Q&A: Revelation and Mount Sinai
Revelation and Mount Sinai
Question
Hello Rabbi,
You write that God requires revelation, and that this revelation is apparently Mount Sinai.
If so, it is hard for me: what was before this revelation, and also why wasn’t there revelation for every being with free choice?
Best regards,
Thank you very much
Answer
Any reason the Holy One, blessed be He, had for creating the world can be challenged in the same way: so what was before creation? I’ve explained this here several times. There are situations in which preparation is required, and when it is completed, then the act arrives (creation, or revelation). The purpose of the revelation is humanity and creation as a whole, not a particular person. Just as there are different circles among human beings even after the revelation: priests, Jews (men and women), gentiles—each of whom received a different task and not all the tasks.
Discussion on Answer
I didn’t understand.
Even if we assume that the obligation for gentiles is the seven Noahide commandments, is the revelation at Mount Sinai enough to satisfy the requirement of revelation for gentiles as well? It didn’t really work that way in practice.