Parashat Yitro: Experiencing Matan Torah with All Five Senses (2019)

A Sensory Journey Through Revelation

Parashat Yitro marks one of the most transformative moments in Jewish history — Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai. It’s no coincidence that this monumental event is introduced with the word "Va'yishma" – "He heard." Hearing was just the beginning. Matan Torah was a fully immersive experience, engaging all five senses — so much so that even those with physical disabilities were miraculously healed to fully partake in the revelation.

Why did Hashem choose to involve all our senses? Because Torah is meant to be not only understood — but deeply felt, seen, heard, tasted, and remembered. Let’s explore how each sense played a role in this Divine encounter and what it means for us today.

👀 Sight: Witnessing Faith

The power of seeing is profound. After witnessing the miracles of Egypt — from the Ten Plagues to the splitting of the Yam Suf — Klal Yisrael saw and believed:

“Va’ya’aminu ba’Hashem u’v’Moshe avdo” – They believed in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant.

This visual clarity created a deep level of emunah. Matan Torah was not just a voice from above — it was seen by the entire nation. The truth of Torah was not abstract; it was visible, tangible, and unforgettable.

👂 Hearing: Internalizing Hashem’s Message

The Parasha opens with:

“Va’yishma Yitro” – And Yitro heard.

Yitro didn’t just hear news. He listened with depth. He asked himself: "Why am I hearing these miracles — the splitting of the sea, the war with Amalek?" It moved him to action, to leave comfort behind and join Klal Yisrael in the desert.

Before Kriyat Shema, we ask Hashem:

“Ve’tein lanu lishmoa, lilmod u’lelamed…” – Grant us the ability to hear, to learn, and to teach.

To truly learn Torah, we must first be open to listening — not just with our ears, but with our hearts.

👅 Taste: The Sweetness of Torah

“Lo nitna Torah ela l’ochlei HaMan” – The Torah was given only to those who ate the Mann.

The Man (manna) wasn’t just food — it was spiritual nourishment, sweet and miraculous. It required daily emunah: every evening, their tents were empty; every morning, they woke up to Hashem’s kindness.

Torah is likened to honey and milk:

“Dvash v’chalav tachat lishonech” – Honey and milk under your tongue (Shir HaShirim).

It’s meant to be sweet, sustaining, and life-giving. Just like a baby thrives on milk, our souls thrive on Torah.

👃 Smell: The Fragrance of Kedusha

At Har Sinai, the mountain bloomed with fragrant flowers — a miracle reflecting the beauty and pleasantness of Torah. Smell is the most spiritual of the senses; it connects to memory, emotion, and atmosphere.

Torah creates an aura — a fragrance of holiness that elevates both space and soul.

✋ Touch: Lasting Impressions

To touch something is to internalize it. At Matan Torah, the people felt the thunder, the rain, and the trembling earth. It left a permanent mark on their hearts.

A powerful story: The Chafetz Chaim once caught a yeshiva boy smoking on Shabbat. He didn’t shout — he held the boy’s hand and cried. Seventy years later, that man still remembered the warmth of those tears, which changed his life and his Shabbat forever.

That’s the power of real, heartfelt touch.

🌫️ Arafel: Embracing the Unseen

Har Sinai was covered in arafel – a mysterious cloud. It symbolizes those moments in life when things are unclear.

In the Akedah, Avraham Avinu also saw a cloud indicating where to go. The message? Even in spiritual fog, emunah keeps us moving.

Sometimes we don’t understand why things happen. But faith means walking through the arafel, trusting Hashem is guiding us, and that one day the fog will lift.

👩‍👧 The Women of Matan Torah: Building the Future

Hashem told Moshe:

“Ko tomaru l’veis Yaakov” – Speak first to the women.

Women were the spiritual backbone in Mitzrayim, and they continue to shape the future through the home atmosphere they create. A mother’s appreciation for Torah can inspire her children for a lifetime.

🦅 Wings of Eagles: Rising Above

Hashem tells us:

“Va’esa etchem al kanfei nesharim” – I carried you on eagles' wings.

Slaves in Egypt, consumed by impurity, were lifted in an instant — like a rocket. Torah teaches us: you can change, you can grow, you can soar. If you want it — really want it — Hashem will lift you.

📘 Daf Yomi: A Dream with Wings

Rabbi Meir Shapira z”l was once mocked for his dream of Daf Yomi — learning the same page of Gemara daily worldwide. But he didn’t give up. With support from the Chafetz Chaim and the Gerrer Rebbe, his dream became a movement that unites Jews across the globe.

That’s what it means to fly on eagles’ wings — with vision, ambition, and bitachon.

🔥 Moshe and the Angels: Torah Is for Us

When Moshe ascended Har Sinai, the angels objected, saying Torah belonged in heaven. But Moshe responded:

The Torah speaks of honoring parents, of resting on Shabbat — mitzvot for human beings, not angels.

Hashem told Moshe to grasp His Throne of Glory — and answer them. He did, and the angels helped him learn.

This midrash teaches us: Torah is ours. It’s for people with struggles, temptations, and choices. And if we live by it, we can reach Hashem’s Throne itself.

🌟 "Na’aseh v’nishma" – We Will Do and We Will Understand

This Shabbat, as we hear the Aseret HaDibrot, may we truly feel it — with every one of our senses. May we see Hashem’s miracles, hear His voice, taste the sweetness of Torah, breathe in its kedusha, and feel its impact deep within us.

Even in life’s fog, may we trust Hashem. May we live with the faith to say always:

“Na’aseh v’nishma” – We will do and we will understand.

Wishing you a beautiful, meaningful Shabbat from Antwerp — with all my love.