Before God forged a covenant with the Jewish people at Sinai, He had forged a covenant with our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov (Berit Avot). The Sinai covenant focuses on laws, while Berit Avot centers on values. What is the relationship between these two covenants and how do they interact?
Our Sages derive the process of conversion from the events of Har Sinai; but can we really compare the Jews who left Egypt and then stood ready to accept the Torah to an absolute foreigner who is surrendering his or her previous identity? How does Sinai model future conversions, and how is it exceptional?
