May 20, 2021 / 9 Sivan, 5781 • Parshat Naso
Issue 667
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

Hearing G-d’s Voice

At the end of this week's portion, the Torah describes how G-d spoke to Moses inside the Tabernacle. Moses would hear G-d’s voice as loud as it had been heard on Mount Sinai, but the sound miraculously stopped at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting; thus, no one outside could hear it.

When Moses would come into the Tent of Meeting so G-d could speak with him, he would hear His voice.

Numbers 7:89


Much as we might wish it, we cannot be allowed to hear G-d’s voice everywhere and at all times. If we could, we would be deprived of our freedom of choice.

A world in which G-d’s voice is constantly heard does not challenge its population. It was G-d’s desire to create a world of Divine silence, in which, through our efforts, we can uncover G-d’s concealed voice.

It is our task to take what we heard during that short period at Mount Sinai and within that small space of the Tabernacle—and each of us has heard G-d’s voice somewhere and at some time, however fleetingly—and transmit it to the rest of time and space.

—from Daily Wisdom #1