If you ask the average Israeli what the most important Jewish holiday is, you'll likely get answers like Passover, Yom Kippur, or Hanukkah. The most important and central holiday, from which all Jewish existence stems and which is the source of all holidays, is pushed aside a bit.
This refers, of course, to Shavuot.
The reason may stem from the trend-setting effort made years ago to change the nature of the traditional Jewish holidays and give them a new meaning. Since agriculture was a major focus in those days, the holidays became agricultural holidays. Shavuot became the "Feast of Firstfruits," out of confusion with the concept of firstfruits that the Torah speaks of.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
Then the big dairies joined in the celebration and began bombarding us with advertising messages from the dairy industry. This is how the assumption was planted in the hearts of many that Shavuot is a holiday of cheese and dairy products...
Call to the collectors
The central essence of Shavuot is, as we say in prayer, "the time of giving our Torah." This is the day when we received the Torah and became a 'special people.' This is the day when God descended in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai, and gave us, with voices and lightning, the Torah and the commandments. This is the day that made us a people, as Moses our Rabbi says to the people of Israel: "This day you have become a people for the Lord your God.".
The most important event on Shavuot is the reading of the Torah, during which the Ten Commandments are read. The Sages say that "God said to Israel: My sons, read this portion every year, and I ascend to you as if you were standing before Mount Sinai and receiving the Torah.".
When we stand on Shavuot and read the Ten Commandments, it is considered as if we are reliving the scene at Mount Sinai.
And here's where the problem arises: In many synagogues, it is customary to stay up all night and pray the holiday prayers immediately at sunrise. This suits some of the public, but many Jews, who come to synagogue with their children on other holidays, are not willing to get up so early, and they miss the holiday prayers and the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Several rabbis have called for the need to organize a prayer quorum in every synagogue even during regular hours, to allow those who were not awake at night or those who are not early risers to pray the holiday prayers in public and hear the reading of the Torah and the Ten Commandments. This way, crowds of children will also have the opportunity to participate in this special occasion and absorb its sanctity.
The basis of Jewish unity
We must make an effort to instill in the hearts of the people the centrality of Shavuot. The occasion of reading the Ten Commandments should be a meaningful experience for every Jew and every Jewish child. It is the foundation stone upon which the entire Jewish edifice is built.
Shavuot is also the basis of the unity of the Jewish people. The presence at Mount Sinai was the only event in history that united the entire people, "as one man with one heart." It is the connection to the Torah that has united all of Israel's Diaspora. Thanks to it, we are one people, believing in one G-d. Let us also unite on this upcoming Shavuot.
