Why do we celebrate the receiving of Torah on Shavuot (this year, beginning the night of Sunday, June 1, 2025, and ending with the second day on June 3)? In fact, what is the point of reenacting Revelation at all? The Torah commands us to commemorate the exodus from Egypt on Passover, but there is no commandment to relive the moment of accepting the Torah and mitzvot, the dramatic scene at Mount Sinai. In fact, the Torah’s characterization of our upcoming holiday of Shavuot is entirely agricultural, based on the culmination of seven weeks (sheva shavuot) of grain harvest (for which we still count the days during Sefirat HaOmer), and also named Chag Habikurim, the Festival of First Fruits. The association with receiving the Torah appears to come from our ancient Sages of blessed memory calculating Sefirat HaOmer in such a way so as to end with Shavuot right on the day that the Torah records for Revelation.
Why go to such trouble to have a commemoration the Torah does not demand or even associate with the day? Isn’t it enough to read about it on our own or in synagogue when our Torah reading cycle encounters it?
There is something to be said about the nature of ongoing commitment. Accepting Torah—Law, in its most fundamental sense—is a profound act of commitment. The Conservative Movement in particular stresses the ongoing nature of Revelation, as we continually strive to better our understanding and implementation of Divine will.
Similar things could be said about other commitments. A healthy marriage is made of partners continually open to learning more from each other and figuring out better ways to behave for each other. A strong community is full of active members that strive to update and improve upon collective relationships and common goals. Marital commitments don’t become static after the wedding and communal commitments don’t become static when one joins the club. So too, a commitment to Judaism does not lay dormant once one converts or becomes one of our B’nai Mitzvah (when Jewish children are expected to be responsible for their own religious observance).
Just as spouses may choose to renew their vows, our Sages saw fit for us all to commemorate, to relive, to perfect, our ancient commitment to G-d and each other, very year, on the best date we could find to mark our anniversary.
The Torah reading on Shavuot also occurs on certain Shabbats during the normal reading cycle, but the attitude toward it should be different. We are not merely reading a story but rather imagining what part we have to play. What sacred mountains catch fire for each of us, inspiring us to promise our best despite our fears? How do the themes of each of the famous Ten Items (typically mistranslated as “Ten Commandments”) with which our people were adjured speak to our current struggles? How do we move forward with our dedication to our religion when the wilderness before us is vast, so many seek to harm us, and the challenges are truly immense?
There is, of course, no end to the answers to these questions. Let us ask them together. Come to services for the one and only day of Shavuot we will spend together, June 2, 2025. Here are a few special things to look forward to:
• A few extra songs that helps get in the spirit of the day, including during a full Hallel.
• A reading and discussion on Ruth, the harvest-time story of a young woman that overcame destitution as she pledged her love and loyalty to G-d and our people. • A grand Torah reading of the Revelation event, bearing in mind all of the above.
• A Yizkor service that helps us recognize our commitments to our loved ones that have passed. (Note that, although we will of course make sure to give Yizkor appropriate respect and space, it should take substantially less time than Passover, which was our first service since the passing of Rabbi Sheldon Pennes of blessed memory and was right before Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaZikaron/Israel’s Memorial Day.)
• A special holiday Musaf service.
• If there’s enough interest, an extended learning and discussion program as and after we get fed, wherein we can learn and talk about one or more of the big “Ten Items”, the nature of accepting spiritual commitments, or other themes of the day that catch your interest. I have multiple lessons prepared in that vein that can take us on a journey from Biblical times through several different generations of Rabbinic wisdom. (Please send me or the synagogue office your thoughts in that vein ASAP!)
So, most definitely, if at all possible, please come to that! But our commitments as a Jewish community ask us for more. They ask me for more.
Stepping into my role as Spiritual Leader right before Purim and Passover, as I juggled my other responsibilities, has been incredibly fulfilling… and quite overwhelming! I came in with many ideas and the desire to hear yours. I assure you that I have no intention of abandoning the implementation of these ideas. Now that the summer gives a little break from the holidays and my studies, I can invest much more into my role. There will be classes to help us all reacquaint with our heritage and revitalize our spiritual experiences at home and at synagogue. There will be opportunities to build community, both within and beyond the synagogue. And I still very much hope to bring opportunities to bring more prayer into our lives besides Saturday and holiday mornings.
You might guess where this is going. Yes, I need you. Come to our Shabbat services. Every week is an opportunity to discuss our understanding of different aspects of our religious heritage. Send emails with your ideas and your feedback (both encouragement of what works and constructive criticism are very welcome!). Connect about outreach efforts to help us rebuild our membership as we discussed a while back.
Our commitment, our dedication, to G-d and each other is lifelong.
Let’s make it work!
Michael Feldman
