BH
The Power of Verbalization: Moshe’s Role in Receiving the Torah
In Parshat Yitro, Chapter 19, Verse 8, Moshe Rabbeinu informs the Jewish people of Hashem’s conditions for receiving the Torah. The entire nation responds in unison:
“Everything which Hashem has spoken, we will do.”
Then the verse states:
“And Moshe relayed the words of the nation to Hashem.”
This raises an obvious question: Why did Moshe Rabbeinu have to repeat their response to Hashem? Hashem knows everything—He heard them say it! Rashi addresses this question directly and explains that Moshe’s act teaches us derech eretz, proper conduct. But what does that really mean in this context? If Hashem already knows, what is the purpose of repeating it?
What is Derech Eretz?
The phrase derech eretz literally means “the way of the land.” It refers to proper conduct, but its deeper meaning implies shaping a spiritual reality through physical actions. The Torah here is revealing a fundamental principle: Even the loftiest spiritual matters require a tangible vessel to bring them into the world.
One might think that since Hashem is all-knowing, the acceptance of the Torah remains purely a spiritual reality. But Hashem wanted Moshe Rabbeinu to physically ascend the mountain and verbalize the people’s acceptance—because even the highest spiritual revelations must be grounded in the physical world.
The Role of Physicality in Spirituality
Rebbe Nachman and Reb Noson teach extensively that spirituality alone is incomplete without a corresponding physical action. This is why Hashem structured the giving of the Torah with such precise, tangible components:
- The nation had to physically stand at Har Sinai.
- Moshe had to ascend and descend the mountain multiple times.
- The words of acceptance had to be spoken and relayed.
Even though Hashem knew the people’s response, He desired a physical expression to serve as the vessel for this monumental event. This principle applies to all aspects of Avodat Hashem—our spiritual service must always be expressed through action.
This is the core message behind Moshe Rabbeinu’s seemingly unnecessary repetition. It wasn’t about informing Hashem, but about establishing a tangible reality. This lesson remains relevant today: when we daven, learn Torah, or perform mitzvot, it is not enough to merely have good intentions—we must actively express and embody them.
The Fusion of the Physical and Spiritual
The idea that spirituality alone is incomplete without a physical vessel is not just a theoretical concept—it has been demonstrated through the lives of our greatest Tzaddikim. One striking example is found in the life of Rebbe Nachman himself.
Rebbe Nachman and the Mourning of His Daughter
Rebbe Nachman tragically lost his young daughter, Feiga. At the time of her passing, she was being nursed in another village. The family, desperate to save her, resorted to a sorcerer—something practically unheard of in that era—who attempted to heal her through dark means. She did not survive, and after her passing, her soul appeared to Rebbe Nachman, revealing both her death and the spiritual damage caused by seeking the sorcerer’s help.
Rebbe Nachman knew all of this through Ruach HaKodesh, divine inspiration. Yet, when he returned home, his family hid the news from him for over a month. It was only when he asked his eldest daughter, Adel, to tell him the truth that he finally heard it from a physical source. This is where a halachic principle comes into play:
In Jewish law, if a relative’s passing is discovered more than 30 days after their death, the mourning period is reduced to just one hour instead of the full seven-day shiva. Even though Rebbe Nachman already knew his daughter had passed, he was not obligated to mourn until he heard it from a physical messenger.
This demonstrates a profound concept: Even knowledge gained through spiritual means—no matter how absolute—is not halachically binding until it is transferred through a tangible, physical conduit.
The Parallels to Moshe Rabbeinu’s Mission
This same principle applies to Moshe Rabbeinu in Parshat Yitro. Hashem, who knows everything, instructed Moshe to go down, hear the people’s acceptance of the Torah, and then return to inform Him. Why? Not because Hashem needed to be informed, but because He wanted Moshe to teach derech eretz—that spirituality must always be anchored in physical reality.
Moshe Rabbeinu ascending Har Sinai again to repeat the nation’s response was a lesson in how divine revelation must pass through human effort. This is why Hashem structured the receiving of the Torah in this manner: He wants the infinite light to merge with the finite world.
The Purpose of Merging Spirituality and Physicality
Rebbe Nachman teaches that Hashem specifically designed this world to be a place where spirituality can be contained within physicality. A person might mistakenly believe that true holiness is to transcend the material world—to live like a hermit, completely disconnected from the physical. But that is not what Hashem desires.
Instead, Hashem wants human beings—who eat, drink, work, and engage in the world—to elevate their physical existence through mitzvot. The greatest revelation of Godliness comes when spirituality and physicality merge. A person, in their everyday life—eating, sleeping, engaging in business—can still connect to the infinite light of Hashem. This is the essence of derech eretz.
The Lesson for Our Own Lives
This is the message Moshe Rabbeinu was instructed to impart. Even though Hashem knew the people’s response, Moshe had to verbalize it—because divine truth must be expressed in the physical realm.
For us, the lesson is clear: We cannot be satisfied with spirituality that remains abstract and disconnected. Hashem wants us to bring His light into the world through action—through Torah learning, mitzvot, and tangible expressions of holiness.
May we merit to apply this lesson, maintaining the delicate balance between the physical and the spiritual, and in doing so, fulfill Hashem’s ultimate will—that His presence be revealed in this world.
This article also appears on the BRI breslov.org website: https://breslov.org/the-derekh-eretz-of-moshe/
For a video presentation of this article: https://youtu.be/LSp8O9e0zv8
This class is based on Likutey Moharan lesson 24. For more on this lesson: linktr.ee/breslovtherapy_lesson_24 If you have been inspired by this class/lecture please share it with your friends. Thank you. Follow us: https://breslovtherapy.blogspot.com/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2cRAICkl6Hk9CdKUrAxSMJ Soundcloud: @breslov-therapy FB: www.facebook.com/breslovtherapytm.meir To donate or sponsor a class: https://linktr.ee/breslovtherapy Contact us: @: breslovtherapy@gmail.com WhatsApp: +1-732-800-1863 #breslov #breslovtherapy #rebbenachman #rebnoson #likuteymoharan #likuteyhalakhot #likuteytefilot #meirelkabas #simcha
Shabbat Shalom.
Meir Elkabas