The excitement of anticipation oftentimes outweighs the actual experience itself.
It’s true. We look forward to something for long periods of time and then —poof — it’s over. We move on.
We move on — too fast that is. Onto the next thing. Rinse, wash, repeat. Anticipate, experience, move on only to start searching for the next experience.
Curiously, the Torah tells us in this week’s parsha that when the Jewish nation received the Torah they encamped at the “foot” of the mountain.
At the foot? Not at the peak?
No, they didn’t ascend the mountain to receive the Torah. They didn’t because when it comes to foundational and critical moments one doesn’t “arrive” and then move on. It becomes life’s mission to continuously— boldly, relentlessly, persistently and joyously climb the mountain.
Earlier this week I saw this amazing photo and story of two Israeli soldiers Shachar and Boris who pledged to each other before going to fight in Gaza that when they come out they’d climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately Shachar was injured by a Hamas grenade that exploded near him and Boris was injured in a tunnel. Both of them suffered significant injuries.
This past week, despite their injuries they climbed and reached the top of Kilimanjaro carrying a flag with the faces of four of their friends who never made it home.
Shachar said as follows:
“We want to show everyone struggling physically or mentally to believe in themselves. Get up. Leave your home. See what you are capable of.
Incredible. Boris and Shachar got to the peak of Kilimanjaro but their unbreakable spirit and their heroism ensures that they will continue to reach even greater heights on the proverbial mountain called — life!
The Torah is the ultimate book of life for the Jewish nation. Receiving it at the foot of the mountain was deliberate. The excitement of anticipation was handed to each of us — to learn it, love it, live it, cherish it — passing it on to our children Dor L’dor!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom