Page 16 - HaMizrachi YmYm 2020 FLIPv3

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Shavuot and Matan Torah

hen the Torah wishes the lack of a clear chronology in the diminish from its eternal meta-his-
to inform us of the subsequent events makes it impossi- torical dimension.
W‘historical’ reason for ble to determine precisely how many
a holiday, it certainly knows how days transpire between their arrival at In contrast, the Exodus – the birth of
to do so. Take for example the two Har Sinai and Matan Torah. our nation – was, and should remain,
other pilgrimage holidays – Chag a one-time event in our history. As
6
HaMatzot and Sukkot: even though Indeed, the Midrash calculates that such, it becomes an event that must
these holidays, as Shavuot, are first the Torah must have been given be constantly remembered, but not
presented in Shemot 23:14-17 from on either the sixth or seventh day necessarily relived. Celebrate the next Yom Haatzmaut
their ‘agricultural’ perspective, in of Sivan, yet the Torah itself never
other instances, the Torah informs explicitly mentions that date, even So why do we commemorate Matan
us of their historical perspectives as though it has ample opportunities to Torah on Shavuot? In this regard, at your own property in Israel!
well. 1 do so! Furthermore, we never find a we find a beautiful balance between
specific mitzvah whose explicit pur- our oral and written traditions. Even
Therefore, it is simply baffling pose is to commemorate that date or though the Torah’s obfuscation of this
that the Torah, in each of the five event. 7 event may reflect the inherent danger Michael Steinmetz
instances when it discusses Shavuot, of its commemoration, our oral tradi-
2
presents the holiday solely from its To answer this question, we must tion could not possibly totally neglect
agricultural aspect, and never even consider a fundamental difference its anniversary.
once mentions any connection to the between the very nature of two mon-
events of Matan Torah! umental events in our history, i.e. the Therefore, unlike Passover eve, when
Exodus and Matan Torah. we gather at the Seder to ‘retell’ the The current situation is creating unique
Should we conclude that it is only story of the Exodus, on the evening opportunities in Israeli real estate. Everything from individual
coincidental that Shavuot falls out One could suggest that the Torah’s of Shavuot, we ‘relive’ that experience
on the same date as Matan Torah? deliberate obfuscation of the date of by engaging in Torah study, a most homes, apartments, development projects, raw land, and real estate
Would that explain why Chumash Matan Torah may suggest that we investment options are becoming available at favorable prices.
makes no connection at all between should not treat it as a historically appropriate expression of our grat-
that event and our grain harvest hol- bound event. Instead, the Torah itude for G-d’s most precious gift. Whether you are planning to make Aliyah, vacation, or invest –
iday in the Land of Israel? wants one to feel as though the Torah gears. alone or as a group, now is the time to discover the
has just been given each and every
To answer this question, we must first day. This concept is reflected by the once-in-a-lifetime property deals everywhere in Israel.
take issue with our original assump- famous Rashi on 19:1: “... it should 1 See Shemot 12:17 and Vayikra 23:43.
tion that the Biblical date of Matan 2 Shemot 23:15, 34:22, Vayikra 23:15-21,
Torah indeed coincides with the hol- have been written: ‘on that day.’ Why Bemidbar 28:26 and Devarim 16:9-12. Contact me with your preferences, concerns, and questions.
iday of Shavuot. does the pasuk say: ‘on this day’? This 3 See Shemot 12:6, 12-14,17-18 and 16:1. I’ll help you find the community, project, land, or home to suit
comes to teach us that the words of 4 Shemot 19:1.
When the Torah wishes to inform the Torah should be considered new 5 See Rashi 19:1, “b’yom hazeh.” your style and situation.
us of the precise date of a certain to you, as though they were given 6 Shabbat 86b.
event, it certainly knows how to do today!” 8 7 In Devarim 4:9-11 we are instructed never michael@jerusalem-real-estate.co
so. However, in regard to Matan to forget what happened on that day, but www.jerusalem-real-estate.co
3
Torah, the Torah is quite vague. Note In other words, we should not view there is no commemorative action.
how that story begins: “In the third Matan Torah as a one-time event. 8 See Rashi Shemot 19:1.
month of Bnei Yisrael’s departure Rather, every generation must feel
from Egypt, on this day, they came to as though G-d’s words were spoken
Midbar Sinai.” 4 directly to them, no less than they
were to the first generation. Hence, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag is an
Even if we assume Bnei Yisrael a celebration of its anniversary as a internationally acclaimed Tanach scholar
arrived on the first day of the month, singular moment in our history might and online Jewish education pioneer
5

16 |
USA: +1 347-434-9228 UK: +44 203-769-0974 ISRAEL +972 54-809-6369