B"H

Friday, Sivan 4, 5782 (48th day of the Omer)/ June 3, 2022

Saturday night we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. 

Q.   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?

A.   Because King David, who passed away on Shavuot, was a descendant of Ruth. Ruth was a convert to Judaism for no ulterior motives and for no personal gain.  When her mother-in-law, Naomi, tried to dissuade Ruth from travelling back to Israel with her, 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 convertsas they became a new nation and a new people. It was at Mount Sinai that G-d made the covenant with the people of Israel that from then on, they will be 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.

The Torah tells us that the writing on the Two Tablets were, “Engraved upon the Tablets." The expression the Torah uses for “engraved” is "chorut," which also means "freedom."  Only through Torah and mitzvot did the Jewish people attain true freedom for all generations.

Q.  On Shavuot, as on every other holiday, the Kohanim bless the congregation with the three-fold priestly blessing.  The Kohanim cover their face and hands during this blessing. Why?

A.  Because it is prohibited for the congregation to look at them when they recite this blessing. The reason is that In the Holy Temple when the Kohanim blessed the people, G-d’s glory ("Shechina") would rest upon them and the people were not allowed to look at them.

The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved ones who passed away, is recited on Shavuot. In the Diaspora the Yizkor is recited on Monday. In Israel, where Shavuot is one day, it is recited on Sunday.

Remember to attend synagogue with the children to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments on Sunday.

SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SAMEACH

Montreal candle lighting times: Friday evening: 8:19 / Saturday night: 9:36 / Sunday night: 9:36