Yitro - about the boundaries

Exodus 19:12-13 And you shall set boundaries for the people around, saying, Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.'  No hand shall touch it, for he shall be stoned or cast down; whether man or beast, he shall not live. When the ram's horn sounds a long, drawn out blast, they may ascend the mountain.

 

For the second time while reading Yisro this paragraph draw my attention, more than even the majestic phrase about the כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים I bore you on eagles' wings, and I brought you to Me. (19:4).  There is a yearning in every human heart to approach the divine, to come closer, just like the plant turns towards the sun, striving to grow taller, to get more, so the human spirit is striving to grow, to reach higher and higher.  But there is a limit, a boundary, a certain balance, precise conditions necessary for meaningful life.

 

Moshe was the only human being summoned to ascend the mountain, but once he came up Hashem sends him back: "Descend, warn the people lest they break through to the Lord, and many of them will fall.” (19:21) … And Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot ascend to Mount Sinai, for You warned us saying, Set boundaries for the mountain and sanctify it.' "But the Lord said to him, "Go, descend, and [then] you shall ascend, and Aaron with you, but the priests and the populace shall not break [their formation] to ascend to the Lord, lest He wreak destruction upon them." (19:23-24)

 

Given my impulsive nature I should be the last person to speak of the boundaries.  Yet I am not so proud as to say ‘this is how I am and it’s fine’.  I know when I am wrong, too often too late.  I fast after I do or say something stupid – that’s how I became thin.  A soul of another person is part of the divine, and I break the boundaries all the time with hasty words.  There is a part of me, like another personality, that is ready to rush into the fire or jump off the roof.  How can I lead, or teach, or take care, what kind of example do I set?  And yet it somehow inspires and draws others to follow.  It’s the same life force that drives one to become a four-star general that can also destroy and lead into an abyss.  Set the boundary, go back and remind them again and again to stay back, not to break through. 

 

For some people the boundary is not acceptable.  They say: ‘if I cannot ascend the mountain like Moshe Rabeinu, if I don’t feel the divine spirit, if I don’t get high from a prayer, then it’s not for me.’  I am not proud.  I know that I will get burned, again and again, but I’ll remain at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the shofar blast to be summoned.  Just stay back.

 הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם בִּצְבָאוֹת אוֹ בְּאַיְלוֹת הַשָּׂדֶה אִם תָּעִירוּ | וְאִם תְּעוֹרְרוּ אֶת הָאַהֲבָה עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּץ: