CARLSBAD, California — This Friday and Saturday we celebrate the awesome Holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot means ‘Weeks,’ and it also means ‘Oaths.’ Shavuot is also called Z’man Matan Toratainu, which means ‘The Time of the Giving of Our Torah.’ Additionally it is called Chag HaBikurim, ‘The Festival of the First Fruit,’ as the holiday marks the beginning of the season when the First Fruit Offerings would be brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
There is no doubt that the main emphasis and theme of this joyous time is the occasion when the Almighty bestowed upon the Jewish people the ultimate gift; the Torah. In fact, Shavuot is, in certain respects, the culmination of the Holiday of Passover.
By way of explanation; On Passover the Jewish people were freed from Egyptian bondage. The people had suffered enormously due to the cruelty of their masters. Naturally, the suffering led to a people who had been severely weakened. Through the tremendous miracles described in the Torah the people were freed, which was the birth of the Jewish nation.
Why did G-d intervene to free the Jewish people? G-d Himself explained when He said that the people would be given the Torah and then be ushered into the Promised Land. G-d declared that we were meant to be His servants. We would not be able to devote ourselves to our true King while enslaved to others. When understood in this manner we can clearly see how Shavuot represents the fulfillment of the Passover promise of freedom.
In the Mishnah (Pirkei Avot Chapter 6) the Rabbis declare that the only true freedom is through Torah, for otherwise one is enslaved to his/her personal animalistic tendencies and appetites. Indeed, we need something to raise us up from our evil inclination so that our pure and holy G-dly soul can shine forth, unfettered by the limitations of crass physicality. The Torah is that tool, lovingly given to us by the Almighty.
When the Jewish people promised to accept and keep the Torah G-d promised to keep the Jewish people, in perpetuity. This exchange of vows brings to mind a couple joining together in holiness under the wedding canopy. The connection created by this incredible event is unbreakable and limitless. It exists to this very day. We can therefore consider Shavuot as our anniversary with G-d.
How are we to fully feel and experience our intrinsic connection with G-d? The answer has always been and will always be the Torah. We can now see and appreciate the power of Shavuot.
This holiday is only celebrated for one day unless one is outside of Israel where it is celebrated for two days. There are no special commandments associated with Shavuot, as opposed to Pesach when we eat Matzah (not leavened products), or Sukkot when we build a Sukkah and shake the Four Species. This is due to the fact that the Torah itself is the theme of the day. It is a time to embrace the Torah, study the Torah, treasure the Torah, and make positive resolutions to enhance one’s study of Torah. Just like Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which is 48 hours of intense judgment and self-reflection, Shavuot is 48 hours of intense examination of our relationship with the Torah.
What is it that makes the Torah so special? It is the will and wisdom of the Holy One, blessed by He. It is the conduit through which we connect that which is most G-dly within us, our intellect, to the will and wisdom of our Creator. A connection through the intellect, is the most profound connection of them all!
It behooves each and every one of us to utilize every moment that we can of this holiday to grow our attachment to the Torah, and the best way to do that is to STUDY Torah!
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shavuot and Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.