|
Next week we will be observing the festival of Shavuot.
Of all the festivals, I really look forward to Shavuot, not just because I love milky foods or the fact that compared to the preparation required for say Pesach and Succot, Shavuot is a doddle (!) but it presents an opportunity to reaffirm ones love for Torah and all that observing a Torah life entails.
The Sages tell us that the unique spiritual quality and message of each festival can be re-lived and tapped into as we experience them every year.
So for example on Succot we come out of the comfort of our self-built physical homes and sit in our Succa (if it hasn’t blown away!) to testify our belief in G-d’s miraculous protection as he protected the generation of Jews who came out of Egypt in the desert.
On Shavuot we commemorate the giving of the Torah in the Sinai desert over 3,300 years ago. We are told the Torah was given amongst great bangs of thunder, lightening and smoke and the sound of the shofar was heard ringing throughout the entire world.
Similarly we should feel every year at Shavuot as if we are experiencing our own Mount Sinai and receiving the Torah.
How are we really supposed to do this in the modern day and age?
I mean even if there is a terrible thunderstorm (you never know living in Glasgow!) next Wed/Thurs and the smoke from the volcano descends even more helps us recreate the Mount Sinai experience – what does it mean to receive/accept the Torah?
The ‘yoke’ of Torah involves mitzvos pertaining to every single area of our lives. The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. At times one can feel overwhelmed. Torah is like a vast ocean, its depth is infinite.
But we must not feel overwhelmed – after all there are many mitzvos we do already – most of us wouldn’t dream of violating commandments such as ‘Do not murder’ or ‘Do not steal’.
Shavuot is about accepting upon ourselves, with love, the mitzvot we do already (the Torah we keep) and being open and ready to try to learn/explore/do even more mitzvot in the coming year.
In our recent Qn/answer session in shul somebody asked why Shavuot is only a 1 day festival (2 days in the Diaspora) and doesn’t have any significant aspects bar the cheesecake compared to the richness of Pesach, Rosh Hashana etc.
The answer is that Shavuot is the anniversary of the Jews receiving the Torah but really we are to feel as if we are receiving the Torah every day of the year anew.
As an Orthodox Jewess my belief system is challenged every day eg clothes shopping can be a nightmare to find nice ‘tznius’ (modest) clothing!
A final thought I would like to share – if you can find a quiet moment outside in the fresh air, surrounded by nature, before each Shabbat or festival – it is almost as if you can feel the energy of that Shabbat or festival about to enter the world. Tune in - and with G-d’s help we can enhance our Jewish experience even more.
Good Yom Tov/Chag Sameach
Anna xx
PS – One explanation for the milky foods on Shavuot is that Torah can be compared to milk – just like milk provides all nourishment for a baby – so too Torah nourishes our souls.
|
