B"H

Monday, Sivan 9, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / May 29, 2023

I hope you had a wonderful and inspiring Shavuot holiday. We all heard the Ten Commandments read in synagogue on Yom Tov and were all inspired to uphold and keep the Torah throughout the year.

At the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai Jews proclaimed, “Naase VeNishma” - “We will do and listen,” committing to observe the mitzvot even before knowing what they were. Although this special event was a one-time occurrence, they agreed to adhere to G-d’s commandments for all generations.

One may ask, “Why do I have to adhere to a promise which my ancestors make over 3000 years earlier?

The answer is that we were all there at the Giving of the Torah. Our sages tell us that the soul of every Jew of all generations was at Mount Sinai when G-d gave the Torah. Thus, it’s a promise which we ourselves made that we have to keep.

Now, it is our duty and responsibility to bring the lessons and teachings of the Torah, which we received on Shavuot, into practice in our day-to-day life.  After Shavuot, we have to bring the Torah down from The Mountain into reality, into practice.

Our sages compare this to a merchant who travels to the big trade fair, once a year, to buy all the items he needs for his store for the entire year.  At the fair, he packs everything he bought in huge boxes and brings them back from the fair with him.  Throughout the year he unpacks the items little by little.

The same is with the holiday of Shavuot.  On Shavuot, like the merchant at the fair, we acquire everything we need for the year.  Then, throughout the year, we keep on unpacking and taking whatever we need for our spiritual well-being.  

After Shavuot we should strengthen our dedication to Torah study and to support Torah study. We recite in the daily evening service, “The Torah is our life.”  Just as fish cannot survive without water, so Jews cannot survive as a nation without Torah.

One of the things we must remember each day is how we stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. The Torah is a gift which G-d gave and continues to give us each day. 

This Shabbat, the Shabbat after Shavuot, we read Parshat Naso, which is the longest Parsha in the Torah. In Parshat Naso we find the three-fold priestly blessing, which was recited by the Kohanim (priests) in the Holy Temple.  "May the L-rd bless you and guard you.  May the L-rd make His countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the L-rd turn His countenance toward you and grant you Shalom-peace.”

May we all be blessed with the blessing of peace on a personal level and a global level.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY