Dear Friends;
I hope that you’ll enjoy the following Parashat summary followed by a Dvar Torah on Shavuot;
” Parsha in a Nutshell ”
Parshat Bamidbar, is primarily involved with the census taken of the Jewish people in the second month of their second year in the desert. After listing the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel, the Torah presents the totals of men between the ages of twenty and sixty for each tribe, the overall count being 603,550. The encampment structure is then described, with the tribe of Levi in the middle, safeguarding the Tabernacle and surrounded by the twelve tribes of Israel, each in their own designated area. The appointment of the tribe of Levi as the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people is presented, and their own census is taken, apart from the rest of Israel.
The Parsha concludes with the instructions given to the family of Kehat, the second son of Levi, for their role in dealing with the most sacred parts of the Mishkan.
“ Dvar Torah “
Out of all the three Pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh Regalim) marked on the Jewish calendar, Chag Hashavuot seems to be the least exciting one of them all. It lacks in fun activities, when compared to other two Festivals, Pessach and Sukkot. There are no huts to build, no family gathering for the seders, no endless glasses of wine and above all, no “dayeynu”! Instead, we get an all night study session, which is a challenge for most of us to stay up and learn, and a dairy meal – not very enticing in this age of lactose intolerance and weight watching.
But on the other hand, the theme for Shavuot seems to be the most important one of them all. On Pesach, we celebrate our liberation and on Sukkot, we commemorate our
forty years of living in the desert under G-d’s protection. However on Shavuot, we celebrate the receiving of the Torah which should be the most important one of them all, since it was only then when we saw G-d’s revelation and we officially became his Chosen People. So, when it comes to celebrate Shavuot, not only it should not lack in activities, but on the contrary, it should be the most exciting festival on the Jewish calendar!
So, to make up for the lack of fun on Shavuot, it’s customary to read the book of Ruth which is my favorite books in the entire Tanach! In short, the story of Ruth which should touch everyone’s heart is as follows:
The book of Ruth opens with the account of the migration of a wealthy man named Elimelech, along with his wife Naomi and their two sons, from the land of Israel to the immoral society of Moav. Elimelech was leaving the Holy Land to escape the pressures of the poverty-stricken Jewish people who were constantly asking him for handouts. Soon after their arrival, Elimelech dies and the two sons marry royal Moavite princesses — one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After a short period time, the two sons also died. Having lost both her husband and her sons, the righteous Naomi decides to return to her homeland and bids farewell to her daughters-in-law. Orpah, at first refusing to abandon her mother-in-law, decides to stay in Moav. Ruth, on the other hand, cleaves to her faith and ascends to Israel with Naomi, willing to encounter the harsh poverty which awaited them, stating the famous quote to her mother-in-law, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people are my people, and your G-d is my G-d; where you die, I will die and be buried”.
Poor and hungry, Ruth gathers bundles of wheat that have been dropped by the reapers in the vast fields of Boaz, a prominent Jewish judge who was also a relative of Naomi’s late husband, and feeds her mother in law. Eventually, Boaz takes notice of Ruth’s righteousness and asks her for her hand in marriage. Their great-grandson is King David, which was one of the greatest kings Israel ever had.
So, you may ask yourself, what is the connection between the Book of Ruth and Shavuot? Well, a few different answers are given. One is that Shavuot is also known as the Harvest Festival. The book of Ruth gives us a picture of the harvest, and how the poor was treated in the harvest season with sympathy and love. Another reason is that Ruth was the ancestor of King David who was born and passed away on Shavuot. But the ultimate connection is found in Ruth’s famous quote to Naomi, ” Your people are my people, and your G-d is my G-d “. Ruth who was just a convert, was willing to follow her mother-in-law’s uncertain destiny just because of her strong faith in Hashem. So too, when the Benei Israel were in the desert, uncertain of their future and destiny, accepted the Torah on Shavuot, wholeheartedly, and proved that they do truly believe in G-d. They too said the famous quote “Naasei Ve Nishma”, we shall observe and then we shall listen!
Yes my friends, the Festival of Shavuot and the book of Ruth carry the same message with them. They both teach us to have faith in Hashem and never give up hope. On Shavuot, we remind ourselves about our commitments to Hashem and our everlasting love for him, just like the commitments of a bride and a groom under a Chupah. We also read the book of Ruth to remind us that even at the darkest point in our lives we should never give up hope. Life without hope is meaningless, and hope can only be achieved through faith. On Shavuot, we might lack in physical activities, but in spirituality we are having a blast! We should know that G-d never abandons his children and as long as we keep his commandments, his protection and his blessings will be bestowed upon us!
Shavuot is like a honeymoon in which G-d and his people, imagined as bridegroom and bride, are alone together, completing their union in love. In a love relationship, trust is the key factor to its success. G-d believes in us —— all we need to do is to have faith in him too!
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach;
Martin