9. These three dimensions of the connection between the Jews and G-d – our portion, our lot, and our inheritance – are, as a whole, connected with three general eras in the history of our people: a) the era before the Giving of the Torah, b) the era following the Giving of the Torah, i.e., the time during which the Jews carry out their Divine service in the observance of the Torah and its mitzvos, and c) the Ultimate Future, the time when the Jews will receive their reward for their observance, including the ultimate perfection of the reward.
It is possible to explain the above as follows: Even before the Giving of the Torah, the Jews were referred to as G-d’s children, as stated in connection with the Exodus from Egypt, “My son, my firstborn, Israel.” Although that event changed the nature of the Jews’ relationship with G-d, even beforehand, the unique quality of the Jewish people choice – that the image of the Jews be intrinsically engraved in His thought like the image of a child is engraved in its father’s mind after the child’s birth.
The bond between the Jews and G-d involves His Essence, which transcends any conception of tzimtzum (contraction and self-limitation) whatsoever. Therefore, the connection at this level is referred to as “our inheritance.” In this instance, the heir becomes entirely identified with the one from whom he is inheriting because he shares the essence of that person. His individual identity is not relevant at all.
