You May Be Standing on the Other Mountain — But We Can Still Say Amen Together

There is a remarkable scene described in the Torah that contains a message our divided world desperately needs.

As the Jewish people prepared to enter the Land of Israel, the twelve tribes were divided into two groups. Six tribes stood on Mount Gerizim, associated with blessing, and six stood on Mount Eival, associated with warning and consequence.

At first glance, the arrangement seems troubling.

Were the people on Mount Gerizim somehow the “good” tribes, while those on Mount Eival were the “bad” ones? Absolutely not.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe draws attention to a crucial detail in the ceremony.

When the blessings were proclaimed toward Mount Gerizim, everyone answered “Amen” — including those standing on Mount Eival. And when the warnings were proclaimed toward Mount Eival, everyone again answered “Amen” — including those standing on........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)