Shavuot

by: Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

Shavuot is the holiday that we are told we received the Torah, and so we stay up all night engrossed in Torah to commemorate the day. However, by staying up all night, we are exhausted by the next morning– on the day we received the Torah. This seems counter-productive, no?

To understand this dilemma, let us first take a look at what the Torah is supposed to mean to us daily. The Baalei Hatosfot (the grandchildren of Rashi) ask a question in Gemara Brachot 11b: Why is it that when you return home from a long day of work you don’t have to say a bracha on the Torah again? There is no way you had in mind the whole day that you would be learning later. Contrary to this, we have to say a bracha for sitting in the sukkah if you have left for a certain period of time. Why is there a difference with the case of Birkat HaTorah?

With regards to learning Torah, one is supposed to think that one will go to learn Torah as the day goes on. It should be his/her intention to have an opportunity to learn. Even if one is involved with other things that occupy one’s mind, one should take a few seconds to think about one’s desire and intention learn Torah.

Shavuot is a time of preparation that enables us to accept the Torah every day of the year. We actually see in Gemarah Shobbos 86a, we didn’t even get the Torah on the 6th of Sivan (the day we celebrate Shavuot). We only received the Torah on the 7th of Sivan. It is clear from this that Shavuot is really only about the preparation to receive the Torah, and that we receive the Torah again and again every day of the year.

Shavuot is meant to give every generation the strength to accept the Torah into their lives ever day.

With the help of G-d, may this Shavuot create a new spark of love for Torah in all of us so that it will be carried into the rest of the year.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!