The Voice Heard Round the World

by Miriam Metzinger | More from this Blogger

28 Jul 2007 09:44 PM

In this week's Torah portion, Vaetchanan, we learn how a voice transformed the whole world. This was not an ordinary voice, but was the voice of G-d as he revealed the Torah to Moses a second time. Moses ascended Mt. Sinai after the sin of the Golden Calf to atone on behalf of the Jewish People. It was during this second revelation that the voice of G-d was heard, a voice which literally made an impression on everything that exists.

How does the Torah describe this voice? It was "unceasing." A commentary on the Torah, the Midrash Rabba, discusses what was meant by describing the voice as unceasing. First, it transcended the limits of space. The voice was divided seven voices which subdivided to form the 70 languages in the world. This is why Torah studied in one's native language still exudes a positive energy and light, even though it has been translated from its original language; because the voice subdivided to form all the languages in the world, each language has a potential for holiness if used to speak words of Torah.

The voice also transcended limits of time. The revelation was given to Moshe, but, according to tradition, the voice is present in every generation and reveals the Torah to every individual Jew. Third, the voice was described as "unceasing" because it had no echo. This might seem strange, because an echo is like a repetition of an original sound, and a voice without an echo would seem to be the opposite of unceasing. In addition, a voice lacking an echo would seem to be a weak voice, which does not characterize the voice of G-d.

An echo is energy that has been rebounded. It is a sign that the sound encountered something, and was sent back. The voice of G-d was so strong, that it was not repelled by any object to create an echo, but was absorbed by every object it encountered. Because of this absorption, no echo was produced. When we say words of Torah in our homes, the walls and objects literally absorb the holiness. When the Jewish Messiah comes, the walls will actually repeat the words of Torah they absorbed through many years. Evil words, however, have no real vitality and will disappear. Only holy words last forever.

(Adapted from the discourses of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneersohn)

Learn more about Miriam Metzinger

Miriam is a freelance writer, a work-at-home mom and lives in Jerusalem with her two sons, Schneur Zalman (3), Yosef Yitzchak (6 months and counting) and her husband, Yehoshua, who is a rabbi and i...

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