This week we read the Parsha of Kabalas HaTorah. The Chumash tells us that three months after leaving Metzrayim, Bnei Yisrael reached the desert of Sinai. There they camped before the mountain and began preparing themselves to accept the Torah. On the third day, the Shofar was blown and the nation gathered at the foot of the mountain -- "VaYizvu B’Tachtis HaHar."

The Gemara in Shabbos (Daf Pay Ches) teaches "V’Kafah Hakadosh Baruch Hu Alayhem Har Kigigis," Hashem held the mountain over them like a barrel. And He said to them "Im Atem Mikablim HaTorah Mutav," if you are Mikabel the Torah, all will be good. "V’Im Lav, Sham Tihay Kevuraschem," and if not, there will be your graves. There are many different explanations given for this Gemara. The following Vort came to R’ Mordechai z"tl in a dream the Shabbos of Parshas Yisroh 1990.

"V’Kafah Alayhem Har Kigigis," and Hashem held the mountain over their heads like a barrel. The word "Har" spelled Hey Resh has a gematria of 205. That is the same gematria one gets when combining the names of the four Galuyot, exiles. The four are: Madai (Mem, Daled, Yud), Yavan (Yud, Vov, Nun), Bavel (Bais, Bais, Lamed) and Edom (Alef, Daled, Vov, Mem).

When Hashem held the mountain over their heads he was telling them about Galus. He warned Bnei Yisrael that if they are not Mikabel the Torah, Galus will destroy them. The only way for us to keep strong and whole during the years of Galus is with the Torah. Without the Torah, the nation will die through suffering and assimilation. As we go through our daily lives in this Galus, let us remember how our forefathers before us survived in their daily lives -- "Naaseh V’Nishmah." By being Mikabel the Torah and the glory of Hashem.