In the previous, first session of this 3-part series, we introduced the subject by a careful look at the verses in the Torah that relay the narrative of what happened at Har Sinai. We read together the verses in Shemot that describe the events in “real time”, and the verses in Devarim in which Moshe Rabbeinu retold the story to the people 40 years later. We also discussed a midrash which gave an explanation of the need for this entire display of power to Yisrael standing (terrified? We’ll discuss that in this session 2) at the bottom of the mountain.
In this session, we move on to examine midrashic understandings of the two main categories of phenomena that Bnei Yisrael experienced: the visual ones–fire, cloud, mist, etc., and, time allowing, the audial ones: the sounds and the voice.
I have posted here sources for this session for your convenience.