A businessman, notorious forruthlessness, once announcedto Mark Twain, “Before I die, Imean to make a pilgrimage to theHoly Land. I will climb Mt. Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top.” “I have a better idea,” said Twain, “you could stay home in Boston and keep them.” On Shavout, we recognize that though we personally did not stand at Mt. Sinai with our ancestors, we are still responsible for upholding our end of the covenant they established with G-d. That covenant is everlasting, and no matter where our people have resided, no matter what our predicament may have been, we have understood that the relationship to G-d through the covenant is our eternal responsibility.
Shavout, of all the pilgrimage festivals, is the least observed. It has very few home rituals and even those rituals that take place at the synagogue are not as engrossing as some of those of the other festivals during the year. Yet, Shavout dictates the very rationale of the existenceof our people. We are a covenanted people and we have a duty to keep, not merely the Ten Commandments but, all our responsibilities to G-d and to humanity.
In the synagogue year, Shavout always comes towards the end of the calendar year. As our children prepare for the summer recess, and vacation time is planned for all our families, the message of Shavout is one that should be heard by all of us. Though the synagogue program is nowhere as busy during the summer months, our responsibility to Torah and to the covenant is no less important. I encourage you to put aside some time over Shavout and join us at the synagogue. At Beth Tikvah we will begin Shavuot with a special “eat and learn.” Come dine and study with us and return on Shavout morning as we read the passage in the book of Exodus concerning the Ten Commandments and as we symbolically renew our pledge to keep the covenant. Spendsome time reading the book of Ruth, gaining from its wisdom.
And then, as summer comes and we plan vacations and time outdoors, remember your part in the covenantal relationship. The synagogue remains open throughout the summer for study. Have an enjoyable healthy and relaxing summer.