Media: Men pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit/AP)
By RABBI AVI WEISS
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH JOURNAL
JAN 18, 2022 AT 11:19 AM
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The Torah tells us that at the moment of revelation, all the Jews at Sinai were able to see (v’chol ha’am ro’im; Exodus 20:15). Is it possible that of the few million, there was not one single person who was blind? Here the Mechilta responds and states that, in fact, a miracle occurred. In the words of this Midrash, “there was not among them a single blind person.” The Mechilta additionally points out that at Sinai, not even one Jew was mute or deaf. After all, the Torah states, “and all the people answered” and declared, “we will do and hear” (Exodus 19:8; 24:7).
The full text of the Torah actually reads “and all the people saw the voices” (ve’chol ha’am ro’im et hakolot). It is certainly possible to see images, but is it possible to see voices?
The Mechilta suggests that the power of the people to see was so profound that it went beyond the usual. In the words of Rashi, “they saw that which should be able to be heard, which is impossible to see at any other place.” In other words, at revelation, the moment was so powerful that they saw what is normally heard. Their vision was so powerful that they even saw voices.
Another thought comes to mind. Perhaps at revelation, there were those among our people who were not in perfect physical shape. There may have been some who could not hear. However, our text may be suggesting that even the hearing-impaired were able to complement this limitation by a greater ability to see. This may be the meaning of seeing voices. Unable to hear, they compensated with their ability to see. Similarly, there may have been those who couldn’t speak or who couldn’t see, but were able to somehow, with God’s help, make up for this limitation at this most amazing moment in history.
The idea that those with disabilities have a place in Judaism is fundamental to Torah. Some of our greatest leaders struggled with limitations. Isaac couldn’t see, Jacob was lame for a period of time, and Moses suffered from a severe speech impediment. Despite these difficulties, they rose to unbelievable heights.
Which is the greater miracle at the time of revelation? On the one hand, it certainly reflects God’s intervention if all people, even those who couldn’t see, were given sight at that moment. On the other hand, revelation, which embraces even those with limitations (and who among us does not have some limitation?), makes an extraordinary statement. It teaches us that just as everyone was welcome at Sinai, so too must we do everything in our power to ensure that everyone in our community is embraced.
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