I came across a very interesting article written by Rabbi
Elie Kaunfer, co-founder of Mechon
Hadar, an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva for both men and
women. He wrote an article called, "Speaking in the Captor's
Language." I liked this article, because it took on some myths commonly
taught in Judaism, Christi-anity, and even in much of
Messianic Judaism. Both Jews and Christians often insist that the Torah is
"just for the Jews." Rabbi Kaunfer tackles
this myth head-on.
The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is
sometimes compared to a wedding ceremony in which God is the Bridegroom, Israel
is the bride, and the Torah is the ketubah.[1]
This may all have validity. However, it makes it also sound too exclusive.
Rabbi Kaunfer brings forth a narrative on the giving
of Torah that he calls "a narrative of universal relevance."
One of the things that I had never thought
of was the language of Torah as it was originally given. I always assumed it
was Hebrew, and that the Jewish people all understood Hebrew. However, in the
USA we have people from many different ethnic backgrounds whose grandparents
came to these shores from many countries around the world. After two or three
generations, the language of the descendants of these immigrant grandparents is
almost completely forgotten.
The Jews were in slavery in Egypt for 400
years. It is doubtful that they were able to maintain any kind of meaningful
schools to teach them of their heritage. Everything was passed down informally
from word of mouth from one generation to the next. However, Rabbi Kaunfer makes the declaration that the Hebrew slaves no
longer spoke Hebrew! Shocking! And he quotes Midrash (Pesikta
DeRav Kahana BaHodesh 12:24 and Pesikta Rabbati 21) to address the question, "What is the
language of revelation?" The answer blew my socks off: "R. Nehemia... claims that G-d revealed to the Jewish people in
Egyptian." So G-d revealed the Torah in
Egyptian!?!
The Midrash suggests that the choice of
language (Egyptian) reflected an act of love (leshon
ahava, leshon hibah). "G-d loved the people so much that G-d
chose to speak in their language." Torah is meant for those who speak
other languages. It is designed for a population enmeshed in a larger culture.
It isn't designed for Jews to isolate themselves from the wider society.
"G-d will take any step necessary, even speaking in the language of the
captors, to get the mes-sage to the people."
A second Midrash narrative is much more
widely known, preserved in Midrash Tehillim 68. God offers the Torah to the
various nations of the world. They all refuse the Torah, some because they
object to the prohibition of stealing, some because the object to the
prohibition of murder, some because of adultery, etc. However, the children of
Israel were chosen to merit Torah because, unlike the other nations, they accepted
all of the words unconditionally.
However, "When G-d spoke the word (on
Sinai), G-d's voice split into seven voices. Those seven voices split into the
70 languages of the world, so that everyone could understand." The thunder
(kol - "sound") in Exodus 19:19 was
the Torah going forth in the 70 different languages of the 70 nations that
existed at that time. God intended Torah for all the nations! It wasn't
designed to seal an exclusive relationship between God and the Jewish people.
And God intends that it be comprehended by everyone, regardless of language
(although we recommend the study of Hebrew for a better understanding of
Torah). Rabbi Kaunfer said, "Torah is relevant
not just for every Jew, but for every person on earth."
Rabbi Kaunfer
writes, "And what if we took to heart the possibility that the Torah is
saying something of universal relevance? Would we stop being embarrassed by the
demands of revelation? Would we feel confident that living a life in accordance
with G-d's will expressed at Sinai has enduring value
for all people?"
I agree with Rabbi Kaunfer.
I understand that most Orthodox Jews believe the Torah is just for the Jews,
and I also understand that most Christians (and most other non-Jews as well)
don't even want the Torah. They often consider the Torah as bondage, or even a
curse! However, Proverbs 28:9 says, "He who turns away his ear from
listening to the Law (Torah), even his prayer is an abomination." If you
don't want your prayers to be an abomination, I suggest listening to the Torah!
Numbers 15:16 says, "There is to be one law (Torah) and one ordinance for
you and for the alien who sojourns with you."