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Yitro (2026)

Shabbat Yitro

Dvar Torah – Jewish Unity for Generations
The Jewish people, newly freed from slavery in Egypt arrive at Mount Sinai. Describing their arrival, the Torah uses an unusual phrase: “Vayichan sham Yisrael neged hahar” — “Israel camped there opposite the mountain.” Strikingly, the entire people are described in the singular – deviating from the narrative until then – addressing them as one individual rather than a multitude.

Rashi explains that at that moment, the people were united “like one person with one heart” a singular moment of full and unequivocal unity across the Jewish people with Moses soon after ascending Mt. Sinai and receiving the Torah

Perhaps, we can understand this detail not just as a situational description of the encampment at Sinai, but as an explanation of why the Torah was given at Sinai. Accepting the Torah — entering a lasting covenant built on shared responsibility — required an unusual depth of unity. It demanded a commitment strong enough to endure the inevitable future disagreements and to build our nation around the teachings of the Torah nonetheless.

This moment of unity did not end at Sinai but is deeply embedded in the covenant itself. In that sense, we inherit not only the Torah, but also the unity at its foundation — a reminder that despite our inevitable differences, we remain bound together by our shared story and responsibility.

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 16:38/17:56
Tel-Aviv 16:57-17:57
Amsterdam 17:18/18:32
NYC 17:02/18:03
Vancouver 17:00/18:09
Bogota 17:51/18:41
More times here

Shabbat Shalom!
This week’s Dvar Torah is dedicated to the full and speedy recovery of my sister Leorah Channah bat Shulamit Nechama




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