after they come together in a marriage.  This is why this section of the Har Sinai story is the source for what is required in conversion.  Of course, a convert has to keep the laws.  But it’s the entrance into the Brit which is supposed to be transformative.  Becoming part of the Jewish community is important, but, more than that, becoming part of the Brit with Hashem -- a relationship which changes oneself -- is crucial.  

The bond from Har Sinai is unbreakable.  That’s why we know that it continues, come what may.  Even though we might see weeks like these, weeks of heartbreak and misery, we also know that we will see weeks on the other side of this, weeks of joy.  There will always be another side after episodes like this, where we will see the relationship thrive.