Asher Buchar (Shmueli Ungar)

February 5, 2021

Parshas Yisro – easily one of the most impactful parshios found within our beloved Torah. It begins with Vayishma Yisro – Yisro heard about what was going on with the Chosen People and instinctively knew that he needed to be a part of it. Everyone knew it, but only Yisro acted upon it. The mussar contained in those two words alone is enough to last a lifetime!

The next chapter of this epic Torah portion describes our arrival to Sinai and the subsequent preparations taken in order to become recipients of our holy inheritance. Vayichan sham Yisroel neged ha’har – the nation, in singular form, as one person with one heart, camped there opposite the mountain. These words will act as a guide to all future generations, depicting the pure unity we all aspire to achieve.

Then comes Mattan Torah: the unequivocal climax of Yetzias Mitzrayim and all the events in world history until this very day. Hashem took us out, lifted us up, and is about to give us the greatest gift ever afforded to mankind. However, even before the Torah is given, Hashem makes a most definitive statement of love, and in doing so, describes the fundamental design of the distinct relationship we have with Him. V’atah im shamo’a tishm’u b’koli, ushmartem es brisi, v’hiyisem li segulah mikol ha’amim…(19:5). Hashem tells us that if we accept His Torah and emulate His ways, we will reap endless reward and will be worthy of the greatest title of all – we will be His Am Segulah.

We didn’t need any convincing. We didn’t need to look for any fine print or specific clauses that would prove to be challenging in practice, as the other seventy nations had done. We said Na’aseh V’nishma – we will take whatever He offers, knowing with absolute certainty that anything He says or does is for our immediate and ultimate benefit. We knew then what we still know now; Tov Hashem la’kol v’rachamav al kol ma’asav – Hashem is kulo tov, good to all, and extends compassion to all living things. Deracheha darchei noam, v’chol nesivoseha shalom – the Torah’s ways are sweet and all its ways are paths of peace. Hashem was offering us life itself, an offer we could not possibly refuse. And then, the world fell silent and watched as He revealed the purpose of creation – Anochi Hashem Elokecha…

The Vilna Gaon points out that there are three aspects of Kabbalas HaTorah, and they are hinted to in the third bracha that we say each morning before fulfilling the mitzvah of Talmud Torah. He explains as follows:
Asher bachar banu m’kol ha’amim – Hashem chose us from all the other nations. This refers to the pasuk, …v’hiyisem li segulah mi’kol ha’amim – that, not only were we chosen, but that we as Klal Yisrael are special because we accepted the mitzvos. Next, V’nasan lanu es Toraso, refers to the actual awesome event of ma’amad Har Sinai, where we were given the Torah through an electrifying, spiritual event. And lastly, Baruch Atah Hashem nosein haTorah, – the bracha being, perhaps, the most important part of all.

Says the Gra, the word “nosein” is in present tense, indicating that it was not just a one-time event that happened 3,300 years ago, but that the Torah is still being given to this day! The Torah, from that fateful day at Sinai and forward, continues to be passed from rebbe to talmid, forming an unending chain of Jewish continuity. As the first mishna in Pirkei Avos says, Moshe kibel Torah m’Sinai u’mesarah l’Yehoshua, etc. and so on, and that link remains unbroken all the way down to us, now, today.

What an honor! What a privilege! What a responsibility! Hashem chose us to serve Him and to learn His Torah, and He gives us the Torah anew each day. Therefore, when we say this powerful bracha, we have the ability to feel that we are standing at Har Sinai receiving the Torah amidst the same great thunder and fire. What an incredible concept.

While there are many songs that pertain to the monumental moments of Mattan Torah, this week, I felt particularly drawn to one tune that expresses the above idea in a most splendid way. Asher Buchar was composed by world-class songwriter Pinky Weber, and is sung by the immensely gifted Shmueli Ungar on Ungar’s 2016 debut album (intentionally) entitled Shmueli 2. Arranged by the magnificent Moshe Laufer, this song and its hallowed words deliver the eternal message of mesorah, while reminding us of our exclusive place in the eyes of Hashem.

Wishing all of us, the Am Segulah, an illustrious Shabbos!

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