Q: Why was the mountain that we received the Torah on, called Har Sinai?
A: Now, it’s called Har Sinai because that’s its name. But the Gemara says that there’s a hint here to something more; Sinai is connected to the word sinah. Sinah means hatred. The Gemara (Shabbos 89a) says, why is it called Sinai? A hatred came down on the world.
Unfortunately a number of people misinterpret this. They say that it means when the Torah was given, a hatred against Jews developed in the world, anti-semitism. But that’s not what the ma’amar is saying. Whether it’s true or not, I can’t tell you, but that’s not what the ma’amar is saying.
Rashi explains like this: When the Torah was given, a hatred came down against the nations. It means Hashem became angry at the nations of the world. That’s the plain meaning.
I’m going to take some time now to explain that because there’s a lot of confusion about this subject. At Matan Torah, a big change took place. Up until Matan Torah, all the nations were equal. Once upon a time, the whole world was one. The gentiles and the family of the Avos were all one. That’s why, Avraham Avinu, when he wanted to practice hospitality and he saw people coming whom he suspected of being idolaters, people that worshiped even the dust of their feet, nevertheless, there was no difference to him. He ran out to greet them. He prostrated himself on the ground. He begged them to eat with him and to rest with him. He went to all the limits that he could to show them hospitality.
But after Matan Torah, we don’t find such a thing. After the Torah was given, no more. Yes, to fellow Jews, yes; but not to others. Yes, you should be polite and kind to everybody but there’s a big difference now, a tremendous difference, between the Am Yisroel and the umos ha’olam. That’s why we have certain dinim in the Torah. You’re limited in your dealings with the gentiles because they lost out. Up until Matan Torah, all the nations were in Hashem’s good graces but once we accepted the Torah, no more. At that time, a sinah went down to the world. And from now on, you’ll never find Moshe Rabbeinu running out of his tent and bowing down and slaughtering oxen for an Amoni or Emori or anybody else. Nothing doing. It’s all over! “Too late,” we say to the nations of the world. “You had your opportunity. Why didn’t you come and try to be included in the opportunity of accepting the Torah?! You had your test and you failed the test.”
