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OPEN TO ALL

The population of the world can be divided into religious groups and into ethnic groups. The religious groups would include all the religions of the world. The ethnic groups would include all the nations of the world. Where do the members of the Jewish people get categorized, under the religious groups or under the ethnic groups?

If we are a religion it would seem imperative that one cannot be considered a member of the Jewish people unless they ascribe the cause of the world to HaShem. If they deny the existence of a creator they would not be a Jew. We know, however, that in every period of history the world recognizes a Jewish atheist as a Jew. We, as well, consider a Jewish atheist a member of the Jewish people and their children do not require any conversion to be accepted into our people. Hence, we cannot be defined as a religion, at least exclusively.

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REEL PROJECTION

In this week’s Parsha, Yisro, HaShem gives us His Torah. Let us take a moment to appreciate this gift and what it means to us. The Midrash teaches us that before creating the world, HaShem first created the Torah and then ‘He gazed in the Torah and created the world.’ The use of the word gaze seems to be more than simply looking at the Torah. What was the function of His gazing at the Torah and how does that create the world? Rabbi Akiva Tatz draws a parallel from old fashioned movies to explain this Midrash.

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SHULAMIS – THE FABRIC OF KLAL YISRAEL

In this week’s Parsha, Yisro, we arrive at Mount Sinai. The Torah points out that our arrival at Mount Sinai was distinctly different than all our other encampments. At every other encampment throughout our 40 year journey in the desert there was some degree of quarreling among our people. However when we encamped at Mount Sinai there was perfect unity. The reason for this was because at Mount Sinai HaShem revealed His entire greatness to us, to the extent that it was possible for us to comprehend, for the purpose of giving us His Torah.

Our Sages explain that HaShem’s Presence can be revealed to the people only when they are in state of perfection – Shleimus. This state of perfection can only exist when there is absolute unity.