Achdus as the Preparation for the Torah

כתיב הקהל לי את העם כו'.

It is written: "Gather the people to Me..." (Devarim 4:10).

The Sefas Emes opens on Hashem's command to gather the people before the giving of the Torah, focusing on the word "to Me" (li).

כי עיקר הכנה לקבלת התורה הוא האחדות בבנ"י.

For the essential preparation for receiving the Torah is achdus (unity) among Bnei Yisrael.

The primary prerequisite for Kabbalas haTorah is that Bnei Yisrael be united as one.

וכן שמעתי מפי מו"ז ז"ל כי הכנה לקבלת התורה הי' ויחן שם כאיש אחד בלב אחד.

And so I heard from my grandfather, of blessed memory, that the preparation for receiving the Torah was "and he encamped (vayichan) there" — like one person with one heart.

The Chiddushei HaRim taught that the singular "vayichan" before Sinai shows Bnei Yisrael had become like a single person with a single heart — and that unity was the preparation for the Torah.

ופי' הקהל לי להיות כנסי' לשם שמים ולכן סופה להתקיים.

And the meaning of "Gather to Me" is to be a gathering for the sake of Shomayim, and therefore its end is to endure.

"Gather to Me" means an assembly dedicated entirely l'shem Shomayim; because it is for Hashem's sake, such a gathering has lasting permanence.

דאיתא במד' כל מקום דכ' לי הוא לדורות.

For it is stated in the Midrash: every place where "li" (to Me) is written, it is for all generations.

Chazal teach that whenever the Torah uses the word "li," it denotes something eternal, lasting for all generations.

והטעם כנ"ל דפי' לי לשמי וממילא סופה להתקיים.

And the reason is as above: that "li" means "for My sake," and consequently its end is to endure.

Anything done purely "for Hashem's sake" is permanent, since only that which is l'shem Shomayim has enduring reality.

ולאשר בנ"י בקבלת התורה כינסו עצמם לשם שמים נעשה מקוים לעולם כדכתי' אל כל קהלכם.

And because Bnei Yisrael, at Kabbalas haTorah, gathered themselves for the sake of Shomayim, it became established forever, as it is written "to your entire assembly (kehalchem)."

Since Bnei Yisrael's gathering at Sinai was l'shem Shomayim, it was made permanent, and its power extends to "your entire assembly" in every generation.

פרשנו בכל עת שבנ"י מתאספין כאחד מסייע להם זה הכח של יום הקהל שהי' בקבלת התורה וזהו אל כל קהלכם לדורות וכ"כ מורשה קהלת יעקב ודו"ק:

We explained that every time Bnei Yisrael gather as one, this power of the "Day of Assembly" (Yom HaKahal) that was at Kabbalas haTorah assists them; and this is "to your entire assembly" — for all generations; and so it is written "the heritage (morashah) of the congregation (kehillas) of Yaakov" (Devarim 33:4) — understand this well.

Whenever Bnei Yisrael unite l'shem Shomayim, they draw upon the eternal power of the unity at Sinai. The Torah is the "heritage of the congregation of Yaakov" — given specifically to Bnei Yisrael gathered together as one in every generation.

Summary: The essential preparation for receiving the Torah is achdus — Bnei Yisrael becoming "like one person with one heart." Because the gathering at Sinai was "to Me," entirely l'shem Shomayim, it is eternal; and every time Bnei Yisrael unite for Hashem's sake in any generation, they draw upon that enduring power of the Day of Assembly, for the Torah is the heritage of the united congregation of Yaakov.