" They stood in the bottom of the mountain. " (Shemos 19:17) The passuk ought to have said that Klal Yisrael was standing "at" the bottom of the mountain. What could the Torah possibly mean when it says we were standing"in" the bottom of the mountain? The Gemara (Shabbos 88a) explains that this passuk is actually meant to be taken literally. The Jews were actually standing inside the mountain! The Gemara says that Hashem held Har Sinai over Klal Yisrael and said to them either accept the Torah or this will be the place that you are buried. Tosafos asks, why was this necessary? The Jews had already said "naaseh vinishma" expressing their sincere intent to be mekabel the Torah. Why would it be necessary to hold the mountain over their heads and threaten them with death when they have already committed? Tosafos answers that there was a chance that Klal Yisrael would retract when they saw the great fire on Har Sinai. The fire was so exceptional that it caused their souls to fly out of their bodies. Tosafos suggests that there was a concern that the experience would be so overwhelming that Klal Yisrael would not be willing to accept the Torah. But even with Tosafos answer, the entire story seems somewhat sadistic. Is this the way a loving God behaves? Either accept my Torah or face certain death? Is this the way God wants us to accept his most precious possession? If we are to take on God's mission in this world should it be because we were coerced? Tosafos obviously has these ins
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