בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לְצֵ֥את בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ מִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי׃ וַיִּסְע֣וּ מֵרְפִידִ֗ים וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִדְבַּ֣ר סִינַ֔י וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּֽחַן־שָׁ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נֶ֥גֶד הָהָֽר׃ וּמֹשֶׁ֥ה עָלָ֖ה אֶל־הָאֱלֹקִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֵלָ֤יו ה׳ מִן־הָהָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לְבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְתַגֵּ֖יד לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃ וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י וִהְיִ֨יתֶם לִ֤י סְגֻלָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כִּי־לִ֖י כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ וְאַתֶּ֧ם תִּהְיוּ־לִ֛י מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְג֣וֹי קָד֑וֹשׁ אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
In the third month of the Bnei Yisrael’s departure from the land of Egypt, on that very day they came to the desert of Sinai.
They had journeyed from Rephidim and had come to the desert of Sinai, and camped in the desert. Yisrael camped there opposite the mountain.
Moshe went up to [the Presence of] God, and Adonoy called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the House of Yaakov, and tell to the Bnei Yisrael.
‘You saw what I did to Egypt; and [how] I carried you on wings of eagles, and brought you to Me.
And now if you listen diligently to My voice, and preserve My covenant; you shall be beloved before Me than My special treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. You will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim, and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Bnei Yisrael.”
אתם ראיתם את אשר עשיתי למצרים, “You have seen what I have done to Egypt.”
At the outset Hashem explains to the Jewish people that the matter of His personal benevolent supervision of their fate is the basic tenet of Judaism and the Torah.
When Hashem sets out to visit plagues one nation for their sins and to save another nation from them on account of its merits, this is a demonstration of Hashem's special supervision and of His system of reward and punishment.
In order to underline this Hashem reminded the Bnei Yisroel by saying: “Look at what I have done to Egypt.” Hashem performed all this in front of the eyes of the Israelites so that they would have visual evidence of His personal involvement in their fate.
Hashem contrasted what He had done to the Egyptians with what He had done for the Bnei Yisroel when He continued with: “I have carried you on eagles’ wings and brought You to Me (to this Mountain).” The simile was meant to describe how Hashem had protected the Bnei Yisroel, just as an eagle protects its young.
(3) When a man comes to realize as truth the great value of the Mitzvot and the greatness of his obligation in them, his heart will certainly be awakened to the service of G-d and he will not be lax in it.
(4) However, that which may intensify this rousing is looking into the many benefits that the Holy One blessed be He does with a man at all moments and times and the great wonders G-d performs for him from the time of his birth until his final day. For the more one looks into and contemplates these things, the more he will recognize his enormous debt to G-d Who bestows good to him.
(5) This reflection will cause him to not grow lazy or lax in His service. For since it is impossible for him to repay Hashem, for His goodness, he will feel that at least he can thank Him & observe His commandments.
(6) Whatever circumstances one may be in, whether poor or rich, healthy or ill, there is no person who cannot see wonders and many great benefits in his particular situation.
(7) For the rich and healthy man is already indebted to Hashem, for his wealth and health.
(8) The poor man is indebted to G-d that even in his poverty, G-d provides his sustenance through miracles and wonders, not leaving him to die of hunger.
(9) The sick man [is indebted to G-d] for He strengthens him in the midst of his illness or injuries, and does not leave him to descend to the grave. Likewise for all similar conditions. There is not a single person who will not find himself indebted to his Creator.
(10) When he looks at these benefits which he receives from G-d, certainly, he will be roused to be Zealous in His service as I wrote earlier.
(11) All the more so, if he contemplates that all of his good is dependent on G-d's hand and that all of his needs and necessities is only from G-d alone, blessed be His Name, and no one else.
(12) Then certainly he will not become lazy from engaging in His Divine service, so that G-d does not diminish that which is essential to him.
שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה בְּגוֹי אֶחָד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי שַׁמַּאי. אָמַר לוֹ: גַּיְּירֵנִי עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּלַמְּדֵנִי כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ כְּשֶׁאֲנִי עוֹמֵד עַל רֶגֶל אַחַת! דְּחָפוֹ בְּאַמַּת הַבִּנְיָן שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ. בָּא לִפְנֵי הִלֵּל, גַּיְירֵיהּ. אָמַר לוֹ: דַּעֲלָךְ סְנֵי לְחַבְרָךְ לָא תַּעֲבֵיד — זוֹ הִיא כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ, וְאִידַּךְ פֵּירוּשָׁהּ הוּא, זִיל גְּמוֹר.
There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. Shammai pushed him away ...The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is commentary. Go study.
That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: "Do not forsake your friend or your father's friend" (Proverbs 27:10) - this [refers to] the Holy One, blessed be He. Do not violate His words, for it is hateful unto you when a friend violates your words...
(34) Even if our mouths were filled with song
(35) like the sea
(36) and our tongues with exultation
(37) like the roaring of its waves,
(38) and our lips with praise
(39) like the breadth of the firmament,
(40) and our eyes were radiant
(41) like the sun and the moon,
(42) and our hands outspread
(43) like [the] eagles of the sky,
(44) and our feet light as the deer—
(45) we would never sufficiently
(46) thank You, Hashem, our God...
(49) for even one thousandth
(50) of the billions
(51) and trillions
(52) of favors, miracles and wonders
(53) which You did for our fathers
(54) and for us:...
(69) Therefore,
(70) the limbs which You apportioned for us,
(71) and the spirit and soul
(72) that You have breathed into our nostrils,
(73) and the tongue You have set in our mouth—
(74) behold, they will thank, bless,
(75) praise, glorify,
(76) sing, exalt,
(77) revere,
(78) sanctify, and proclaim the sovereignty
(79) of Your Name, our King always.
עָ֭שִׁיר בְּרָשִׁ֣ים יִמְשׁ֑וֹל וְעֶ֥בֶד לֹ֝וֶ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ מַלְוֶֽה׃
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.