It says, "In the third month of Israel's leaving Egypt on this day, they came to the wilderness at Sinai." Rashi says, "on this day," meaning Rosh Chodesh (the first of the month). Why does it say, "on this day?" It could have said, "on that day!" "On this day" comes to tell you that words of Torah should be new to you, like they were just given to you today! The Kotzker asks on Rashi -- if "on this day" means "on the first of the month," it is not relevant to say "the words of Torah should be new to you like this day" because "on this day," the first of the month, the Torah hadn't yet been given (it wasn't given until the 6th of the month!). But what is he trying to tell you? The preparation that was happening on that day is what we need to carry over every day into our lives. Because between the first of the month and the 6th, Israel was strengthening themselves and preparing themselves to receive the Torah with passion and desire, because for them at that time, it was a totally new thing. So, too, we should prepare ourselves passionately for learning, conversation, prayers, meals, sleeping, etc. If we think but for a second how amazing these moments are, the opportunity to speak before the Master of the Universe, to learn his words, to eat from his plenty, to sleep and let our souls rise up to become replenished, to be speaking with a unique manifestation of G-d's presence in the world. This preparation can make a world of difference and can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Rav Gavriel Goldfeder
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Rav Gavriel Goldfeder is one of the first semicha recipients of the yeshiva. A graduate of Drew University in Religious Studies, he came to Bat Ayin after stints in other yeshivot and found a spiritual and intellectual home. Here he met his wife, Ketriellah, who was a student in our short-lived Women's Yeshiva. Upon graduation, Gavriel took the position of rabbi of the Aish Kodesh Congregation in Boulder, Colorado and together with Ketriellah and their growing family, they are busy creating (in Gavriel's words), "a community infused with Torah values, passion for learning and prayer, consideration of one another, and action, as well as deep celebration of the joys of life." |