Drawing Nations Through Israel
במדרש ה' עוזי ומעוזי כו' אליך גוים יבואו כו'.
“In the Midrash: ‘Hashem, my strength and my stronghold … to You nations shall come…’”
The Sefat Emet begins with the Midrash that envisions all nations ultimately turning toward God.
כי הש"י בחר לו בנ"י לחלקו.
“For the Holy One chose Israel as His portion.”
Israel holds a unique covenantal role as God’s chosen people.
והי' עולה עה"ד כי עי"ז נתרחקו האומות.
“And one might have thought that through this the nations were distanced.”
It could seem that Israel’s chosenness pushes other nations away from God.
אבל באמת אדרבא זו עצה עמוקה של הבורא ית' לקרב כל האומות אליו ית' ע"י בנ"י.
“But in truth, on the contrary—this is a deep counsel of the Creator to draw all nations near to Him through Israel.”
Israel’s election is meant as a conduit to bring universal closeness to God.
ובנ"י מבינים זאת והם חפצים לקרב הכל אליו ית'.
“And Israel understands this, and they desire to draw everyone near to Him, blessed be He.”
Israel’s inner will aligns with this universal mission of spiritual inclusion.
לולא הרשעים שמעכבין כמ"ש ויבא עמלק.
“Were it not for the wicked who obstruct, as it is said: ‘And Amalek came.’”
Forces of evil attempt to hinder this divine mission.
ויתרו שבא קרבו אותו בכל כחם.
“But Jethro, who came, they drew him close with all their strength.”
Jethro is a model of how Israel embraces those who approach God.
ה' עוזי תקפן של בנ"י.
“‘Hashem, my strength’—the might of Israel.”
This phrase reflects that their spiritual power comes from God.
ומעוזי שמסר העוז לבנ"י.
“‘And my stronghold’—that He granted this strength to Israel.”
Their power is entrusted to them for their mission.
שיהי' התוקף בידם בכח התורה שמסר להם.
“That the force should be in their hands through the Torah He gave them.”
Torah is Israel’s instrument of spiritual influence.
כמ"ש ה' עוז לעמו יתן.
“As it is said: ‘Hashem will give strength to His people.’”
The Torah is that ‘strength’ referred to in Scripture.
כיון שהם שלוחים לקרב כל הברואים אליו ית'.
“Since they are agents to draw all creatures near to Him.”
Israel serves as God’s emissaries to elevate all existence.
ז"ש וידבר ה' כו' לאמר אנכי כו'.
“Thus it says: ‘And Hashem spoke… saying: I am…’”
The introduction to the Ten Commandments reflects Israel’s unique capacity for receiving Torah.
פי' כי הבורא ית' נתן להם התורה. כי אין ביכולת האומות לזה.
“Meaning: the Creator gave them the Torah, for the nations did not have the capacity for this.”
Only Israel could withstand and internalize divine revelation in its fullness.
וגם בנ"י פרחה נשמתן ונזדככו כמלאכי השרת.
“And Israel’s souls flew forth and were refined like ministering angels.”
At Sinai, Israel reached an angelic level of purity and sensitivity.
לכן כ' יום אשר עמדת לפני ה' כו' כמלאכים שנק' עומדים כו'.
“Therefore it says: ‘The day you stood before Hashem…’—like angels, who are called ‘standers.’”
Israel’s ‘standing’ mirrors the angelic posture of spiritual readiness.
והמכוון שבנ"י יאמרו וימשכו אותן הדיברות מדרגה אחר מדרגה עד שיתקרבו כל הברואים.
“And the intention is that Israel should speak and draw those commandments level by level until all creatures are brought near.”
Israel’s task is to channel revelation gradually into the world.
כי חיות הכל בתורה.
“For the life of all things is in the Torah.”
Torah is the vital energy of creation.
ותיקון הכל בכח התורה.
“And the repair of all things is through the power of Torah.”
Torah generates cosmic rectification.
וז"ש לאמר שצריך כל אדם מישראל להעיד בכל יום על הבורא ית' כמ"ש שמע ישראל פעמים בכל יום.
“And this is the meaning of ‘saying’—that every Jew must testify daily to the Creator, as in reciting Shema twice each day.”
‘Saying’ implies continual testimony to divine unity.
ודברים אלו מאירין לכל העולם ולכל הברואים.
“And these words illuminate the entire world and all creatures.”
The Shema radiates spiritual light far beyond Israel.
וברש"י לאמר מלמד שהיו עונין על הן הן כו'.
“And Rashi says on ‘saying’ that it teaches they responded ‘yes’ to each command…”
The people affirmed each divine utterance with full assent.
והיינו שאין דיברות הבורא ית' כדיברות ב"ו.
“Meaning that the utterances of the Creator are not like human speech.”
Divine speech imprints itself directly upon the soul.
רק הדיברות היו חקוקים בלבם.
“Rather, the commandments were engraved in their hearts.”
The revelation created permanent inner transformation.
והיינו דכ' רואים את הקולות.
“And this is the meaning of ‘they saw the voices.’”
The commandments were perceived internally, beyond ordinary senses.
היינו בלבם ראו שנתקיים מיד.
“Meaning: in their hearts they saw that it was fulfilled immediately.”
The fulfillment of God’s word took place instantly within them.
וניתקנו נפשותם שנמשכו אחר הדיברות.
“And their souls were repaired as they were drawn after the commandments.”
Spiritual refinement came through being pulled toward divine speech.
וזהו ענין תורה שבע"פ שכ' חיי עולם נטע בתוכינו שנבללו דברי תורה בנפשותם.
“This is the essence of the Oral Torah: as it is written, ‘Eternal life He planted within us’—the words of Torah became blended into their souls.”
Oral Torah embodies the internalization of divine wisdom.
וז"ש ומעוזי.
“And this is the meaning of ‘and my stronghold.’”
Israel becomes a living stronghold of Torah.
היינו שנעשו מעצמות בנ"י תורה שנק' עוז.
“Meaning that Israel’s very essence became Torah, which is called strength.”
They embody the Torah itself, becoming the bearers of divine strength.
Summary: Israel’s chosenness is not exclusionary but a divine strategy to draw all creation toward God through the power of Torah. At Sinai, Israel attained an angelic state that enabled Torah to become engraved within them, forming the basis for their mission to illuminate and elevate the world.