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The holiday of Shavuot falls out this year on the 17th and 18th
of May. The word Shavuot means “weeks” and this holiday
is mentioned in Leviticus Chapter 23.
How badly do you want wisdom?
Because the Torah was given to man on this day, the sages say
that the storehouses of wisdom open up every year on the same
day. That’s the power and the opportunity of the day. It’s
mind boggling to imagine how much insight is available. How do
I be a better husband/wife? How do I get more of what I want rom
my relationships? How do I attain true happiness? What does it
really mean to “walk with God?” How do we wipe out
hunger and war? All of this information and more is at your fingertips.
But Rabbi,? you ask, “how come I don’t get this
information every year? Last year I even went to synagogue, and
ate cheesecake, and I still didn’t feel any wiser?
The answer is, how badly do you want it? There are many things
we can ask from God. We can beg and plead and He still won’t
give it to us, no matter how badly we want it. Because in His
eyes it’s not good for us. If winning the lottery would
be good for me He’d help me win the lottery. Obviously He
and I don't always see things eye to eye. But you can’t
say that about wisdom. He wants wisdom for all His children. He’s
got it to give, but we’re not begging for it. When a loved
one is ill we can cry and pray. When there’s something we’re
desperate for we can cry and pray. The Talmud says that the gates
of prayer in heaven always open up for tears. Let your eyeballs
show how badly you want wisdom, and I guarantee results.
Wisdom is for everyone
The Torah does not begin with the Exodus. It starts with creation,
the beginning of the universe. It describes humanity and the history
that defined all of man. It finishes as a divine mandate for the
Jews, but oddly enough it asks of them to be a light unto the
nations. That is, it seems even after the Jews are singled out
to be unique, God's focus is still on all humanity. He wants the
consciousness of all men to be one with Him. There are basic moral
and ethical principles in the Torah that are obligatory for all
people. There are other principles that were given as an obligation
to the Jews, yet are still relevant to all people as an ideal.
It’s a commandment to return a lost object. Even if this
is not obligatory for all people, certainly a person would be
considered more righteous if they fulfilled it. “Finders
keepers, losers weepers just doesn't have a holy ring to it.
There's no mitzvah to convert people to Judaism, yet you should
be an attractive example. If the Torah were fulfilled properly
by the Jews, they would be a magnet for potential converts. Other
people are supposed to see the wisdom and beauty of God's commandments
through the Jews. Not only that, but even though many people are
Moslem and Christian and therefore have accepted our notion of
an infinite Creator, many others are atheist, agnostic, or pagan
and therefore should be straightened out as to the truth. You
don't need to go door to door, but certainly if you have an acquaintance
that doesn't realize there’s one God, you should present
the evidence for your conviction. Monotheism is our motto. That’s
the message of the Shma.
Instructions for living
The Torah is not merely a set of moral principles. It is God’s'instruction
manual as to how to get the most out of life. If you look at any
mitzvah as a burden, you’ve got the wrong idea. God doesn't
need us to make a moral world. If He wanted He could have made
robots for that. He wants us to attain the greatest pleasures
possible. The Torah’s principles are designed just for that.
They emphasize the spiritual because it’s spirituality that
is the greatest pleasure. A delicious meal from soup to nuts,
including chocolate mousse for dessert, is more enjoyable when
it’s celebrating a special occasion. That’s why Shabbat
includes a festive meal. Sex without love is an empty experience.
That’s why the Torah requires a marriage commitment. Everything
in the physical world is meant to be elevated to a higher level
of use. The wisdom in the Torah is the antidote to all the ills
of mankind. Its insights can allow you to access the awesomeness
of this place we call the universe, and put the essence and the
power of this universe in the palm of your hand. It's your inheritance.
Appreciate it. Cry for it. Celebrate it.
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