<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div>With Shvuos approaching next week, i was wondering about a few basic tenets of our relationship to God via the acceptance of the Torah:</div><div>1. Why is the Torah binding if given to us by force? The answer often given is that we re-accepted it during the times of Purim. What then was the Torah's status upon us in-between Har Sinai, and the times of Purim? </div><div>(Another simpler answer is that a government or governing body (or hashem for that matter) does not have to ask its constituents if they agree to the terms of their given law. That would apply to those present at the formation of the society or government, and by extension, to those born later into that same society.)</div><div>2. Is an agreement forced upon or given to, or made by a soul binding upon a body, or even a
body associated (whole or in part) to a given soul at a later date? It is said that our souls were all at Har Sinai at the giving of the Torah. 2a. does that bind our bodies now? 2b. were all of our souls there at the times of Purim? 2c. Were some souls present at Sinai but not at Purim?</div><div>If yes, where does that leave us.....</div><div>Thanks much, and Shavuos Tov</div><div style="position:fixed"></div>
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