At Sinai, before the giving
of the Torah, G-d warns the Jewish People; “Guard yourselves from going up the
mountain and from touching even its fringes...”[1]
This verse is generally understood in its literal sense as a prohibition
against ascending the mountain of G-d.
But the Kotzker has a
radically different take on the meaning of this verse. He says; “(Embolden
yourselves and ) don’t just be satisfied
with touching the (mere) fringes of
the mountain, but go all the way to the top!”[2]
He believes the Torah is there for
the taking and religion is there, not for meek and passive followers, but for
the spiritually bold and daring.
