The nation has been taken by storm.
In what seems like a random discovery, an audio clip of an enigmatic nature emerged this week. The very same recording sounds like "yanny" to some, while others distinctly hear "laurel". It's reminiscent of the blue and back dress of a few years ago that many perceived to be white and gold.
Scientists and language experts have explained that the sound waves of these two words are very similar. When the sound was uploaded to the internet and compressed with MP3 technology, certain elements of the sound were removed, leaving our brains to fill in the blanks. So while your ears and brain may process it as "yanny", your friend sitting next to you, might hear nothing but "laurel".
Rewind 3,330 years.
Some 3 million Jews are gathered at the base of Mt Sinai. After a 7-week journey through the desert, anticipation for the receiving of the Torah is at its apex. The mountain, covered in freshly grown flowers, is ablaze. Amidst lighting and thunder, the world stood still, nary a bird chirping. The newly minted nation able to see straight through the heavens.
And when that powerful voice emanated for the 10 Commandments, we find something fascinating. Commandment number four.
The 10 commandments appear twice in the Torah. In the Exodus scene #4 reads "Remember the Shabbos" while in Deuteronomy, the same commandment states
"Keep the Shabbos". Is this the original Laurel vs Yanny (or perhaps Leibel vsYankel)?
While it has been determined that the original uncompressed audio clip was definitely Laurel (a sound bite on Vocabulary.com), with the Shabbos commandment, it is much cooler.
In the traditional L'cha Dodi sung on Friday night, it enlightens us that "Shamor v'Zachor B'dibur Echad" - that Hashem spoke "Remember" and "Keep" in one word. Hashem, not constrained by human limitations, was indeed able to articulate two messages simultaneously. In fact, these two form the construct of all the commandments in the Torah. Remember is the proactive part of the relationship - just like remembering an anniversary gift. Keep is all about protecting the relationship from negative influences. Saying them together shows us that the do's and don'ts are both part and parcel of the same relationship.
Another takeaway is that there are times when our perception just doesn't cut it. And though I fall squarely on the Yanny side, I still know with absolute certainty, that it is actually Laurel. And as finite humans revisiting the Sinai experience this Sunday, we too may not always pick up the correct divine pitch. So when we're not feeling it, take it to the heavenly linguistics authority. Look inside the Torah, and though we may still hear something else, we can know with confidence what the truth is.
... This Sunday, whether you are on Team Yanny or Team Laurel, chocolate or vanilla ice cream, come hear the 10 commandments Live. You might just hear something you never heard before.
ב"ה