Israel’s Special Destiny

The Torah speaks at length not only about the Revelation at Mount Sinai, but also about preparing for the greatest day in human history.

Moshe Rabbeinu spoke to the people about the covenant they were about to make with Hashem. We are familiar with their later response of נעשה ונשמע, “We will do and we will hear.” But there was another response prior to Mount Sinai, that was simply, נעשה, “We will do.”

This response was related to the special יעוד, or destiny, of the Jewish people. It referred to the unique role placed on the Jewish nation.

The message from G-d at that time was the following. “I have not brought you unto Me that you might merely be able to see the sight of My greatness, but rather, so that you might perfect My world. You must see its anguish, and return it to the source of its life.”

Hashem makes it clear that if Israel will listen to His commandments, and fulfill their special destiny, then they will be an עם סגולה, a special nation and a precious possession among all the nations of the earth.

Shavuot is meant to reaffirm who we are, and what Hashem expects of us. It is our task to bring goodness, kindness, and fear of Heaven to the world. We must not falter in our holy mission, and it is within our power to make the world a better place.