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Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Receiving the Torah in the Desert

hen the Torah describes “‘And G-d spoke to Moshe in “And the loftiness of man shall be
Bnei Yisrael’s arrival at Midbar Sinai” – Anyone who bowed down, and the haughtiness of
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Wthe place where they does not make himself like an man shall be humbled, and G-d alone
would receive the Torah, it mentions uninhabited (hefker) desert, shall be exalted on that day. 4
the word “desert” three times: “In cannot acquire wisdom and Torah.
the third month of Bnei Yisrael’s Thus the verse states that G-d Am Yisrael’s journey through the
departure from Egypt, on this day spoke to Moshe BeMidbar Sinai.” desert was the basis for accepting the
they arrived at the desert of Sinai. Torah with feelings of humility and
They journeyed from Refidim, and Our Sages explained the repetition of dependence on G-d. Since then, every
they arrived at the desert of Sinai, the word midbar by teaching us that year we celebrate Shavuot, the holi-
and they encamped in the desert, we are not just talking about a phys- day of receiving the Torah, and at the
and Israel encamped there opposite ical location, but also an awareness same time, we read the weekly Torah
the mountain.” Why the seemingly and a consciousness. What is this portion of Bemidbar. This parasha
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superfluous emphasis? “desert” consciousness? Our Sages reminds us of the journey Am Yisrael
defined it as hefker – ownerless, unin- went through in the desert – a voyage
The desert is a place of emptiness habited and abandoned. One can also to the shores of humility, to a depen-
and lack, an expanse uncontrolled by define it as a consciousness of lack. dence on G-d and an inner connec-
human hand. In such a place, a person tion with Him.
feels his deficiency and his complete Lack or deficiency (be it in the desert
dependence on G-d. In the desert, or in other situations) opens up a This year, we are once again accept-
it is clear that without G-d’s help he person to the understanding that ing the Torah, albeit during difficult
cannot survive. For 40 years, Bnei Yis- nothing can be taken for granted; that circumstances in which the whole
rael traveled in the desert and expe- even our most basic needs depend on world is dealing with the Coronavi-
rienced in the clearest, most power- the kindness of Heaven. This, in turn, rus pandemic. During this time, the
ful way, utter dependence on G-d to builds the character trait of humility: awareness of that which we lack –
provide all of their basic needs: water, the ability to recognize that which is existentially, health wise, and finan-
cially – traverses nations and borders,
food, and protection from dangers lacking, the deficiencies and weak- encompassing the entire world. Let
such as snakes and scorpions. This nesses, and the understanding and us find our humility once again and
sense of dependence constitutes the willingness to accept that someone enhance our awareness of our depen-
basis for the connection between G-d else can fill that void. The one who dence on the Almighty.
and Am Yisrael, and the obligation to fills that lack can be G-d or any other
fulfill His commandments. person who can give us whatever we
are lacking. 1 Shemot 19:1-2.
This sense of dependence could be a
technical matter, i.e. when a person Humility is the basis for all inter- 2 Midrash Rabbah, Bemidbar: Parasha 1,
section 7.
understands that G-d gives him his personal communication and for all 3 Bemidbar 1:1.
needs, he must commit to fulfilling learning, but it is especially important 4 Yeshayahu 2:17.
His commandments. However, it for learning Torah and for connecting
seems there is much more to it than to G-d. G-d’s Kingship in this world
that. A person who lives in the desert can only exist when humans are not
lives with a different awareness than haughty, when they make space in Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
one who lives elsewhere. As our Sages their hearts and in their world for the and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh
expressed it: 2 presence of G-d. As Yeshayahu said: website

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