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Their covenant and undertaking to fulfil the laws of the Torah and dedicate their lives to mitzvah observance crowned them a "Kingdom of priests and a Holy Nation". The Sinai encounter in the bedrock of Jewish living. For it affirms the divine origins of Jewish law and the intimate relationship that exists between man and G-d. Indeed, the covenant of Sinai is compared to an actual chuppah, wedding canopy with the Children of Israel as the sinless, radiant and beautiful bride pledging her faithfulness forever to her 'Bridegroom'. The Torah is the ketubah, marriage contract. This document defines the parties involved, their identity and lineage, what they bring into their relationship, and most importantly, their mutual responsibilities and commitment. The divine instruction in the Torah laws call for man's moral accountability by imposing a religious life of obedience and meaningful living on mankind. The Torah laws were the inspiration for much of the legal systems in the Western world today. The Jew flies the banner of a moral existence, proclaiming the existence of G-d and that man has to conduct himself accordingly. That mankind has a code of living and is more than just a beast subject to animalistic instincts is part of the legacy and yoke conferred by Sinai. Sinai is the ladder that enjoins man to imbue his existence with spiritual meaning, to ascend the ladder and reach out to G-d. Interestingly, the numerical value of the word "Sinai" is the same as "sulam, a ladder" (130). This is one of the causes for the name "Sinai" that is related to the Hebrew word sinah, hatred of the Jewish people that went out from there to the nations of the world". Their enmity has to do with the responsibility and commitment that Sinai confers upon mankind - drawing G-d and holy living into the equation. Jewish marriage is one of kedushah, the holiness. When the relationship between man and woman is as it should be, the Divine Presence descends from heaven and rests on their home. This duplicates ho the Divine Presence similarly descended to rest on Sinai in the giving of the Torah. Throughout the wandering in the desert, the Children of Israel encamped around the Sanctuary where the Divine Presence was in residence, in the same manner as they had encamped around Mount Sinai. Indeed, the sanctification at Sinai was carried through in the Sanctuary where the experience of the Divine Revelation -the intimate presence of G-d and holiness- was perpetuated by dwelling within the Jewish camp. Sinai is the celebration of the marital relationship between Israel and their Creator - the most beautiful Jewish wedding.
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