<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">The Torah states regarding the preparation for receiving the Torah at </span></b><st1:place><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Mount Sinai</span></b></st1:place><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">: <i>"And the Israelites encamped there near the mountain."</i> (Exodus 19:2)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">The Hebrew word for "encamped" is <i>"vayichan."</i> What is particularly interesting is that the second time <i>"vayichan"</i> is used it is in the singular form; the grammatically correct form would be <i>"vayachanu" </i>(which is used the first time in the sentence). What do we learn from the word <i>"vayichan"</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Rashi tells us that the singular form is used to tell us that they encamped "as one person with a single desire." From here Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz commented that we see that the love of our fellow man is a prerequisite for accepting the Torah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Rabbi Yitzchok of Vorki noted that the word <i>"vayichan"</i> besides meaning "encamped" also comes from the word <i>"khain,"</i> which means "grace" or "favor." That is, the people found favor in the eyes of one another and therefore found favor in the eyes of the Almighty.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">When you just see the faults and shortcomings of another person, you become distant from him or her. However, when you see the good and positive traits in other people, you become closer to them. This unity is a fundamental requirement for accepting the Torah and certainly for keeping it properly. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">How is this developed? We find in the book Nachal Kidumim (by the great scholar, R' Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai, known as the Chida) that togetherness between people is possible only when there is humility. When the Israelites came to </span></b><st1:place><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Mount Sinai</span></b></st1:place><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">, which is the symbol of humility, they internalized this attribute.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: Arial; ">When you have humility, you do not feel a need to gain power over others or feel above them by focusing on their faults. When you have the trait of humility you can allow yourself to see the good in others. The traits of love for others, seeing the good in them, and having humility go hand in hand. By growing in these traits you make yourself into a more elevated person who is worthy of receiving the Torah.</span></b></p><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; white-space: nowrap; "><b>Based on </b><i><b>Growth Through Torah </b></i><b>by Rabbi Z. Pliskin</b></span></font></p><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: nowrap; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-weight: normal; white-space: normal; "><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font size="3"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The following was done just for fun, so those who do not appreciate g’matria, feel free to ignore</span>.</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><b><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><o:p><font size="3"><b>The g'matria of Noach is 58. The word "khain" [58] means grace or favor (which Noah found).</b></font></o:p></span></font></div></span></b></span></font></p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font face="Verdana" size="3"></font></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">The g’matria of Sarah is 505.<span> </span>The word “V’la-a-voseinu” [505] means “and to our forefathers” (or patriarchs). Sarah was the wife of the first patriarch.'</span></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font face="Verdana" size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span> </div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">The g’matria of Yisro is 616. The word “HaTorah” [616] means “The Torah.” Yisro was the father-in-law of the most important prophet who received “The Torah.” Also, Rashi informs us that Yisro had seven names - Re'uel, Yeser, Yisro, Chovev, Chever, Keini, and Putiel. He was called Yeser (addition) for he advised Moshe in the matter of the judicial system, thereby adding on to "The Torah." When he converted and fulfilled the Mitzvos the letter "Vav" was added to his name, hence the name Yisro.<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font face="Verdana" size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font face="Verdana" size="3"></font></span> </p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">The g’matria of Korach is 308. The word “kivro” [308] means “his burial place” (or his grave).<span> </span>Korach talked himself right into “his burial place.”<o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: black; font-family: Arial; "><font size="3">The g’matria of Balak is 132. The word “avono” [132] means “his iniquity.” In thinking of Balak, we can only think of “his iniquity” (in the collective sense).</font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">R Wolberg</font></div></b></font><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div></div></div></body></html>