Friday, Sivan 3, 5781 (47th day of the Omer) / May 14, 2021

Sunday night we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, the day when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. In Israel one day is celebrated. In the Diaspora, we celebrate two days – Sunday night thru Monday & Tuesday. The first day of Shavuot we read from the Torah the Ten Commandments. The Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot.

Q.  Except for receiving the Torah, what else happened on Shavuot?

A. King David passed away on Shavuot. Also, the Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov), founder of the Chassidic movement, passed away on Shavuot.

Q.  Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot in many congregations?

A.  Because King David, who passed away on Shavuot, was a direct descendant of Ruth.

Ruth was a convert to Judaism. She converted for no ulterior motives and for no personal gain. When her mother-in-law, Naomi, tried to dissuade Ruth from becoming Jewish, Ruth replied, “Wherever you go, I will go; where you will lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people; your G-d is my G-d; where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.”

The story of Ruth is very appropriate to the holiday of Shavuot.  At the time of the Giving of the Torah Jews were like converts as they became a new nation and a new people. His people and His nation.

Q.   Shavuot is also called "Atzeret."  What is the reason for this name?

A.  Atzeret means Completion - Shavuot is in a sense the completion of the Passover holiday, because the purpose of the Exodus was for the sake of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai on Shavuot.  Only at Mount Sinai, when they received the Torah, did they achieve complete freedom.

Q.  Why is it customary to eat dairy on the first day of Shavuot?

A.Here are two of the many reasons: 1) On Shavuot, when Jews received the Torah, they were considered as newborns.  Just as an infant is nourished through milk, we, too, eat dairy on Shavuot to symbolize the birth of the Jewish nation. 2) Moshe was on Mount Sinai forty days. The numerical value of “Chalav” (milk) is 40.

The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved ones who passed away, is recited on Shavuot.  In the Diaspora, where two days of holiday is observed, the Yizkor is recited on the second day Shavuot -  Tuesday.  In Israel, where only one day is celebrated, it is said on Monday.

Remember to attend and listen to the reading of the Ten Commandments on Monday morning.

Next Torah Fax, G-d willing, next Wednesday, after the holiday.

SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SAMEACH – HAPPY SHAVUOT

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:59 / Shabbat ends: 9:11