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Rabbi Berel Wein
Shavuo�

PREPARING FOR

ith Lag BaOmer behind us to the people of Israel. The Torah jealousy in the world over the Jews?”
and Shavuot drawing near, itself phrases it thus: “Today you have are some of these basic ones. Ignor-
Wit is traditional to think become a nation!” Jewish nationality ing Shavuot and what it represents
about the importance and impact of is founded upon our shared experi- allows for seemingly easy answers
this shortest of the three major festi- ence of receiving the Torah at Sinai. and evasions of these questions. But
vals of the Jewish calendar year. Here This is the import of Saadia Gaon’s all of those answers have never yet
in Israel, we are blessed that Shavuot famous statement that “our nation is been able to stand the test of time and
is not a forgotten holiday. The adver- a nation only by virtue of the Torah.” circumstance. Forgetting Shavuot has
tisements of the dairy companies for Shavuot is the uniquely Jewish holi- always led to dire spiritual personal
their holiday wares alone guarantee day. It does not represent the univer- and national consequences. The great
some sort of public awareness of this sal ideal of freedom as does Pesach, Rabbi Yosef celebrated Shavuot with
holy day. Unfortunately, in the Dias- nor is it a harbinger of all human great enthusiasm, saying, “If it were
pora, with the exception of the devot- happiness, prosperity and bounti-
edly observant community, Shavuot is ful harvest, all of which characterize not for this day of Shavuot, I would
a forgotten holiday. Sukkot. It stands in splendid isolation not feel chosen and unique, for many
as a uniquely Jewish event that attests Yosefs can be found in the market
As a lawyer in Chicago many years to our role in society and civilization, square.”
ago, I remember that I attempted to as the people who accepted the Torah
obtain a new date for a trial in which when others refused. This is certainly true of the Jewish
I was representing my client and the people generally. If it were not for
Jewish judge, a scion of a great Eastern It is therefore difficult to be assimi- Shavuot we would not be a spe-
European rabbinic family, asked me lated and celebrate Shavuot. Shavuot cial people, let alone “a light unto
the reason for my request. I told him prevents assimilation by reminding the nations of the world.” Shavuot
that the original trial date was to fall us of the event baked deep into the becomes our reason for existence,
on Shavuot and as such, I would not DNA of the Jewish people – the Rev- the justification of our intense role
be able to attend court that day. He elation at Sinai. Shavuot is therefore in the development of a better and
sneered at me: “Counselor, there is no not just a commemoration of a his- more civilized world. Shavuot, there-
such Jewish holiday!” So great is the torical date but rather a challenge of fore, demands some sort of mental
alienation and assimilation of much defining Jewish nationhood and how and spiritual preparation to be truly
of Diaspora Jewry, that his ignorant it relates to each and every one of us. appreciated. Since we still have some
opinion will find many echoes in sec- Because of this challenging aspect of time until its arrival, now would be a
ular Jewish society. Of all of the hol- the holiday, it is easy (though painful) good time to start thinking about it
idays, Shavuot has no distinguishing to understand why Shavuot just does and its personal relevance to one’s life
mitzvot or rituals attached to it and not exist for so many Jews. It is much and family.
is so short that it lacks the “glamour” easier on one’s mind and conscience
of the Pesach Seder or the sukkah or to simply ignore and then even deny
the shofar. Yet, it is Shavuot that is the its existence.
backbone of all Jewish life and vitality.
There are certain questions that have
According to Jewish tradition and remained constant in Jewish life over
the Talmud, Shavuot marks the the millennia. “Who is a Jew?” “Why Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of
anniversary date of the Revelation at be Jewish?” “Why marry Jewish?” and Beit Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and
Sinai and the granting of the Torah “Why all of the fuss, anger, hatred and Director of the Destiny Foundation

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