It is an important concept in Chasidut, that holidays are not only commemorations of past events, but each of us, together and separately, are actually reliving the same events again, now. This very much relates to the holiday of Shavuot, Chag Matan Torateynu, (the Giving of the Torah), on the 6th of Sivan (June 5th). For the five days before and the week following, the Jewish people do not say the Tachanun (Supplication) prayer, because the joy from the revelations of the holiday of Shavuot completely outweighs any sad or negative aspects. G-d is giving us, the Jewish People, His will and wisdom!
The main focus of Shavuot is hearing the Ten Commandments. The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged everyone – men, women, children, and even infants – to be present in synagogue on Sunday morning (June 5th) to receive the Torah as our forefathers did at the foot of Mount Sinai 3334 years ago.
The very primary precepts of the Ten Commandments are the first two, loving and fearing G-d, which also include the prohibition against idol worship. There are countless teachings about how to integrate these commandments into our lives.
I would like to tell a story about Reb Dovid of Tolna that made an impact on me.
Reb Dovid was once hosted by a very poor man. The host asked Reb Dovid for a blessing for livelihood, and the tzadik (holy person) said he could only bless him if the man gave him 200 rubles. The man found it hard to part with the money, since it was savings he had put aside in case of need, but he gave it to the tzadik.
Reb Dovid then took the man outside, and predicted, “Over here you will have a large inn, over there, a tavern…” and other such promises. Another Jew who was present, not a chasid, was taken aback by Reb Dovid’s conduct. He later returned to see whether the promises had come true. Indeed, the man had become wealthy and had built all the buildings that the tzadik had predicted.
The observer traveled to Reb Dovid and said that after seeing this miracle, he had decided to become his follower, but he wanted to understand why Reb Dovid had taken the man’s last rubles as a condition for his blessing.
Reb Dovid replied, “This Jew had riches waiting for him, but he could not receive them because he had an object of avodah zarah (idol worship) in his house – the 200 rubles in which he had placed all of his trust. I therefore had to take it from him.
Part of preparing for Shavuot that happens once a year on the 6th of Sivan and the even more important Shavuot that happens every single day, as we say in our morning blessings, “Thank you G-d that you chose us from among all the nations and gave us Your Torah [today!]” is to remove any physical or spiritual obstacles. I am not suggesting that anyone give away their life’s savings or sell their house. But we might consider leaving the newspaper for after prayers and only picking up our smart phone after we have invested time daily in studying Torah.
It is crucial to take a few minutes before this coming Sunday to sit quietly and remove any roadblocks we have to receiving the Torah.
As is customary to bless each other on the night of Shavuot, so I bless you:
Kabalat haTorah beSimchah u-bePenimiut – “May we receive the Torah with joy and sincerity/integrity!”
Chag Sameach,
Shaul