You know those holidays that take over the town? They’re in the news and in stores; public officesclose and public officials make celebratory statements.
But what about a special day on your personal calendar? It could be a private anniversary or the day you overcame a personal struggle. You look forward to the day, your heart swells with joy and pride, yet to the world it’s just another random day. The Jewish people have such a day. In fact, it is the day on which we became a people. The day is Shavuot, on which, 3,332 years ago, G-d came down onto Mount Sinai and gave us His holiest gift, the Torah, His master plan for the universe, the purpose of creation, and our purpose in this world was given to us on that day. In these challenging times, with the world as we know it so suddenly changed and shaken up, tuning in to these personal moments and private celebrations become more important than ever. This Shavuot will be celebrated differently than any we have ever had. There will be no gatherings to hear the Torah reading, no communal studying until dawn, and no cheesecake parties. But it is still Shavuot, and the essence of the holiday remains as true as ever. Our lives on a public scale have been slowed down, and those private interactions and deeply personal events take on new meaning as we each learn to celebrate and be thankful for the blessings in our lives. Let’s each take the time to truly celebrate Shavuot this year, to tune into our relationship with G-d and feel the greatest of blessings He’s given us, the ability to connect with Him and feel His presence in our day-to-day lives, no matter how turbulent. And let us pray that G-d quickly brings as end to this global pandemic, healing all those suffering, and protecting the wonderful doctors and nurses standing on the front lines. Wishing you a Happy Shavuot, and a Happy “Receiving of the Torah.”
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Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz BlogServing the spiritual needs of the South Dakota Jewish community. Based in Sioux Falls and travels the state. Archives
February 2025
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