What is the big deal that we received the Torah? Midrash tells us that our forefathers kept the entire Torah. This means that many of the laws of the Torah already existed before we received the Torah and the Jewish people had already learned many of them. Was it just the big event revealing what everyone already knew?
One answer I find meaningful is that we are celebrating integration. Until the first Shavuot, approx 3330 years ago, your spirituality could have no real long-term effects upon your reality. It was something you did, it was not who you are.
On Shavuot, Hashem allowed the Torah and Mitzvot, Judaism and Jewish values, to define who we are and to change us for the better. On Shavuot, we celebrate the ability to integrate it into our lives.
Until Shavuot, Judaism was something we did, after Shavuot Judaism became who we are.
Come celebrate with ice cream and cheesecake on Sunday 11:00 am prefaced at 10:00 am by TEDShavuot with a variety of speakers giving 5-minute speeches.
RSVP NOT REQUIRED - After all it's who you are :) The address if 15 North Bond Street in Bel Air.
What is one thing you do to integrate a Jewish value or tradition part of who you are?
See you Sunday, I hope.
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. If you are out of town, see if there is a reading of the Big Ten with cheesecake nearby at www.HarfordChabad.org/