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Sounds of Sinai


It's been said that if you talk to G‑d, you're a religious person; if G‑d talks to you, you're crazy.

I guess that means I'm crazy. G‑d talks to me--not as frequently as He should, but fairly often.

I might be arguing with my wife--that same tired argument that we've had a hundred times already--when something inside me says, "Hey, just a minute. Maybe look at it her way, for a change?"

Who said that, me? I don't talk that way to myself!

Or I might be walking along a sunny street, thinking my usual thoughts--the balance in my bank account, or what to have for lunch--when I'm struck with a deep sadness, a sudden yearning for something higher, something more meaningful. Who said that, me? I don't say things like that--not since I was twenty years old, anyway.

Our Sages tell us that "every day a Heavenly voice issues forth from Mount Sinai" calling for a return to the truth of truths. Asked Chassidism's founder, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov: What is the purpose of this voice, if no one hears it?

But we all hear it, answered the Baal Shem Tov. Every time that we are struck with an unexpected thought that pushes us in the right direction--unexpected because it is totally out of character for us, and a complete departure from our present frame of mind--that means that our inner ear has picked up an echo of the Divine voice calling from Mount Sinai.

Whether or not you make it a habit to talk to G‑d, you should listen to Him talk to you. It'll be the sanest moment of your day.

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By Yanki Tauber   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
By Yanki Tauber; based on the teachings of the Rebbe.
About the artist: Dovid Brook lives in Sydney Australia and has been selling his art since he was in high school. He is currently painting and doing web illustrations. To view or purchase David's art please visit davidbrookpaintings.com

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Latest Comments:
Posted: Feb 12, 2009
re: source
Har Chorev is Har Sinai (for example, see Devarim 9:8)
Posted By Blanca

Posted: Jan 25, 2008
to Danya but for all Jews
I don't know what the good rabbi's sources were, but in my experience, we can hear it. Whether it is emanating from Sinai or not, the Voice of G-d is clear and audible. In Kings 19, we get a report of what Eliyahu heard: "v'achar hara-ash eish, lo va-eish HaShem; v'achar ha-eish kol d'mamah dakah." (Sorry no Hebrew characters.)

And we know it is G-d and not some pretender because of the effect it has on us: it makes us well, calms us down when we are upset, teaches us to do mitzvot (it has actually guided me before to read Torah and keep kosher), guides us out of trouble and into what we should be doing....

If thinking of this as G-d is troubling to you, try thinking of it as intuition, or as your Jewish soul guiding the rest of your being into right action. Personally, I find the report about Eliyahu to be a very accurate description of what I hear.
Posted By Anonymous, Greenville, SC

Posted: Jan 24, 2008
source
thank you for your article which i have found very inspiring. I have tried to search for the source of:every day a Heavenly voice issues forth from Mount Sinai, and i cannot find it. The closest i came to was pirkei avot 6:2, but that talks about Har Chorev and not Har Sinai. Can you please "reveal" your source?
Best regards,
Posted By Danya Keesing, Efrat, Israel



 


By Yanki Tauber
When to Get Divorced
A Choice of Choices
Does G-d Want Us To Enjoy Ourselves?
How To Take the Law Into Your Own Hands
Toddling
A Long Pole
Do Jews Believe in Sin?
Sounds of Sinai
In the Desert
When Bad Things Happen
Because It Is There
Numbers
Love Yourself
The Fifth Question
Words and Stones
Showing 144 - 158 of 186