As we approach the holiday of Shavuot, Iâm asking myself, What is this holiday about? What lessons can we learn and what are we going to accomplish? Shavuot celebrates the revelation of G-d and giving the Torah to the Jews about 3,300 years AGO, just after being taken out of slavery in Egypt. In fact, itâs the only event in history with a national revelation of godliness to an entire nation of approximately 3 million people.
You may ask, what does something that happened 3,300 years ago have to do with me today? Or, how do I connect to and commemorate this event? The truth is, Shavuot is not just celebrating this historical event; itâs actually a current event. We need awareness that the giving and receiving of the Torah continues. Itâs happening again, right now, for all of us. Shavuot is a unique opportunity to tap into the spiritual DNA of accepting the Torah and Mitzvot and re-committing to it. As the Pasuk says, we bring a Mincha Chadasha (a new offering).
The holy Or HâChayim teaches a powerful lesson from the story at Mt. Sinai that we can apply in our lives. First, Moshe began to ascend the mountain. Then, the Almighty spoke to him. We have a general rule, Bâderesh Shâadom Rotze Leâlech in the path a person chooses, they receive divine support in that direction (either in an upward or downward spiral). Moshe began, and the Almighty engaged. Whenever we want to grow and develop, we must set an intention and take a step toward our goal.
From Pesach to Shavuot, we counted down the 49 days of Sefirah to be worthy of receiving the Torahâbuilding our character, improving, and upgrading relationships. Because this is required to be complete within and have unity. As the pasuk says, Kâish Echad, Bâlev Echadm (a nation unified like one person with one heart.)
This process reminds me of the following: Iâm currently working with a young man who used to be very overweight and depressed. He wakes up at 4:45 every morning to work out and get to Minyan (prayers) to ensure he has a good day, feels strong, and maintains a healthy weight. We discussed how he still felt miserable, confused, and so down on himself despite the intention and routine.
Together, we realized what was missing for him was celebration. He wasnât celebrating his wins. His routine didnât allow him to internalize his personal growth. He wasnât valuing the weight loss, improved physique, or ability to interact with other people and the positive steps he was taking. We realized that he didnât expect things to be better because he was stuck in the past. In a previous mindset, when times were difficult, his self-esteem was low, and his self-talk was negative. He wasnât releasing the past and did not accept and embrace what has become the new him. He was disconnected from his journey and his new reality. The new experience he created, where he feels productive, alive, healthy, and strongâwe now regularly celebrate this.
How do we celebrate Shavuot?
Pesach eat matzah, Succot shake the lulav, what do we do on Shavuot (besides eat cheesecake)? Many have the custom to stay up and study Torah subjects all night until Shacharit (morning prayer). Others say all of Tehillim (Psalms) because they were written by King David, whose Yahrzeit is on Shavuot. This is an application of internalizing the Torah on this holiday.
We read the Aseret Hadibrot (10 commandments) in the morning. In some communities, entire families, including tiny babies, make sure to attend synagogue to hear this portion because every Jew was present for this at Mt Sinai. One of the reasons why the Torah reader stands is because, âEvery time we read from the Torah in the synagogue, itâs like we are receiving the Torah again.â In this vein, most people stand while the Dibrot are being read.
Whatâs the lesson?
We all have innate potential. One of the lessons from Shavuot is that we can harness our potential and bring it into reality through looking forward, visualizing, taking action, anticipating and expecting success.
Many of us feel or think that we canât succeed because:
Iâm not worthy
Iâm not capable
Itâs too difficult
I have stressors
I have disabilities
I failed last time I tried
Therefore, when it comes to studying Torah, parenting, work, running a company, interacting with people, or any initiative to move life forward, we donât even try. We give up before we get started. We take the essence of humility, which is actually a necessary component to success, and we misappropriate it. Using it as an excuse to remain stuck and stay small. Sound familiar? Shavuot reminds us that everyone was unified in the entire community. Young and old, strong and weak, rich and poorâat Mt. Sinai, all were unified.
Together, we are stronger. We have a way to find ourselves and our path. Together, we can help each other when linked, interconnected, and working as one. Itâs been said, we are like a bundle of reeds that you canât crack. When itâs just a single reed alone, even a child can break it. We need to harness our combined strengths and operate as a bundle.
Shavuot is an opportunity to step out of the old and step into our new selves. However, if we donât prepare, work on ourselves, develop, upgrade our perspectives, tools, and skills, we will not achieve our desired reality. Our dreams will fall flat.
This process isnât about doing something wrongâitâs about doing something right. The simplest, easiest thing we can do for Shavuot is commit to some form of Torah study. Maybe, you didnât have a set study time or missed prayers. Perhaps you did and fell off the schedule. Maybe, for you, itâs prayer or Tehillim every day. You can commit to a certain number of words, pages, chapters of Psalms that you will say every day, no matter what. Perhaps, you thought you could not study the next level, be it Chumash, Mishneh, Gemara or Halacha, and now you can and will. You are not the same person you were last year or two years ago. You are new and youâre able to do more. You can partner with someone to help and support you because together, you are more resilient.
Guarantee a change in your life and upgrade your reality. What are you committing to this Shavuot?
