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Strange Flexibility

The Deeper Connection between

Shavuot and Yom HaAtzmaut

Seymour Shapiro

havuot is an unusual holiday. not yom matan Torateinu, the “day of the HaAtzmaut is celebrated anywhere from
All other Biblical festivals are giving of the Torah.” The giving of the the 3rd through the 6th of Iyar.
associated with a particular Torah stubbornly refuses to be pinned to
S day. Pesach begins on the 15th a particular day! The unusual flexibility of both Shavuot
of Nissan, Rosh Hashanah on the first of What is the significance of Shavuot’s hazy and Yom HaAtzmaut is telling. Just as
Tishrei, followed immediately by Yom timing? our commitment to Torah cannot be
Kippur on the tenth and Sukkot on the restricted to a particular day, our com-
fifteenth. Unlike the themes and events commemo- mitment to the State of Israel, repre-
rated on other holidays, the Torah that we sented by Yom HaAtzmaut, must not be
Shavuot, by contrast, is not assigned a received at matan Torah cannot and must restricted to a particular day of the cal-
particular day in the Torah. The Torah not be confined to a particular day. Every endar. As Shavuot inspires us to deepen
does not tell us to celebrate Shavuot day of the year, we must feel that we have our year-long love of Torah, so must Yom
on the 6th day of Sivan. Rather, we are received the Torah anew. As Rashi writes, HaAtzmaut enhance our commitment to
commanded to celebrate Shavuot on the “the words of the Torah shall be new to Israel, particularly during these difficult
50th day after the korban omer is brought you, as if they were given just today” times. In particular, let us extend the
on the second day of Pesach. In the days (Rashi, Shemot 19:1). spirit of Jewish unity that is so central to
before our calendar was set, when each both Yom HaAtzmaut and Shavuot to the
new month was declared by the beit I believe this insight applies to Yom entire year. With G-d’s help, this unity will
din based upon the sighting of the new HaAtzmaut as well. Like Shavuot, the give us the strength we need to overcome
moon, Shavuot could fall on either the timing of Yom HaAtzmaut is fluid. Though the many challenges that face our nation.
5th, 6th or 7th of Sivan, depending upon it is formally celebrated on the 5th of Iyar,
whether Nissan and Iyar had 29 or 30 it is rarely observed on this day. In order
days. If Nissan and Iyar both had 30 days, to avoid the violation of Shabbat, when
Shavuot would fall on the 5th of Sivan; if the 5th of Iyar falls on either Friday or
both months had 29 days, Shavuot would Shabbat, the Yom HaAtzmaut celebration
fall on the 7th of Sivan. is advanced to Thursday, and so the fes-
tival is actually celebrated on the 3rd or
Incredibly, the Gemara (Shabbat 86b– 4th of Iyar. In other years, when the 5th of
88a) debates at length whether the date Iyar falls on a Monday, the celebration of
of matan Torah was on the 6th or 7th of Yom HaAtzmaut is deferred until Tuesday, Seymour Shapiro
Sivan. The details are not relevant to this the 6th of Iyar, in order to avoid potential is Chairman of the Board of the Religious
discussion, but the uncertainty as to the violations of Shabbat at the start of Yom Zionists of America. He has been involved
actual date of matan Torah is telling. Along HaZikaron. Strangely, Yom HaAtzmaut is with RZA-Mizrachi for over a half century.
these lines, Shavuot is referred to as zman only celebrated on the 5th of Iyar when A retired telecommunications executive,
matan Torateinu, the “time of the giving it falls on Wednesday (as was the case he and his wife share their time between
Long Branch, NJ and Netanya, Israel.
of our Torah,” a general time frame, and this year). Depending on the year, Yom

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