Thursday, Sivan 2, 5781 (46th day of the Omer) / May 13, 2021

Yesterday was Rosh Chodesh Sivan. The holiday of Shavuoth will begin Sunday night.

Rosh Chodesh Sivan is a significant day in Jewish history. On Rosh Chodesh Sivan, six weeks after the Exodus, the Jewish people came to Mount Sinai in anticipation to receiving the Torah, which was given to them six days later.

Something very significant happened that day. As they came to Mount Sinai and settled in front of The Mountain they all (over 600,000 plus) experienced a special unity and bond among each other.  The Torah expresses this with the words, “And he rested in front of The Mountain.”  Using the singular expression, “he rested.”  Our sages describe this as, “The entire Jewish nation was like one person with one heart.”

It was this feeling of unity and peace amongst all Jews that made them worthy of receiving the Torah.  As our sages point out, “The Torah was given in order to bring peace in the world.”

Today we find ourselves again united, with one heart towards our brothers and sisters in Israel, who are under attack. May G-d protect them, watch over them and bring peace to the Land and the people.

Q.   The Ten Commandments are first recorded in the Torah in the Book of Exodus (chapter 20). 

How many letters are there in the Ten Commandments as they appear in Exodus?

A.   Six hundred and twenty letters. This number coresponds to the number of Biblical mitzvot (613) and the Rabbinic mitzvot (7), which together total 620.

Q.   How old were Moshe and his brother Aaron at the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai?

A.   Moshe was eighty years and Aaron eighty three.

Q.   What is the reason for the custom to be up the first night of Shavuot and engage in Torah study?

A.   On Shavuot morning, G-d came down on Mount Sinai very early in the morning, but the people were still asleep.  G-d waited for them until they woke up.  This was considered disrespectful.  To correct this error, we stay up all night the first night of Shavuot studying Torah.

Q. The Ten Commandments were engraved in the Two Tablets. What is the lesson for us?  

A. The Ten Commandments were engraved in the Two Tablets through and through so that one could read them from both sides of the Tablets. This in itself was a miracle that they were able to be read from both sides. Letters which are engraved become one with the stone. This teaches us that the connection between a Jew and the Torah should be so strong that they become one. The Torah must be engravedwithin us and be one with every Jew.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY