We’ve been talking about the importance of shalom, and how great peace and brotherly love is. One of the things that the Bet HaLevi quotes is the pasuk, וַיִּחַן־שָׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶגֶד הָהָר The Jewish people emcamped opposite the mountain. Even though other words in this passage say, in plural, “and they traveled.., and they encamped..”by Har Sinai it says, “and he encamped,” Rashi says they were united as one man with one heart.” Masechet Derech Eretz says (in the discussion Perek Shalom) God says Jewish people, you hated argument and loved peace and became one camp, now is the time that I will give you the Torah.“ The commentary Yefe Toar, on the Midrash Raba in Vayikrah (9/9) Says that although Har Sinai was the right mountain, they would have waited there until they worked out their arguments. It’s clear that the only way they could have received the Torah was if everything was worked out together. The Chida, on his commentary on the Shelah in Parashat Yitro, says a tremendous hiddush. One of the ten things that we are supposed to remember every day ( according to the Ramban it’s a positive Commandments from the Torah), is to remember Har Sinai. Why do we need to remember this every day if we have the Torah now? The Chida answers that it’s because we have to remember that we did not receive the Torah until we were united. And we also have to remember the lesson of Har Sinai. It was the smallest mountain, and it was chosen because of its humility. And only through humility is there achdut/unity. If you aren’t humble, you cannot get along with people. So our daily responsibility is to remember the lessons of Har Sinai. If you want to receive the Torah, it will only be if you have achdut. The Chida continues with a pasuk from Malachi, 2,6, where it talks about a great teacher of the Jewish people ( some say it’s Aharon or Pinchas) תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ The words of Emet were in his mouth, because בְּשָׁלוֹם וּבְמִישׁוֹר הָלַךְ אִתִּי He had peace. You can’t have Torat Emet without peace. And the Chida says that this comes from humility. The lesson of Har Sinai is to be humble, and only through humility can you receive the Torah. Because without shalom, there is no Torah. Shalom is the receptacle of blessing, and there is no greater blessing than Torah, but you need shalom. The Sefer Shevet Mussar says in the book Midrash Itamri (13th derush) that it says Moshe kibel Torah M’Sinai Moshe received the Torah from Sinai (rather that at Sinai) because he received it from the lessons of Har Sinai. Moshe was chosen to be the conduit to receive the Torah because he was humble. He was like Har Sinai. The lessons of Har Sinai gave Moshe the ability to receive the Torah.