Shavuot #5 CHAG SAMEACH

The Midrash relates that before G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He asked for guarantors. The nation offered several options - the Patriarchs, Moses and the other prophets, but G-d rejected them all. The people then volunteered: "Our children will be our guarantors."

G-d agreed and gave the Torah.

Therefore it is appropriate, on the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, that they, the Jewish children including infants, should join us and also be present in the synagogue on the first day of Shavuot, to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.

Before the Torah reading, it is proper to explain to the children how important receiving the Torah is. This will allow them to receive the Torah in a full and complete manner. Similarly, adults should prepare to receive the Torah by increasing their Torah study.

Before we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, we told G-d: "We will do and we will listen," making a commitment to observe the Torah, before we even knew what G-d was commanding us. This practice is the way we should train our children and ourselves to approach the Torah. The first thing is actual deed. Practicing them as an integral part of every dimension of our existence.

Whether or not the children understand the reading, they will realize that it is special and that he did establish a bond with the Torah.

Wishing you all to receive the Torah with joy and inner inspiration!

May we celebrate Shavuot in Yerushalayim with Moshiach Now!

P.S. The festival of Shavuot is an auspicious time Above. It is an opportune time in improving ourselves without interference by the accusing Satan - just like the time of Shofar-sounding on Rosh Hashana and the holy day of the Fast of Yom Kippur.

Shavuot #4

We celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the Giving of the Torah before the eyes of the entire Jewish people.

G-d descended upon Mount Sinai and uttered the first of the Ten Commandments: "I am the L-rd your G-d Who took you out of Egypt."

Of all the things G-d could have said at this climactic moment of Divine revelation, why did He choose to remind the Jews that He had taken them out of Egypt? Wouldn't it have been more "dramatic" to refer to Himself as the Creator of heaven and earth, or something equally as "big"? Isn't the fact that G-d created the world more significant than the Exodus from Egypt?

As Chasidic philosophy explains, from a certain perspective the answer is no. The world was created (and continues to be sustained) ex nihilo, "something from nothing." To a human being this is indeed miraculous, but to G-d, Who is infinite and without limitation, it is "no big deal."

The Exodus, by contrast, was an even greater miracle. In order to take the Jewish people out of Egypt, G-d had to alter the natural laws He had already set in place, and to perform supernatural wonders. G-d had to expend even more power, as it were, to break through the boundaries and limitations He had already established.

We see this on the personal level as well. It is relatively easy to accustom ourselves to follow the right path from the beginning, but much harder to change negative habits that are already ingrained.

However, when G-d took our forefathers out of Egypt, He gave each and every Jew throughout the generations the ability to transcend personal limitations. This power to overcome negative behaviors and serve G-d to the fullest was rooted within us with the Giving of the Torah, and has been part of our inheritance ever since.

As we celebrate Shavuot, let us accept the Torah anew with an active consciousness of the Giver of the Torah, realizing that the Torah is the purpose of the entire creation. In this manner, we will bring peace and tranquility to each individual Jew and to the world at large.

Shavuot #3

Three people in Jewish history are particularly associated with Shavuot: Moshe (Moses), King David and the Baal Shem Tov. And these three great leaders are also connected with Moshiach and the Redemption.

As the one through whom the Torah was given, Moshe is intimately connected with Shavuot. (The Torah, in some places, is even referred to as "The Torah of Moshe"). Moshiach will be like Moshe in his leadership qualities, humility and Torah scholarship.

Shavuot is the birthday and anniversary of the passing of King David. One of the functions of Moshiach is that he will restore the David'ic dynasty, for Moshiach will be a descendant of King David, a human king.

Finally, we come to the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov too, passed away on Shavuot. The Baal Shem Tov described a spiritual "journey" when he visited the chamber of Moshiach. He asked Moshiach, "Master, when will you come?"

Moshiach replied, "When your wellsprings - your teachings - will spread forth to the outside."

The Baal Shem Tov's teachings - Chasidut - were recorded and expounded upon by his various disciples. They are a foretaste of the new and deeper revelations of Torah we are promised will be revealed and taught by Moshiach, himself.

This year on Shavuot, when we all Jews, young and old, gather in our synagogues to re-experience the giving of the Torah, let us also reconnect with the essence of the holiday and cry out for the ultimate revelation of the Torah and G-d through Moshiach.

Shavuot #2

The public revelation of the Torah, which occurred before millions of people, is the central and most definitive event in the history of the world.
One of the prerequisites for receiving the Torah was Jewish unity. As it is now right before Shavuot, it is an especially appropriate time to increase our love for our fellow Jews and strengthen a sense of true Jewish solidarity and brotherhood among ourselves.

The Baal Shem Tov taught that we must love every Jew without exception, regardless of merit. To illustrate, he used the following analogy:
G-d performs the same mitzvot He commands the Jewish people to observe. We keep Shabbat, He keeps Shabbat. We put of tefillin, He puts on tefillin. G-d's tefillin, however, do not consist of parchment and leather straps but are the Jewish people themselves, so to speak.
G-d's tefillin that are worn on the head are the learned Jews, who have utilized their intellect to acquire the Torah's wisdom. His tefillin that are worn on the arm are the simple Jews who perform His mitzvot. Both, the tefillin of the head and the tefillin of the arm are necessary components in the mitzva. And yet, in actual performance, the tefillin of the arm take precedence; the tefillin of the head are donned only after the tefillin have been wrapped on the arm first.
From this we learn just how important it is to love every Jew, regardless of social standing or intellectual achievements. For even in G-d's scheme of things a simple Jew comes first!
May our firm resolve to increase in Ahavat Yisrael tip the balance in our favor and bring about the immediate revelation of Moshiach now.

Shavuot #1

The Torah was given by G‑d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G‑d's gift and G‑d "re-gives" the Torah.

The word Shavuot means 'weeks'. It marks the completion of the seven week counting period between Passover and Shavuot.

The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event—one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our Sages have compared it to a wedding between G‑d and the Jewish people.

Shavuot also means oath and on this day G‑d swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him.

The holiday of Shavuot is a two-day holiday.
* Women and girls light holiday candles to usher in the holiday, both on the first and second nights of the holiday.
* It is customary to stay up all night learning Torah on the first night of Shavuot.
* All men, women and children should go to the synagogue on the first day of Shavuot to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
* As on other holidays, special meals are eaten, and no "work" may be performed.
* Many eat dairy foods on Shavuot commemorating the fact that upon receiving the Torah, including the Kosher laws, the Jewish people could not cook meat in their pots which had yet to be rendered Kosher.
* On the second day of Shavuot, the Yizkor memorial service is recited.