THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE TORAH

Adapted from the Writings of Rav Kook

On what day did the Jewish people receive the Torah? The majority opinion is that the Torah was given on the sixth of Sivan. Rabbi Yossi, however, disagreed. He said that the Torah was given on the seventh of Sivan [Shabbat 86b].

What is the essence of this disagreement? What is the significance of the date of "Matan Torah"?

Rav Kook explained that the Sages were debating the fundamental purpose of the Torah. The sixth and seventh of Sivan correspond to the very first sixth and seventh days in history – the sixth and seventh day of Creation.

Most of the Sages preferred to associate the Siniatic Revelation to the sixth day of Creation, the day that God created man. The primary objective of the Torah, the Sages emphasized, is to complete that act of creation, the birth of humanity. The goal of Torah is to perfect humanity, to recreate it in a better, purer form.

Rabbi Yossi, on the other hand, chose to stress the ultimate goal of the Torah. For after the Torah makes its mark on the human soul and its ideals are internalized in the human heart, it will take root into the innermost soul of the cosmos, uplifting and refining the entire universe.

In terms of this ultimate goal of the Torah, it is fitting that the Torah be revealed to the world on the seventh day, the concluding day of Creation. With the seventh day, the Torah is linked to the day when creation was completed – the Sabbath, the day of ultimate perfection and rest.