B"H

Monday, Iyar 24, 5786 (39th day of the Omer) / May 11, 2026

We are today less than two weeks before the holiday of Shavuot– when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Shavuot begins Thursday evening, May 21, through Friday and Shabbat. In Israel, where only one day holiday is celebrated, the holiday begins Thursday evening, May 21, and ends Friday evening.

Here are some Torah Trivia (although nothing about Torah is trivial).

Q. How long after The Exodus did G-d give the Jewish people the Torah at Mount Sinai?

A. Seven weeks. This is the reason we count the Omer each night for seven weeks, from the second night Pesach until the holiday of Shavuot.

Q.   How long did the Jewish people stay at Mount Sinai after receiving the Torah?

A.    Almost one year (one year less 10 days).  (See Numbers 10:11).

Q.   Two of the letters engraved in the Tablets were held there miraculously. Which two letters & why?

A.   Final Mem & Samach.  The reason is as follows: The letters were engraved in the Tablets through and through.  One was able to read them from both sides, which was a miracle in itself.  The two Hebrew letters, Mem and Samach, are round and had nothing to hold them to the stone.  Miraculously they were suspended in the air and didn’t fall out.

Q.   Is there a mitzvah to write a Torah?  If yes, to whom does this mitzvah apply?

A.   One of the 613 mitzvot is that every Jew should write a Torah or commission a scribe to write a Torah.  One can also perform this mitzvah by fixing an existing Torah which needs fixing; or contributing to the cost of writing a Torah together with others. 

Q.   Is one allowed to sell a personal Torah?

A.   No.  There are a few exceptions, such as to use the proceeds for studying Torah or for marriage.   

Q.   A Torah must be handwritten on parchment.  Can a Torah be written on any parchment?

A.  The parchment must be made from the hide of a kosher animal.

Q.Why does the person called up to the Torah (Aliyah) hold the Torah with both hands while reciting the blessing over the Torah?

A.   This is in accordance with the words of Proverbs concerning the Torah, "It is a Tree of life to those who hold on to her (Torah)."

Q.   Why is it customary that when one's Aliyah is finished they don't leave right away, but wait at the side of the reading table, until the next person's Aliyah is finished?

A.  Our sages instituted this custom to avoid giving the impression of, "a child who is impatient to leave the classroom."  Waiting until after the next person's Aliyah is complete, is a sign of respect for the Torah.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY